Your Endurance and Faith

Paul praises the Church of Thessalonica for its faithful endurance through persecution and various tribulations - 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4.

Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians was written in the months following his departure. In his first epistle, he expressed his joy at the good news that the congregation had remained faithful despite outside pressure and opposition. In his second letter, he declares that he now boasts of the perseverance of the Thessalonians through tribulation.

The second letter addresses three main issues: Persecution, believers who refuse to work, and questions related to the return of Jesus. In the months since he left the city, persecution has increased, and some members of the congregation are refusing to work because of their expectations about Christ’s return.

[Lighthouse - Photo by Marcus Woodbridge on Unsplash]

After his salutation, Paul discusses the persecution of believers in Thessalonica and its implications. In doing so, he sets the stage for his discussion in Chapter 2 about the Day of the Lord, the apostasy, and the Man of Lawlessness. Moreover, in verses 5 through 10, he provides several details on what will happen to the men who are persecuting the saints of Thessalonica when Jesus arrives:

• “We are bound to give thanks to God always to you, brethren, even as it is fitting, for that your faith is growing exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another is abounding, so that we ourselves glory in you among the churches of God for your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and in the tribulations that you are enduring” – (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4).

It is “fitting” to praise God for the present situation of the congregation and its response to their persecutors, since tribulation is causing the faith and love of the Thessalonians to increase.

This happy condition developed in “persecutions and tribulations,” not despite them. Moreover, the faithfulness of the Thessalonians has become a source of inspiration to the other churches of the region. Paul expressed similar thoughts at the start of his previous letter:

• “Our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance <…> And you became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Spirit; so that you became an example to all those who believe in Macedonia and Achaia” – (1 Thessalonians 1:5-7).

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SUFFERING IS NOT UNEXPECTED

What Paul does not do is express shock at the growing opposition to the young congregation. He does not petition God to remove the Thessalonians from tribulation. Instead, he “boasts” to other believers “on account of your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations.”

The onset of persecution comes as no surprise, especially considering the warnings of Jesus and his Apostles about persecution and suffering for the sake of the Gospel:

• “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and they will kill you, and you will be hated of all the nations for my name's sake” - (Matthew 24:9).

• “That no man be moved by these tribulations, for you yourselves know that for this we are appointed. For truly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer tribulation, even as it came to pass” - (1 Thessalonians 3:3-4).

Paul refers to “persecutions” and “tribulations” in the plural number, indicating that any sudden rise in persecution is not viewed as an aberration.

The fact that Paul now states that he and his compatriots should thank God for the increase of the Thessalonians’ faith and endurance in tribulations points to God as the one who is strengthening their faith and enabling them to persevere (“which you are enduring”).

This introduction leads to the letter’s second paragraph, where Paul will discuss what the coming “revelation of Jesus from Heaven” will mean for the Church and its persecutors - (verses 5-10).

God is not unaware or unmoved by the machinations of hostile men against the Church, and He will vindicate His faithful children and punish those men who afflict them. In verses 11 and 12, Paul returns to his primary concern, the welfare and the faithfulness of the Thessalonian believers.

God’s desire is for the Thessalonians to be found “worthy of your calling and fulfill every desire of goodness and work of faith,” and this is so Jesus may be glorified in them when he arrives in glory and power. All this will come to pass “according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” – (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

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SEE ALSO:

• Awaiting His Son - (The Thessalonians received the gospel in tribulation but remained faithful while anticipating the arrival of Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)

• Tribulation vs Wrath - (Disciples escape God’s wrath, but they endure tribulation, and the Assembly has been appointed to tribulation – 1 Thessalonians 3:1-4)

• Afflicted Disciples - (The disciple who faithfully bears witness to the Gospel and Jesus will endure tribulation and persecution for his sake)

• Endurance et Tribulations - (Paul loue l'Église de Thessalonique pour sa persévérance fidèle à travers la persécution et diverses tribulations - 2 Thessaloniciens 1:1-4)