Frameworks:
2 Thessalonians 1
(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each
verse we have also added in italic a simple comment of what is
happening)
[Note:
Because it is sometimes difficult to follow the flow
of a letter like this, we have added a synopsis of each chapter
& passage to help clarify where Paul is going with his writing.]
Why
Read 2 Thessalonians:
Paul was writing to a relatively new church suffering persecution.
He seeks to encourage them by their reputation, trusting God to
deal with those opposing them, and being at peace about when Jesus
will return. He emphasizes they all need prayer to stand against
the opposition, and to make sure they remain diligent. This letter,
more than most, helps us realise the trying times some of the
early church faced and shows us the means the apostles taught
of overcoming.
In
the West at least, we rarely suffer persecution, but this church
stands as a challenge to us, of those who stood, grew and triumphed
despite oppositions. Perhaps our primary opposition is materialism
and affluence and a surrounding unbelieving world that would seek
to marginalize us. Read it at one
sitting and catch these things.
FRAMEWORKS:
2 Thessalonians 1
[Chapter
Synopsis: to a church that is growing in grace, in faith
and in love, but which is having to stand in the face of opposition
and persecution, encouragement to trust God to justly deal with
those who oppose them and the gospel]
v.1-2
Greetings
v.3-5
Their Perseverance & Faith in the face of persecutions
v.6-10
God will judge the persecutors and unbelievers
v.11,12
Their Prayer Support
v.1-2
Greetings
v.1
(From three
apostles) Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ:
v.2
(grace &
peace to the church) Grace and
peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
v.3-5
Their Perseverance & Faith in the face of persecutions
[Passage
Synopsis: your fame as you grow and overcome persecution
stirs us to pray and encourages other churches]
v.3
(our praying
is motivated because we hear of your growing faith and love)
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.
v.4
(your reputation
for coping with persecution is well known) Therefore,
among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith
in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
v.5
(and you have
God's approval) 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.
v.6-10
God will judge the persecutors and unbelievers
[Passage
Synopsis: Judgment will come on unbelieving persecutors]
v.6,7
(God will deal
with those who persecute you and us, if not before, when Jesus
returns) God is just: he will
pay back trouble to those who trouble you 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.
v.8
(all who reject
the gospel will be punished) He
will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel
of our Lord Jesus.
v.9,10
(there is no
hope of second chances once he returns) They
will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from
the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 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.
v.11,12
Their Prayer Support
[Passage
Synopsis: prayer is thus the natural response, to ask
the Lord to help them grow in Christ]
v.11
(thus we pray
for you that you will stand, grow and be fruitful) 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.
v.12
(we pray so
Jesus will be glorified in you) 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.
(CONTINUE
to CHAPTER 2)