2 Thessalonians 1 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 2 Thess 1:1-4

1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,

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

2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

A. Find Out:

1. From whom does this letter come? v.1a
2. To whom is it written? v.1b
3. What do they desire for the church? v.2
4. What is increasing there? v.3b
5. So what obligation does that create in the apostles? v.3a
6. So what do they boast about, and to whom? v.4

B. Think:

1. In respect of the two letters, how is the opening similar / different?
2. What 2 things do they major on that are increasing?
3. What difficult do they acknowledge in a positive light?

C. Comment:

      The opening words of the two letters are identical. Some ancient manuscripts even have verse 2 identical. The letter comes from the three apostles to the church in Thessalonica. As so often in the epistles, the greeting contains the blessing of grace (that divine enabling to cope), and peace (resting in the Father’s love and protection and the salvation brought by the Lord Jesus Christ.) Those are vital essentials that we perhaps take for granted but which are the inheritance of each and every Christian.

      In verse 3 there is a difference. In the first letter it was “We always give thanks”. Here is “We ought always to give thanks”, which perhaps has the meaning, “We ought to be able to give thanks continually for the really good things happening to you, but we do hear one or two things that give us grounds to pause. Letters were usually written by Paul because there was something that needed addressing from afar. Nevertheless FAITH (relationship with God) and LOVE (relationship with one another) were growing and that was great! More than that, it was growing in the face of the persecution that the Christians were suffering there

D. Application:

1. There may be negatives to be addressed in someone’s life, but focus on the good things as well.
2. In each of our lives we can pick out negatives, but give thanks for the good things in your life from God.

Passage: 2 Thess 1:5-8

5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: he will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

A. Find Out:

1. Of what was their perseverance evidence? v.5a
2. What is the result of that? v.5b
3. What will God do to those who were persecuting them? v.6
4. What will God do for the church? v.7a
5. When will that happen? v.7b
6. Who will God punish? v.8

B. Think:

1. Why do they say God’s judgement is right?
2. In what ways do these verses bring encouragement?
3. What do these verses say about the apostles’ expectations?

C. Comment:

     The apostles have just commented on the perseverance and faith that this church is known for, in the face of all the opposition that they have been receiving. Now they say that this is evidence of God’s right judgement. Usually we use the word judgement to mean God’s activity against sinners, but here it means His right assessment of this people. What are they saying? They are saying that the fact that God come in such power bringing salvation to this church (see previous letter) was not wasted in any way, because these people having received the Gospel in that manner, have now gone on and shown that they are indeed worthy of the kingdom of God, by the way they have stood so steadfastly in the face of the opposition that has come against them. A lesser church might have abandoned their faith – but not so this church!

     It’s all right, they go on, God will deal with these people bringing this opposition and in so doing will bring relief to you, and us as well. By removing the source of the persecution God will relieve the church. Now they say something which, from our point of view in history, seems weak. This will happen they say when Jesus returns. Right! But he still hasn’t returned. No, but they expected him to and knew that when he does return, one of the things he will do this time is deal with his enemies. It’s all right, it will happen!

D. Application:

1. Can we be known for our perseverance in face of difficulties?
2. Can the onlooking angels realise that we are worthy of our salvation?

Passage: 2 Thess 1:9-12

9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marvelled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A. Find Out:    

1. What will happen to those who reject Jesus? v.9
2. When will that happen? v.10a
3. How will the Lord’s coming affect his people? v.10
4. What do they pray about the church’s standing? v.11a
5. What do they pray about the church’s activity? v.11b
6. What do they pray about the church’s effect? v.12

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise the unbeliever’s destiny?
2. Summarise the effect of the Lord’s coming on his people?
3. What warnings or negative possibilities are shown in v.11,12?

C. Comment:

     The apostles continue to speak about what will happen when Jesus return again. They’ve already said that he will deal with those who oppose Christians and have said they will be punished. That punishment is now given a twofold description: everlasting destruction and exclusion from God’s presence. This is hell. Because it is everlasting destruction, it means that it goes on and on and is not complete so a person ceases to be. Why should God do this? The only logical answer is because the spirit or soul is indestructible.

     But more about his coming – it will be a time when Jesus is glorified in his people and praised and adored by them. Because it is a time when all his people will be gathered up, the sheer numbers of those seen to have been saved by his work on the Cross will instantly reveal the wonder of his work and he will be glorified. Because of the wonder f who he is, when he comes and is seen by his people their hearts will lift and be full of praise and worship.

     In verse 11 there is an implied warning which keeps on coming – that it is possible for us to fall short of being counted worthy of our calling. In other words, are we living up to the wonder of our calling? Part of that entails God being able to bring to fruition and fulfilment all of our Spirit-promoted activities. THIS will glorify him!

D. Application:

1. Am I living up to the wonder of my calling?
2. Am I being led of the Spirit to achieve things in the kingdom of God ?