Paul's Preaching Conditions

Introduction:

We have the fortune of hearing God’s word in relative peace and safety.

Paul will bring the Thessalonians back to the present, as he already did at the end of 2 Thess. 2:15-17, and he will ask for their prayers.

Because he did not do this often, we might wonder what he would wish for them to pray for to the Lord.

What was important to him?

What concerns did he have?

How might his prayers point us to real world issues?

An Unusual Request: Prayer

Paul signals to the Thessalonians his final interests.

He uses what will become his well known, “Τὸ λοιπὸν.”

His main concern gets expressed with an imperative.

He exhorts the Thessalonians toward a practice.

We also see his term of endearment for them, namely, the vocative, ἀδελφοί.

We are reminded of the deeply personal relationship Paul has with this congregation.

Only 1 Thess. 5:25, Romans 15:30, and here does Paul request for a church to “pray about us.”

Two Aims of the Request

These are expressed by successive “ἵνα” clauses.

Paul’s first concern relates to the Word of God itself.

τρέχῃ in this instance takes on a metaphorical meaning.

to proceed quickly and without restraint, progress fig. ext. of 1 ἵνα ὁ λόγος τ. κυρίου τρέχῃ that the word of the Lord might speed on is a typical scholarly understanding of what Paul means.

The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (τρέχω): 2 Thess 3:1 speaks of the swift spreading of the “word of the Lord” (cf. Ps 147:4 LXX).

Notice also that Paul wishes for God’s word to be being glorified.

What helps us to understand this first request clearly is: καθὼς καὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς.

This probably is supposed to make the Thessalonians reflect on their past (and present).

In 1 Thess. 2:13, Paul reminded them that they took a high view of the word of God when they heard his preaching.

Paul wants others to respond to the gospel as the Thessalonians did and continue to do.

This would also include Paul wanting the boldness to proclaim the word of God in other cities.

Paul’s second concern is about himself and reminds us of his realities.

The Danger of Preaching

Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray that he might be rescued from evil people.

2 Corinthians 11:22-28 noting especially 2 Cor. 11:26 where Paul repeats the word “danger.”

Paul anticipated danger in Jerusalem according to Romans 15:31.

Traveling Roman roads, especially in Asia Minor, was a known hazard.

Paul faced many angry mobs.

He describes “people” in two ways: harmful and evil.

Paul knew the opposition he had faced in Thessalonica was not an isolated incident.

The above references show it was part of what he learned to face.

Introduction: Part 2

The intricacies of these letters give us an opportunity to think deeply about the world.

We have a challenge to look at the world biblically and not culturally.

What does the Bible teach us to expect from human nature?

Why would people wish to do harm to someone preaching the gospel?

Human nature is a camera lens that brings God’s nature into clearer view.

He is better than we are.

Opposition Understood through Human Nature

The explanation for this opposition and his motivation for preaching to them was the same: οὐ γὰρ πάντων ἡ πίστις.

Perhaps this observation places the entirety of the book back into focus.

Those who do not believe oppose the preaching of the gospel and God’s people whether that be localized in Thessalonica or out among Paul’s travels.

They, however, are not fated to behave in such ways because the preaching of the Gospel in Paul’s ministry was a genuine presentation of salvation.

It is not that they cannot believe.

They refuse to believe.

They choose to act in opposition.

God’s Reliability Contrasted with Humanity’s.

Paul reassures the Thessalonians of God’s faithfulness, hence He differs from humans.

He returns to his key concerns for the congregation expressed at the end of the previous section (see 2 Thess. 2:15-17).

God will guard them and strengthen them from the evil one.

More than likely, Paul frames faithfulness as a struggle against Satan himself.

This is how he often portrayed it.

Strengthened faithfulness comes from God’s empowerment.

Paul has returned to the themes of the previous section.

The Lord will produce the following:

Strengthen you all and protect you.

Their obedience to Paul’s directions.

Straightening their hearts for the love of God and the endurance of Christ.

Modern thinking might cause us to measure our spirituality by how we should feel.

Strength comes from confidence and manifests itself in love and obedience.