2 Thessalonians

Exceedingly Growing Faith

By Samuel Kommu May 8, 2022No Comments

Context: How did the Thessalonian Church get started? Acts 17:1-10

Paul and Silas (Silvanus) went to Thessalonica
- Paul took Timothy, who had a good testimony, along with them
Paul spoke at the synagogue in Thessalonica for three sabbath days
- Message: Jesus is the Christ
- Response
  - Some Jews were persuaded
  - Great number (multitude) of devout Greeks
    - Who were perhaps exploring Judaism
  - And many chief women
Unpersuaded Jews caused an uproar

2 Thessalonians: Author, audience and time period? v1-2

Author: Paul, Silvanus and Timothy
- Timothy and Silvanus may have visited Thessalonica more then once
Audience:
- Assembly of the Thessalonians,
  - a young Church that was born in the middle of persecution
Time period: 50-52 AD. According to scholars, Paul may have written this letter shortly after the 1 Thessalonians

Why is Paul bound to give thanks for the Thessalonians? V3-5, Matthew 5:11-12

It is appropriate
Your faith grows exceedingly
Everyone one of them, had abounding love toward one another
They are so well grounded that even Paul and his team were boasting about
- Thessalonians perseverance
- Faith in all their persecutions
  - Thessalonians faith grew exceedingly in spite of persecution!
  - Persecution for the right reasons:
    - Being falsely accused for the sake of Jesus
- And the afflictions that they endure
They suffer, to be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God

What is the hope for the Thessalonians? v6-10, Jeremiah 12:1, Romans 12:19, Deuteronomy 32:35

God is righteous
- God will repay
  - Affliction to those afflict
- God will give relief to
  - Thessalonians who are also afflicted along with Paul and team
    - At the second coming of Lord Jesus
- Punishing those
  - Who don’t know God
  - and who don’t obey the Good News

Conclusion

Am I growing exceedingly in my faith?
Am I abounding in my love towards others?

Main Passage 2 Thessalonians 1 – World English Bible (WEB)

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers,[a] even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another abounds, 4 so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure. 5 This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of God’s Kingdom, for which you also suffer. 6 Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 punishing those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus, 9 who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus[b] may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Footnotes

1:3 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
1:12 TR adds “Christ”

Notes / Cross References

Acts 17:1-10 17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women. 5 But the unpersuaded Jews took along[a] some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people. 6 When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers[b] before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!” 8 The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things. 9 When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.