1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians was a letter attributed to Paul primarily, but Silas (also known as Silvanus) and Timothy contributed to this letter. It was written about 51 AD to the Church of Thessalonica. This letter, similar in tone to 1 Thessalonians, deals with eschatology (study of future events) and a few important themes: 1) Encouragement of believers; 2) The correction of a misinterpretation about the Lord’s return and 3) To help the Thessalonians strive forward.
Thanksgiving and Prayer 3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
Paul’s high praise of the Thessalonians. The obligation to note their perseverance and faith is Paul’s duty. This faith, lived out through trials and persecutions shows him of their enduring faith and is a point of pride.
5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
Paul shows them that their trials and persecutions has value. Oftentimes, when going through trials, we see them as little value. They are circumstances that are in the way of our progress and need to be taken out of the way before progress can resume.
This is a faulty logic. Trails are in our life for a few important reasons (James 1:2-4): 1. They are a testing of our faith 2. They build perseverance in us 3. They strengthen us 4. They help us to become mature
But how do we sometimes view trials, even persecutions? They shouldn’t happen. They are anomalies which need to be eradicated. Instead, wouldn’t it be more pragmatic to view trials in the light which they are designed? That is, as normal occurrences to test our faith.
Paul understands that the fiery ordeals the church of Thessalonica has been through counts in the end. The concept within each trial is to stand firm within it. God’s kingdom sees this as true strength. But along with this trial there is also justice rendered. Jesus’ return, his triumphant revelation of judgment will make this right. The suffering is tied to the reward.
8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
The persecution of the Thessalonians will be swift and fiery. In scripture, fire is often a representation of judgment. Note how the punishment is allocated: 1. Everlasting destruction (Hell) 2. Shut out from the presence of the Lord 3. Shut out from the glory of his might
The reverse is also true:
1. He is glorified in His holy people 2. Marveled at by those who believe
In the Book of Revelation, John writes that there is a binary choice in the future: either you accept the mark of the beast or the sealing of the spirit. Those who accept the mark of the beast are relegated to God’s wrath; those who accept the sealing of the spirit are relegated to God’s mercy. It was no different in Thessalonica and is no different today. There is a choice between good and evil and the choice is made apparent by our choices of what we follow and how we react to circumstance, seasons and trials.
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
When in persecution, prayer is always the answer. It should be our first resource. God is always calling us. Sometimes He calls us away from bad behavior. Other times He calls us towards goodness, faithfulness, love for those who are unlovable. He molds us into the people we need to be. This is often done through adversity. Through adversity we learn and grow. Through faith the motivation of our deeds are made right. But in whatever we do, the glory of Jesus must be the primary goal.