Bible Study 2 Thessalonians: 1: 1-12

 

A Commentary of the Book of 2 Thessalonians 

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study 2 Thessalonians: 1: 1-12

1917 Scofield Reference Bible Notes

Book Introduction

The Second Epistle of Paul The Apostle to the Thessalonians

WRITER The Apostle Paul (2Th 1:1)

DATE Second Thessalonians was evidently written very soon after Paul's first letter to that church. The occasion may well have been the return of the bearer of the former Epistle and his report.

THEME The theme of Second Thessalonians is, unfortunately, obscured by a mistranslation in the A.V. of 2Th 2:2 where "day of Christ is at hand" Cmt. on 1Co 1:8 should be, "day of the Lord is now present" (Cmt. on Isa 2:12, ref). The Thessalonian converts were "shaken in mind" and "troubled," supposing, perhaps on the authority of a forged letter as from Paul, that the persecutions from which they were suffering were those of the "great and terrible day of the Lord," from which they had been taught to expect deliverance by "the day of Christ, and out gathering together unto him" (2Th 2:1)

The present letter, then, was written to instruct the Thessalonians concerning the day of Christ, "and our gathering together unto him" 1Th 4:14-17 and the relation of the "day of Christ" to the "day of the Lord." First Thessalonians had more in view the "day of Christ"; the present Epistle the "day of the Lord."

The Epistle is in five divisions:

I. Salutation, 1.1-4 II. Comfort, 1.5-12 III. Instruction concerning the day of the Lord and the man of sin, 2.1-12 IV. Exhortations and apostolic commands, 2.13-3.15 V. Benediction and authentication, 3.16-18

Text:

Greetings of Grace and Thanksgiving

1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is only fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another increases all the more, 4 so that we ourselves boast about you among the churches of God for your [a]perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

God’s Righteous Judgment

5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. 6 [b]Since it is right [c]for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give rest to you who are afflicted [d]and to us as well at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with [e]His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 executing vengeance on those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the [f]Lord and from the glory of His might, 10 when He comes to be glorified [g]in His [h]saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our witness to you was believed. 11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will [i]count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill all your good pleasure for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse by verse commentary

Verse 1: “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:”

These three men had endured a great deal for the sake of the gospel. Paul and Silas had been in the prison at Philippi. This letter was sent to the local church in Thessalonica. Paul believed in the local church, and that church in Thessalonica was “in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  In this first verse you have the two hands of deity which belong to the Lord Jesus and God the Father. That is where the church is positionally—the Thessalonian church was there, and I hope your church is there.

Verse 2: “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Grace and peace are two important words in the gospel message. Grace comes first. If you have experienced the grace of God, that means you have been saved. Salvation is a gift and not a payment for services rendered.  He offers you salvation as a gift—the gift of God is eternal life. You cannot work for a gift, and if you do, it ceases to be a gift and it becomes something you have earned. Regarding His “Peace,” if you have experienced God’s grace, then you know something about His peace. Peace is the world’s softest pillow that you can sleep on at night. It is the peace that comes when you know that your sins are forgiven. 

Verse 3: “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is only fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another increases all the more,”

There should be a spiritual obligation to thank God in prayer when He accomplishes great things in the lives of His children. God grants His children faith, mercy and grace as gifts. We should praise Him when we see Him at work in the church. That was the case with the obedient Thessalonians, who had demonstrated growing in faith and love since the first letter written by the Apostle Paul.

Verse 4: “so that we ourselves boast about you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.”

Nowhere was their growth in faith and love more evident than in the way they patiently and faithfully endured persecution and suffering from the enemies of Christ. Paul was proud of how the Thessalonians were growing in sanctification. There is no sin in bragging on others that God is sanctifying.

Verse 5: “This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.”

Our suffering has nothing to do with salvation, but it does prepare us for eternity. When you and I look back to this life on earth, everything will make sense when our vision changes to a heavenly vantage point.

Verse 6: “Since it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,”

I have seen this principle in operation first hand. I have had several people come against me when I had done nothing to them. At first, it looked like they got the best of me. I did nothing but prayed. In all cases, the actions of God to “repay” the ones that afflicted me were extreme. Just as the righteous judgment of God works to perfect believers, so it works to “repay” the wicked. Vindication and retribution are to be exercised by God, not man, in matters of spiritual persecution. When God repays and how God repays are to be determined by Him. We are never to move in revenge or retaliation. 

Verse 7: “and to give rest to you who are afflicted and to us as well at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,”

Paul was a fellow-sufferer for the cause of Christ. He, like the Thessalonians, hoped for that final rest and reward for their suffering for the kingdom that was to come when Christ returned to judge the wicked. The Lord Jesus Christ promised this two-fold coming of rest to the believer and retribution to the wicked.

Verse 8: “executing vengeance on those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

This verse and the next one describe what will happen to the lost when it is time for them to be judged. They will receive vengeance for their disobedience to the gospel message. Many today preach only a “God is love message.” God does not love everyone with an intimate love. Only His elect have that love. God is still angry with the wicked everyday (Psalm 7:11). Notice the requirement of obedience. A faith that does not transform a person is not a saving faith.

Verse 9: “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might,”

Hell is forever. This verse and others prove that those in hell suffer forever and will not be exterminated. Suffering will last forever. This is a  fearful doctrine known as eternal punishment, staggering as it is, assuring the persecuted Thessalonian Christians of final and perfect justice. They were to refrain from taking personal revenge for the atrocities they suffered, entrusting themselves instead to the God “who judges justly.”

Verse 10: “when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our witness to you was believed.”

When the “day of the Lord” comes, there will be rejoicing among the saints of God and fear and terror for the unsaved. Moreover, when the day of the Lord arrives, it will  bring retribution and ruin for unbelievers. As Christ’s great glory is displayed, the result will be rest and relief for believers and the privilege of sharing His glory.

Verse 11: “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill all your good pleasure for goodness and the work of faith with power,”

The word translated “count” could also be translated as “make.” Paul was always praying for these new believers in Thessalonica. He knew that what God started, He would finish. Since our salvation comes from Him, we may rest assured that what He has started, He will complete. Paul’s prayer was that the Thessalonians would be counted (or made) worthy of their calling unto salvation. They had been called, and we know that those called, would be justified and ultimately glorified. If you have lost loved ones, follow Paul’s prayer model. Pray that they would receive God’s internal call and be granted the gifts of grace and faith. 

Verse 12: “so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our lives are to reflect the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. All we do, we do for His glory. We represent His Name on earth. All we become that is good is the result of His grace and mercy. As Paul often did, he connected the Father and the Son together. This does not exclude the Holy Spirit. While the Trinity is omnipresent, the Father and Son are primarily located in the highest heaven. The Holy Spirit both resides in the believers and also operates in our world today convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. May all we do bring glory to His Name!