2 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 1:1–12 (NLT)

1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

2 Thessalonians (1. A Greeting from Paul and His Associates (1–2))

1. A greeting from Paul and his associates (1–2)

a. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: Paul traveled with these men and together they contributed to this letter. Though the name Paul is listed first, both Silvanus and Timothy were his trusted companions.

i. Silvanus (also known as Silas) was a long and experienced companion of Paul. He traveled with Paul on his second missionary journey and was imprisoned and set free with Paul in the Philippian jail (Acts 16:19–27). When Paul first came to Thessalonica, Silas came with him (Acts 17:1–9), so the Thessalonians knew Silvanus well. He also collaborated with Paul on the first letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

ii. Timothy was a resident of Lystra, a city in the province of Galatia (Acts 16:1–3). He was the son of a Greek father (Acts 16:1), and a Jewish mother named Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). From his youth, he had been taught in the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15). Timothy was a trusted companion and associate of Paul, and he accompanied Paul on many of his missionary journeys. Paul sent Timothy to the Thessalonians on a previous occasion (1 Thessalonians 3:2). With Silvanus, Timothy was also a collaborator on Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

b. To the church of the Thessalonians: Paul himself founded the church in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey (Acts 17:1–9). He was only in the city a short time because he was forced out by enemies of the Gospel. But the church of the Thessalonians left behind was alive and active. Paul’s deep concern for this young church, which he had to suddenly leave, prompted this letter—following after the letter of 1 Thessalonians.

3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (2 Thessalonians)

In the first verse of his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul had commended their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. Here, in his second letter, he commends only their faith and love. Why? They had lost their hope because they were no longer living for Jesus’ return.

Although of faith, hope, and love the greatest is love (1 Corinthians 13:13)—all three elements are essential because it is faith and hope that allow us to love. How? I’d be too ashamed to love if I were hung up over my past sins. Faith tells me my past failures were totally cleansed by the blood of Jesus. I’d be too afraid to love if I were worried about the future. Hope tells me He’s coming again, so there’s no need to fear.

4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (2 Thessalonians)

Even as Paul wrote his epistles, Christians were being beat up and wiped out. “We’re proud of you,” says Paul. “You’re enduring hard times.”

Because your faith grows exceedingly: Paul thanked God because the Thessalonians had:

• Exceedingly growing faith.

• Abounding love.

• Patience and faith in all … persecutions and tribulations.

i. This faith and love, thriving in the midst of persecutions and tribulations, made Paul boast of the Thessalonians to other churches.

5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (2 Thessalonians)

“The fact that you are persecuted and put down is proof that you’re a part of the kingdom,” declares Paul. He would say the same thing to Timothy by writing, “Yea, all those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

Hmm.

So often I pray to avoid pressure, problems, and persecution. In reality, it is those very things that would have produced Christlike qualities within me. There is really no other way. If you want to be like Jesus, hard times are inevitable.

“I want to shine like a diamond in the kingdom,” we say. You know what a diamond is? It’s a chunk of worthless coal that has undergone tremendous amounts of pressure over many, many years. So if your heart wants to reflect Jesus, know this: There is no other way that will happen than to go through fiery trials over great lengths of time. This is why Peter talks about our faith being purified by fiery trials (1 Peter 4:12), and why James says, “Count it all joy when you go through these trials” (James 1:2).

Although I know this in theory, I still find myself praying, “Lord, I don’t want to deal with this. Lord, I don’t want to go through that. Lord, do I have to go there? Lord, get me out of here!” In reality, such prayers are unwise because they can actually hinder the work the Lord was doing in me through these trials.

Consequently, I am praying less, “Lord, help me Yourself,” and more, “Lord, help Yourself to me. I am tired of directing You. Put me wherever You see I’ll be happy and most fruitful. You know best.”

6 In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (2 Thessalonians)

I personally believe this verse alludes to more than the tribulation the Thessalonians were experiencing. I believe it speaks of the bigger picture of the Tribulation of Revelation 6–19. Why? The phrase, “It is a righteous thing with God,” takes me back to Genesis 18.

Concerning the impending doom of Sodom, Abraham asked God, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25) God did, indeed, pour out His wrath on Sodom. Before He did, He raptured Lot and his family when He sent an angel to grab them by the hand and pull them out of the city.

And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished… 2 Peter 2:6–9

The word translated “out of” is the Greek word ek. Ek does not mean “to protect them while they are going through it.” It means “to be taken out completely.” Before God poured out His judgment on Sodom, He “took out” Lot and his family. God will take His children out before He pours out His wrath on a Christ-rejecting, sinful, corrupt world during the Tribulation.

2 Thessalonians (1. The Persecution and Tribulation of the Thessalonians Set the Righteousness of God on Display (5–7))

c. To repay with tribulation those who trouble you: God was also shown as righteous when those who persecuted the Thessalonians were repaid with tribulation according to their evil works. They probably believed they did God a favor when they persecuted the Christians, but the righteous God would repay them and not reward them.

ii. We can see a statement like 2 Thessalonians 1:6 in much the same context as those passages in the Psalms where the writer happily wishes ill upon his enemies—they are a prayer of entrusting the judgment of these enemies to God, instead of personally taking the initiative.

iii. The tribulation upon these persecutors of God’s people is not like a purifying fire. It is like the fire of a pure and holy judgment.

7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,

2 Thessalonians 1. The Persecution and Tribulation of the Thessalonians Set the Righteousness of God on Display (5–7)

d. And to give you who are troubled rest: The Thessalonian Christians were persecuted and had tribulation; and God used it for His glory. But the time of persecution would not last. A day of rest is promised for every believer.

8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.

9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (2 Thessalonians)

Are you getting picked on because of your faith in Jesus Christ? Relax, Paul says, because there’s coming a day when the Lord will return with mighty angels to take vengeance on those who are purposefully, knowingly giving you headaches and heartbreaks because of your faith in Him.

10 When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.

11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (2 Thessalonians)

When Jesus comes, He will be glorified not among His saints—but in them.

I venture to guess that none of us bought the latest Ladies Home Journal expecting to see our names on the “Ten Most Admired People” list. Nor did we buy the latest edition of Who’s Who in America, eager to see our names inside. That’s because this is not our day. This is the “day of man” (Job 10:5)—“man” referring to fallen humanity. When Jesus returns, He will be glorified and admired in all who believe. This means we’ll see Jesus in each other. “Wow, I thought you were a lightweight,” we’ll say; or, “I thought you were weird”; or, “I thought you were callous, cruel, pompous, or vain. Now look at you! I see Jesus in you!”

Oh, to have such a mind-set this side of eternity—to join Paul in “knowing no man after the flesh” (2 Corinthians 5:16), instead seeing Jesus glorified in His saints even now