2Th 1:3-10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Thess 1:3-10: 1:3-10 After thanking God for the Thessalonian church (1:3-4 ), Paul writes about persecution (1:4 ), which had intensified since his first letter (1 Thes 1:6 ; 2:14 ; 3:3-4 ). God will relieve their suffering (2 Thes 1:5-10 ) and judge their persecutors. 1:3 Dear brothers and sisters: Greek adelphoi , a generic term that refers to members of the same family, both male and female. • thank God: Paul begins with thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ faith , love , and “endurance” (1:4 ). These fundamental Christian virtues (see 1 Cor 13:13 ; Col 1:4-5 ; Heb 10:21-24 ; 1 Pet 2:1-22 ) were maturing in the church despite the persecution they endured (2 Thes 1:5 ).

Summary for 2Thess 1:3-10: 1:3-10 ^a After thanking God for the Thessalonian church (1:3-4 ^b), Paul writes about persecution (1:4 ^c), which had intensified since his first letter (1 Thes 1:6 ^d; 2:14 ^e; 3:3-4 ^f). God will relieve their suffering (2 Thes 1:5-10 ^g) and judge their persecutors. 1:3 ^h Dear brothers and sisters: Greek adelphoi, a generic term that refers to members of the same family, both male and female.

• thank God: Paul begins with thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and “endurance” (1:4 ⁱ). These fundamental Christian virtues (see 1 Cor 13:13 ^j; Col 1:4-5 ^k; Heb 10:21-24 ^l; 1 Pet 2:1-22 ^m) were maturing in the church despite the persecution they endured (2 Thes 1:5 ⁿ).
1:4 ^o Paul’s boasting to other churches about the Thessalonians’ endurance and faithfulness would stimulate the church’s resolve to endure and remain faithful in the face of great hostility (1 Thes 2:14 ^p; 3:3-4 ^q).
1:5 ^r Those called by God to enter his Kingdom will suffer for it (Acts 14:22 ^s; 1 Thes 2:12 ^t).
1:7 ^u rest: Relief from suffering.

• Elsewhere, Paul speaks of Christ’s “coming” (2:1 ^v; 1 Thes 2:19 ^w; 3:13 ^x; 4:15 ^y; 5:23 ^z); here, he speaks of the event as the “appearing” or “unveiling” of the Lord Jesus, who cannot currently be seen physically (cp. 1 Pet 1:7-8 ^aa; 4:13 ^ab).
1:9 ^ac They will be punished for rejecting the message about Christ (1:8 ^ad).

• Eternal destruction (see 1 Thes 5:3 ^ae; 1 Tim 6:9 ^af) is irrevocable.

• Separated from the Lord refers to the source of the judgment to come (Isa 2:10 ^ag, 19 ^ah, 21 ^ai).
1:10 ^aj that day: The day of the Lord (2:2 ^ak; 1 Thes 5:2-4 ^al; see thematic note for The Day of the Lord at end of chapter).