II Thessalonians Chapter 1
Paul decided a second letter to the church at Thessalonica was necessary as reports came back to him that they were getting confused about Bible doctrines. They thought they were living in the end times, and they were shaken. He realized that the church was experiencing persecution and many afflictions and an encouraging word from the man who started their church would have meant a lot to them in difficult times.
Let's Reflect
1. Paul included his team when he wrote this letter. He included Silvanus (or Silas) and Timothy. All three of these men had invested themselves in the ministry of the church at Thessalonica. They are thankful to God for this church. What are they thankful for?
2. The church may have listened to some false teachers who told them that the persecutions that they were experiencing were signs that they were in the last days. The truth is we don’t know when the Lord will return, and we do not always understand whether difficult times are a direct correlation of God’s judgement or if it is attacks from the enemy. What we do know is that one of the purposes for God allowing trials in our life is to shape us and mold us as we learn to be dependent upon His strength. Paul suggests that God allows the persecution of the church to mold the believers to be those who are worthy of His Kingdom. Since we know that we are saved by grace what do you think Paul meant when he said we are to become worthy of His Kingdom? See also I Thessalonians 5:23.
3. We also know that God is a just God. What does Paul say that God will do to those people who afflict us?
4. We may not see relief from the afflictions of this life on earth, but we are promised relief from them. When will we experience complete relief from all troubles and afflictions?
5. We often only think of Jesus as a great God of love, which He certainly is, but the Bible clearly teaches us that it will be Jesus who will return to the earth with judgement in His hands for the ungodly. How is the return of Jesus (His second coming) described?
6. Besides the fact that the judgement or punishment for the unbeliever is eternal, what about their punishment is even worse than that?
7. The unbeliever is clearly defined here in this chapter. The unbeliever is someone who has not obeyed the gospel of our Lord Jesus – they have rejected Jesus as the one who died for their sins. And according to verse 8 they do not know whom?
8. Paul states that he prays often for the church at Thessalonica so that the name of Jesus might be glorified in them. Is your name when mentioned in your friend circles bringing glory to the name of our Lord Jesus?
