2 Thessalonians, Chapter 1
Copyright © 1999 Darroll Evans-All rights reserved

2 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

The writing of Second letter to the Thessalonians was so close to the first letter that it appears to be an addendum to the first. The second letter begins in the same fashion as the first with an almost identical Greek opening.

The second letter contains the word "our" (Gr. heemoon-hmwn). In the first letter the English words "which is" and "in the" have been added by the KJV translators and have no Greek text counterparts.

The second letter is still from Paul, Silas, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians. That would seem to indicate that the two letters were written weeks or a few months apart.

2 Thessalonians 1:2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This verse is the equivalent of 1 Thessalonians 1:1b. Why this split was made in the second letter and not in the first is beyond me.

The English word "grace" appears only 4 times in the gospels. In the four Gospels it is never used in a sentence spoken by Jesus Himself.  The English word "Grace" is found once in Luke (KJV) and 3 times in John. In each it is used to describe Jesus.

The Greek word that is often translated "grace" (Gr. charis-cariV) is used 8 times in Luke and 4 times is the Gospel of John. Grace (English or Greek) is not found in Matthew or Mark. By contrast, Paul used "grace" approximately 100 times.

The only time the KJV translators use the English word "grace," as spoken by Jesus, is in 2 Corinthians 12:9. Speaking to Paul, Christ said, "My 'grace' is sufficient for thee."

Next in Paul's opening, we come to peace. God's peace is not just an absence of open conflict. God's peace is true serenity. God's peace is calm in the midst of conflict, and calm in the eye of the life's hurricanes.

The word peace (Gr. eireenee-eirhnh) indicates a serenity that is not humanly available. Human peace brings no lasting effect. God's peace brings an incomparable serenity in the midst of turmoil.

Grace and Peace appear in tandem throughout Paul's writings. Without God's grace, true peace is impossible.  True peace is available only through the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

Our duty is to always respond to God's grace with our thanks to Him. God has brought us grace and faith large enough to encompass all our shortcomings. He has brought to us a love great enough to overcome all our sins.

The faith we exhibit flourishes toward others because it is based in His love. His love manifesting itself within us is the only way we can ever exhibit true love. Love is a fruit of our salvation.

We gain the ability to speak boldly to others concerning Christ because He loves us. Love is not an "end-all." It must be shared. He shared, and therefore we share. He spoke, and therefore we speak. He endured, and therefore we endure.

2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

The manifestation of His love in us is just one indication of God's righteous judgment in our favor. He has judged us to be worthy of the citizenship in His kingdom.

With that citizenship comes righteous suffering. Many and perhaps most Christians refuse to consider suffering to be part of their inheritance in Christ. Those that take that position have not read this letter the Thessalonians.

Paul makes it plain that we will suffer at the hands of the unrighteous. Furthermore, he also makes it plain that ours is not to seek revenge for any wrong done against us. Paul states that God Himself will repay with affliction those who afflict us.

He also tells us that God will give relief to those that suffer affliction at the hands of the unrighteous. This retribution or vindication will take place when our Lord and Savior is "revealed" at His coming.

Please notice that Paul says that this retribution shall overtake those do not "know" (Gr. eidosin-eidosin), or are not acquainted with God and who do not "obey" (Gr. hupakouousin- upakouousin), are not obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Paul makes it plain that those in that situation will be "punished" (Gr. tisousir-tisousir) with "everlasting" (Gr. aioonion-ainwion), or age-long "destruction" (Gr. olethron-olethron) from the presence of the Lord.

Here we must address something that some believe would be best left untouched. What is meant by the term "the Lord (v. 9)?" Is it God the father or God the Son? Because of what follows, it must be the Son.

Paul qualifies his statement by adding, "and from the glory of His power; when He shall come to be glorified when He comes to be glorified in His saints” (v. 10). That is a reference to Christ's millennial reign.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because we have been chosen to receive further benefits from close relationship with Christ Jesus, we ought to live in a state of prayer. That means that we are to do nothing without consulting our Father for His leadership.

We among all people have been chosen to be His. We have been given the power, rights, privilege, ability, and responsibility to commune with the Creator of all.

That responsibility was not given to us as a throwaway gift. It is our duty to make Christ known in what we say and do.

Part of our inheritance in Christ is good works. However, good works must be understood.

Our salvation does not come through good works. Instead, good works come because of our salvation.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (NKJV)

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