II Thessalonians 1 Commentary
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The second letter to the Thessalonians, II Thessalonians 1, opens with Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy extending grace and peace to the church in Thessalonica. This letter, much like 1 Thessalonians, aims to encourage believers and clarify misunderstandings about the Lord's return. Paul addresses the Thessalonians' present suffering and assures them of God's justice and ultimate victory.
Greeting and Thanksgiving (II Thessalonians 1:1-4)
Paul begins with a familiar greeting, emphasizing grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (II Thessalonians 1:1-2). He then transitions into expressing his thankfulness for the Thessalonians' growing faith and love. "We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters," Paul writes, "because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing" (II Thessalonians 1:3).
This growth in faith and love, even amidst persecution, is a testament to God's work in their lives. Paul highlights that their perseverance and faith in the face of trials were so remarkable that he and his companions boasted about them to other churches (II Thessalonians 1:4). Just as exercise builds muscle, trials can strengthen faith. It's often through challenges that we discover the depth of our reliance on God. As Tony Evans puts it, "How will you know God is bigger than your problems unless God gives you some you can’t handle on your own—some 'faith weights'?" Their example encouraged other believers to stand firm in their own faith.
God's Justice and Kingdom (II Thessalonians 1:5-10)
Paul then addresses the issue of suffering. He clarifies that their endurance in persecution is evidence of God's righteous judgment and demonstrates that they are considered worthy of God's kingdom (II Thessalonians 1:5). This doesn't imply they are earning their salvation, but rather that their lives are reflecting the reality of their faith.
He offers a powerful reminder that God is just and will repay those who persecute them with affliction (II Thessalonians 1:6). Conversely, those who are afflicted will receive relief, alongside Paul and his companions, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in blazing fire (II Thessalonians 1:7). This revelation will bring judgment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might (II Thessalonians 1:8-9).
This section emphasizes the reality of hell, described as "eternal destruction," a separation from God's presence (II Thessalonians 1:9). This doctrine, while frightening, underscores the seriousness of rejecting Christ and the consequences of disobedience. Conversely, those who choose God will experience unimaginable glory when they depart this life (II Thessalonians 1:10).
Prayer and God's Power (II Thessalonians 1:11-12)
Paul concludes this chapter with a prayer for the Thessalonians, asking that God will make them worthy of his calling and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of theirs and every act prompted by their faith (II Thessalonians 1:11). He desires that the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in them, and they in him, according to the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ (II Thessalonians 1:12).
This highlights the importance of prayer in sustaining believers through difficult times. Continuous communication with the Lord empowers individuals to fulfill their good desires and works produced by faith. As Tony Evans notes, "Life is like a machine, and prayer can recharge a person’s batteries." When believers lean on God in prayer, they receive strength that defies circumstances, allowing them to stand firm and worship even in the midst of suffering. This unwavering faith and perseverance bring glory to the name of Jesus.
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The second letter to the Thessalonians, II Thessalonians 1, opens with Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy extending grace and peace to the church in Thessalonica. This letter, much like 1 Thessalonians, aims to encourage believers and clarify misunderstandings about the Lord's return. Paul addresses the Thessalonians' present suffering and assures them of God's justice and ultimate victory.
Greeting and Thanksgiving (II Thessalonians 1:1-4)
Paul begins with a familiar greeting, emphasizing grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (II Thessalonians 1:1-2). He then transitions into expressing his thankfulness for the Thessalonians' growing faith and love. "We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters," Paul writes, "because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing" (II Thessalonians 1:3).
This growth in faith and love, even amidst persecution, is a testament to God's work in their lives. Paul highlights that their perseverance and faith in the face of trials were so remarkable that he and his companions boasted about them to other churches (II Thessalonians 1:4). Just as exercise builds muscle, trials can strengthen faith. It's often through challenges that we discover the depth of our reliance on God. As Tony Evans puts it, "How will you know God is bigger than your problems unless God gives you some you can’t handle on your own—some 'faith weights'?" Their example encouraged other believers to stand firm in their own faith.
God's Justice and Kingdom (II Thessalonians 1:5-10)
Paul then addresses the issue of suffering. He clarifies that their endurance in persecution is evidence of God's righteous judgment and demonstrates that they are considered worthy of God's kingdom (II Thessalonians 1:5). This doesn't imply they are earning their salvation, but rather that their lives are reflecting the reality of their faith.
He offers a powerful reminder that God is just and will repay those who persecute them with affliction (II Thessalonians 1:6). Conversely, those who are afflicted will receive relief, alongside Paul and his companions, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in blazing fire (II Thessalonians 1:7). This revelation will bring judgment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might (II Thessalonians 1:8-9).
This section emphasizes the reality of hell, described as "eternal destruction," a separation from God's presence (II Thessalonians 1:9). This doctrine, while frightening, underscores the seriousness of rejecting Christ and the consequences of disobedience. Conversely, those who choose God will experience unimaginable glory when they depart this life (II Thessalonians 1:10).
Prayer and God's Power (II Thessalonians 1:11-12)
Paul concludes this chapter with a prayer for the Thessalonians, asking that God will make them worthy of his calling and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of theirs and every act prompted by their faith (II Thessalonians 1:11). He desires that the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in them, and they in him, according to the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ (II Thessalonians 1:12).
This highlights the importance of prayer in sustaining believers through difficult times. Continuous communication with the Lord empowers individuals to fulfill their good desires and works produced by faith. As Tony Evans notes, "Life is like a machine, and prayer can recharge a person’s batteries." When believers lean on God in prayer, they receive strength that defies circumstances, allowing them to stand firm and worship even in the midst of suffering. This unwavering faith and perseverance bring glory to the name of Jesus.