2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

2 Thess. 1:1-12 Paul begins with the traditional letter format (to, from, thanks, and a prayer)

Verses 1-2

Paul begins with words that are very similar to what he wrote at the beginning of his earlier letter.  Does anything stand out to you as different in this beginning?  Or is there anything that strikes you as especially deserving of repetition here?  Explain.

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul wishes them “grace and peace,” but does not name the source of that grace and peace.  Here, in verse 2, where does he say the grace and peace come from?

How do you experience “grace” from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ?

How do you experience “peace” from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ?

Verses 3-4

In verses 3-4, Paul praises the Thessalonians for their faith, their love for one another, and their endurance in the face of persecution and affliction.  He also praised them for these traits in the first letter he wrote to them.

What is the value of praising people for the good things they are doing?

Are there some people you could encourage by praising them for the good they are doing?

How might your life be different if you cultivated a habit of praising others?  What would you need to do to be such a person?

Verses 5-10

In verse 5, what does Paul say about their persecution?

Their steadfastness in the face of persecution is a sign that they are worthy of eternal life in the kingdom of God.

In verse 6, what does Paul say will happen eventually to those who are afflicting the Thessalonian Christians?

How does the idea that people who mistreat others will someday face God’s judgment make you feel?

Is the idea that evil will someday face judgment important for our theology?

How does Paul’s statement in verse 7 that those who have been persecuted will find “rest” (NABRE) or “relief” (NRSV) make you feel?

Note: The reference to “fire” in verse 8 is standard apocalyptic language of Paul’s time and not necessarily meant to be taken literally.  The primary and most haunting pain of rejecting God is not physical but instead lies in having freely chosen to live forever outside of God’s presence, separated from him, as Paul indicates in verse 9.

In verse 8, Paul identifies what is worthy of judgment in the people who have persecuted the Thessalonians.  He does not just criticize their specific wrongful actions; he diagnoses what is going on in them spiritually.  What are the two things about them that he finds worthy of God’s judgment?

They do not know/acknowledge God and they do not obey the gospel.  So, they do not recognize God’s authority or place in their life and they do not obey God’s teachings about how to live.

Paul finds them deficient with regard to both their missing relationship with God (they do not know/acknowledge him) and their missing actions (they do not obey the gospel).  How are both of those elements –  knowing and doing – important in the Christian life?

In verse 9, Paul says that those who have rejected God will experience the ultimate penalty: they will be “separated from the presence of the Lord.”  In what ways is this a particularly fitting description of what we call “hell”?

Notice that this chief feature of hell – separation from God – is something they already chose while they were on earth: they chose to live a life that was not in communion with God.  Why would they want anything different in eternity?

How does this passage support the idea that God doesn’t choose to send people to hell; they freely choose it for themselves by rejecting him?

Verses 11-12

In verse 11, what two things does Paul pray for the Thessalonians?

Paul prays that God will make them worthy of God’s calling and fulfill every good “purpose” (NABRE) or “resolve” (NRSV) and every “effort” (NABRE) or “work” (NRSV) of their faith.

In verse 11, Paul prays that God will make them “worthy of his calling.”  How might you evaluate whether you are living a life that is worthy of God’s calling?

Also in verse 11, Paul prays that God will bring to fulfillment every good “purpose” (NABRE) or “resolve” (NRSV) and every “effort” (NABRE) or “work” (NRSV) of faith.  In other words, may God fulfill both their good intentions and the actions they take because of their faith.  How can we try to make sure both our intentions and our actions are consistent with our faith?

Who is someone for whom you could pray this prayer, that God will fulfill their good purposes and efforts of faith?  What are they trying to do with the help of God that you could support in prayer?

In verse 12, Paul indicates that, because of God’s grace, the name of the Lord Jesus can be glorified in us, and we can be glorified in him.  What does it look like when Jesus is glorified in us, and how can that happen?

How can we be glorified in Christ?  What does that mean or look like?

What are you doing, or what might God be calling you do to, that could bring glory to him?

Take a step back and consider this:

William Barclay offers a beautiful image, and a challenge, in response to verse 12.  He writes: “A teacher’s glory lies in the scholars he produces; a parent’s in the children he rears not only for living but for life; a master’s in his disciples; and to us is given the tremendous privilege and responsibility that Christ’s glory can lie in us.  We may bring discredit or we may bring glory to the Master whose we are and whom we seek to serve.  Can any privilege or responsibility be greater than that?” (Barclay, The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, pp. 210-211).

Jesus frequently uses the word “joy” to characterize his attitude when we do good.  In Matthew 25:21, Jesus tells us that the master says to the servant who uses well the gifts he was given, “Come, share your master’s joy” (Matt. 25:21, NABRE) or “enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:21, NRSV).  In Luke 15:3-6, he says that the shepherd (an image of Jesus Christ) rejoices and invites others to rejoice with him when he finds the lost sheep.  In Luke 15:7-10, he says there is joy or rejoicing in the presence of the angels when a sinner repents.  In John 15:11 and John 17:13, he says that he wants his joy to be in us.

Jesus is a person of joy.  When we fulfill God’s purposes in our lives, the joy is not only ours; it is also his.  When we glorify the Lord by serving him effectively, it gives joy to our Lord.

How might it recast or even transform how you approach the details as well as the major actions of your life if you were to remember consistently that your faithful efforts to serve Jesus give him joy?

How can you live in that joy even when God has not yet fulfilled "every good purpose and every effort of faith” in your life (2 Thess. 1:11)?