2 Thessalonians 1:3-5

In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul urged those new, Gentile believers to live godly lives.

In Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul encouraged the Gentile Christians in faithfulness and good work.

Paul’s second letter also encouraged perseverance in the midst of suffering.

Additionally, the letter addressed a misunderstanding about the return of the Lord and idleness in the church.

FAITH is another ASPECT or feature of SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

I. Faith/Love that’s Growing

II. Faith/Perseverance that’s on Display

III. Faith that’s Fit for the Kingdom of God

FAITH - trust (faith) n. — strong confidence in, and reliance upon, someone or something; often with the object of trust understood.

(3c) 1 Thessalonians 3:12 “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”

(4) BOAST - GLORY IN - to put on verbal display...

(4) PERSEVERANCE - the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness

Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). In A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 1039). University of Chicago Press.

(4) - to bear (endure) v. — to endure something unpleasant or difficult whether on one’s own behalf or on behalf of someone else.

(4) 1 Thessalonians 1:6 “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:”

(4) 1 Thessalonians 2:14 “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:”

V. 5 “All this trouble is a clear sign that God has decided to make you fit for the kingdom.”

Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language

(2 Th 1:5). NavPress.

(5) FIT - of a suitable quality, standard, or type.

FIT - having the requisite qualities or skills to do something competently.

Soanes, C., & Stevenson, A., eds. (2004). In Concise Oxford English dictionary (11th ed.). Oxford University Press.