2Th 1:1 | KingComments | STEP | As it is noticed in the introduction of the first letter, the two letters that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians belong to the first inspired letters that he wrote. He wrote the first letter as a supplement to what he had already said to them orally. In that way he provided them with the knowledge they were in need of. The second letter has apparently been written not long after the first one. Those addressed are still young in the faith and therefore easy to be deceived by false teachers, especially with regard to questions about the coming of the Lord. Against the work of the enemy Paul assures them in this letter that the day of the Lord has not come yet. His second letter is therefore correcting. He unmasks the false doctrine and prevents that their faith will suffer shipwreck. False doctrines, including that on the return of Christ, always undermine the faith. On top of that, false doctrines also unchangeably lead to a wrong practice. The central theme in both letters is the return of Christ. In the first letter questions are being dealt with about the passed away believers. In that letter Paul speaks about the mystery of the rapture of the church and the Old Testament believers. First the believers are caught up into heaven and afterward they form the company of the Lord Jesus when He returns to the earth. First the Lord will come for His own, then He will come with His own. When He appears with His own, the full day of the millennial kingdom of peace, about which many prophets wrote, will dawn. In the second letter questions are dealt with regarding the living believers on earth. The reason is that there was commotion about the tribulation that they were suffering. They had heard wrong explanations about it. That had caused them to become insecure. They had heard that tribulations belong to the day of the Lord, something that is right in itself. However, the false teachers misused this and said: ‘Our tribulations are the proof that the day of the Lord has come.’ In this second letter Paul will explain what that particular day means. Because this subject is important to the believers of the church of all times, God took care that this letter has been included in the Bible. The main theme of the letter, which is just mentioned, has the central place. Next to that Paul will also deal with the wrong practice of some who did not want to work for their livelihood. Such believers damage the Christian testimony which the Thessalonians want to form. This behavior has to be corrected. Paul gives instructions how to do that. He opens and closes his letter with a blessing. . The salutation of this verse is almost the same as the salutation of the first verse of the first letter. is written only in the salutation of this second letter. Although Paul, Silvanus and Timothy are mentioned as senders, Paul is still the main author. That clearly appears from his greeting at the end of the letter ( ). He does not present himself as an apostle. That is for the same reason as in his first letter: the emphasis is more on encouragement and loving trust than on the admonition. The letter is not addressed to the church in Thessalonica, but “to the church of the Thessalonians”. In that way the emphasis falls on the believers who form together the church in that particular place. For these young believers it is a great encouragement. That encouragement is being underlined by the addition that they are seen “in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”. In the original we have a small difference with the first letter: the word ‘in’ is found here both before ‘God our Father’ and before ‘the Lord Jesus Christ’. In that way attention is paid to both Persons of the Godhead in their full meaning. Regarding ‘in God our Father’ you may think as a young believer of the special sphere and relation into which you have been introduced as a Christian. Due to your being born again you have become a child of God. At that same moment of your new birth the Father has adopted you as a son. That is the great result of your conversion when it comes down to your relation to God the Father, while the word “in” indicates the most intimate relationship. You are also ‘in the Lord Jesus Christ’. Hereby you may think as a young believer of Him Who has become the Lord of your life, but Who also has control over all things. He is also Jesus , the Man Who has lived on earth and therefore knows from experience what you are going through. He is also Christ , which is God’s Anointed One. In Him you have been blessed with all spiritual blessing. Isn’t it great for you to realize that? . Then the apostle does not wish the believers honor, riches, happiness and such things, but “grace” and “peace”. And totally in line with the previously said, he relates his wish again with both Divine Persons. The Thessalonians may know to be safe and secure in both these Persons. They may also know that both Persons are the source of grace and peace for the life on earth. First grace and then peace. If you consider that God’s grace has provided for everything and will provide for everything, you will be able to go your way with the peace of God in your heart. That is wished to you together with those with whom you form the local church. Also in order for a church to be able to be like God has purposed it to be, grace and peace are needed more than ever. . After his blessing Paul lets them know that he is giving thanks for them. He knows why. The reasons are their “faith” and their “love”. These aspects were found with them that strongly and abundantly, that he couldn’t help but give thanks to God for that. This says something about the faith life of the Thessalonians, but also a lot about the heart of the apostle. You yourself have to be living closely to the Lord in order to notice faith and love with others. If you notice that, it cannot be otherwise but your heart will turn to God and give thanks to Him for that. You are in fact obliged to, for what you observe is the work of God in the life of believers. God is revealing Himself in them and it is a great encouragement for you that God wants to show that, to make you partake of that. You are enjoying something that God enjoys. That’s what we call fellowship with God. We may ask the Lord for us to see better what He works in believers. Their faith “is greatly enlarged”, which means they were growing in trusting God. The enemy wants to work by tribulation that the believer gives up his faith in God. He did not succeed in that with the Thessalonians. The tribulation only drove them out to God even more. Neither did the enemy succeed in drifting the believers apart. Through the tribulation he tries to make everyone to be busy with one’s own need and have no time left for helping others. When the trust in God enlarges, also “the love of each one … toward one another grows [ever] greater”. This is how it works in the kingdom of God. You see that the apostle noticed their spiritual growth. In his first letter he expressed the wish that they may increase in love for one another ( ). He also exhorted them to abound in pleasing God in loving one another ( ). Here he comes back to that and mentions that he gives thanks to God for answering his prayer and the result of his admonition. In the words “each one of you toward one another” it is strongly expressed that each individual is addressed personally, while they also form a whole together. This whole can only function well if each member makes an effort for the other. This reciprocity is of great importance. We need one another in a local church. The one cannot do without the other. When the love of each of the whole flows to the other, the whole will become a strong formation by which the Lord Jesus becomes visible. Besides, love is not ‘being kind’. True love will proceed to admonition if things that attack God’s work happen or threaten to happen. If you compare with the third verse of 1 Thessalonians 1 ( ) it is striking that the hope which is called there together with faith and love, is not mentioned here. Would that mean that the longing for the coming of the Lord Jesus was beginning to fade? That is very possible, for they had become insecure with regard to their expectation of the future. They were not sure anymore about everything. Therefore this letter is so important. It becomes clear again what you should beware of when it is about the coming of the Lord. But remember in everything that knowing the truths and having insight in the order of the events will only have a good result if to you it is all about Christ. Now read 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3 again. Reflection: What makes this letter important for you?

‏ 2 Thessalonians 1:1

Introduction

As it is noticed in the introduction of the first letter, the two letters that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians belong to the first inspired letters that he wrote. He wrote the first letter as a supplement to what he had already said to them orally. In that way he provided them with the knowledge they were in need of.

The second letter has apparently been written not long after the first one. Those addressed are still young in the faith and therefore easy to be deceived by false teachers, especially with regard to questions about the coming of the Lord. Against the work of the enemy Paul assures them in this letter that the day of the Lord has not come yet. His second letter is therefore correcting. He unmasks the false doctrine and prevents that their faith will suffer shipwreck. False doctrines, including that on the return of Christ, always undermine the faith. On top of that, false doctrines also unchangeably lead to a wrong practice.

The central theme in both letters is the return of Christ. In the first letter questions are being dealt with about the passed away believers. In that letter Paul speaks about the mystery of the rapture of the church and the Old Testament believers. First the believers are caught up into heaven and afterward they form the company of the Lord Jesus when He returns to the earth. First the Lord will come for His own, then He will come with His own. When He appears with His own, the full day of the millennial kingdom of peace, about which many prophets wrote, will dawn.

In the second letter questions are dealt with regarding the living believers on earth. The reason is that there was commotion about the tribulation that they were suffering. They had heard wrong explanations about it. That had caused them to become insecure. They had heard that tribulations belong to the day of the Lord, something that is right in itself. However, the false teachers misused this and said: ‘Our tribulations are the proof that the day of the Lord has come.’ In this second letter Paul will explain what that particular day means. Because this subject is important to the believers of the church of all times, God took care that this letter has been included in the Bible.

The main theme of the letter, which is just mentioned, has the central place. Next to that Paul will also deal with the wrong practice of some who did not want to work for their livelihood. Such believers damage the Christian testimony which the Thessalonians want to form. This behavior has to be corrected. Paul gives instructions how to do that. He opens and closes his letter with a blessing.

Blessing and Giving Thanks

2Thes 1:1. The salutation of this verse is almost the same as the salutation of the first verse of the first letter. 2Thes 1:2 is written only in the salutation of this second letter. Although Paul, Silvanus and Timothy are mentioned as senders, Paul is still the main author. That clearly appears from his greeting at the end of the letter (2Thes 3:17). He does not present himself as an apostle. That is for the same reason as in his first letter: the emphasis is more on encouragement and loving trust than on the admonition.

The letter is not addressed to the church in Thessalonica, but “to the church of the Thessalonians”. In that way the emphasis falls on the believers who form together the church in that particular place. For these young believers it is a great encouragement. That encouragement is being underlined by the addition that they are seen “in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”. In the original we have a small difference with the first letter: the word ‘in’ is found here both before ‘God our Father’ and before ‘the Lord Jesus Christ’. In that way attention is paid to both Persons of the Godhead in their full meaning.

Regarding ‘in God our Father’ you may think as a young believer of the special sphere and relation into which you have been introduced as a Christian. Due to your being born again you have become a child of God. At that same moment of your new birth the Father has adopted you as a son. That is the great result of your conversion when it comes down to your relation to God the Father, while the word “in” indicates the most intimate relationship.

You are also ‘in the Lord Jesus Christ’. Hereby you may think as a young believer of Him Who has become the Lord of your life, but Who also has control over all things. He is also Jesus, the Man Who has lived on earth and therefore knows from experience what you are going through. He is also Christ, which is God’s Anointed One. In Him you have been blessed with all spiritual blessing. Isn’t it great for you to realize that?

2Thes 1:2. Then the apostle does not wish the believers honor, riches, happiness and such things, but “grace” and “peace”. And totally in line with the previously said, he relates his wish again with both Divine Persons. The Thessalonians may know to be safe and secure in both these Persons. They may also know that both Persons are the source of grace and peace for the life on earth.

First grace and then peace. If you consider that God’s grace has provided for everything and will provide for everything, you will be able to go your way with the peace of God in your heart. That is wished to you together with those with whom you form the local church. Also in order for a church to be able to be like God has purposed it to be, grace and peace are needed more than ever.

2Thes 1:3. After his blessing Paul lets them know that he is giving thanks for them. He knows why. The reasons are their “faith” and their “love”. These aspects were found with them that strongly and abundantly, that he couldn’t help but give thanks to God for that. This says something about the faith life of the Thessalonians, but also a lot about the heart of the apostle. You yourself have to be living closely to the Lord in order to notice faith and love with others. If you notice that, it cannot be otherwise but your heart will turn to God and give thanks to Him for that.

You are in fact obliged to, for what you observe is the work of God in the life of believers. God is revealing Himself in them and it is a great encouragement for you that God wants to show that, to make you partake of that. You are enjoying something that God enjoys. That’s what we call fellowship with God. We may ask the Lord for us to see better what He works in believers.

Their faith “is greatly enlarged”, which means they were growing in trusting God. The enemy wants to work by tribulation that the believer gives up his faith in God. He did not succeed in that with the Thessalonians. The tribulation only drove them out to God even more. Neither did the enemy succeed in drifting the believers apart. Through the tribulation he tries to make everyone to be busy with one’s own need and have no time left for helping others. When the trust in God enlarges, also “the love of each one … toward one another grows [ever] greater”. This is how it works in the kingdom of God.

You see that the apostle noticed their spiritual growth. In his first letter he expressed the wish that they may increase in love for one another (1Thes 3:12). He also exhorted them to abound in pleasing God in loving one another (1Thes 4:1 ; 10). Here he comes back to that and mentions that he gives thanks to God for answering his prayer and the result of his admonition.

In the words “each one of you toward one another” it is strongly expressed that each individual is addressed personally, while they also form a whole together. This whole can only function well if each member makes an effort for the other. This reciprocity is of great importance. We need one another in a local church. The one cannot do without the other. When the love of each of the whole flows to the other, the whole will become a strong formation by which the Lord Jesus becomes visible. Besides, love is not ‘being kind’. True love will proceed to admonition if things that attack God’s work happen or threaten to happen.

If you compare 2Thes 1:3 with the third verse of 1 Thessalonians 1 (1Thes 1:3) it is striking that the hope which is called there together with faith and love, is not mentioned here. Would that mean that the longing for the coming of the Lord Jesus was beginning to fade? That is very possible, for they had become insecure with regard to their expectation of the future. They were not sure anymore about everything. Therefore this letter is so important. It becomes clear again what you should beware of when it is about the coming of the Lord.

But remember in everything that knowing the truths and having insight in the order of the events will only have a good result if to you it is all about Christ.

Now read 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3 again.

Reflection: What makes this letter important for you?