2 Thessalonians 1

Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus commend the Thessalonians for their exceedingly growing faith and abounding charity amidst persecutions. They affirm that these trials are a manifest token of God's righteous judgment, preparing them for His kingdom. The apostles pray for their continued worthiness, anticipating the Lord Jesus' glorious return to bring rest to the afflicted and vengeance upon the disobedient.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus open their epistle by extending grace and peace to the Thessalonian church. They express profound gratitude for the Thessalonians' exceptional growth in faith and their overflowing love for one another. The apostles openly glory in the Thessalonians' steadfast patience and unwavering faith, even while enduring severe persecutions and tribulations. These sufferings are declared a clear sign of God's righteous judgment, demonstrating their worthiness for the kingdom of God. The letter assures them that God will justly recompense their persecutors with tribulation, while granting rest to the afflicted at the glorious revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven. This revelation will involve Christ, accompanied by mighty angels, executing vengeance in flaming fire upon those who do not know God or obey His gospel, leading to their everlasting destruction. Conversely, Christ will be glorified in His saints and admired by all believers on that day. The apostles conclude by praying that God would empower the Thessalonians to fulfill their calling and that Christ's name might be glorified in them through divine grace.

The epistle opens with a salutation from Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus to the church of the Thessalonians, extending grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The authors immediately express their obligation to continually thank God for the Thessalonians, acknowledging that it is fitting due to their remarkably growing faith and the abundant charity each member shows toward one another. This spiritual progress is so significant that Paul and his companions openly glory in the Thessalonians among other churches of God, specifically commending their patience and unwavering faith despite all the persecutions and tribulations they endure. These trials are presented as a manifest token of God's righteous judgment, indicating that their suffering is preparing them to be counted worthy of the kingdom of God. The text emphasizes God's inherent righteousness, stating that it is just for Him to recompense tribulation upon those who trouble the believers. Conversely, those who are troubled are promised rest alongside the apostles when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven. This revelation will be accompanied by His mighty angels, appearing in flaming fire to take vengeance. This divine retribution will be directed at those who do not know God and who refuse to obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their punishment is described as everlasting destruction, signifying their exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. On that same day, the Lord Jesus will come to be glorified in His saints and to be admired by all who believe, a belief substantiated by the apostles' testimony among them. Therefore, the apostles consistently pray for the Thessalonians, asking that God would deem them worthy of their divine calling. Their prayer also seeks that God would fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and empower their work of faith. The ultimate purpose of these prayers and the Thessalonians' steadfastness is that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ might be glorified in them, and they in Him, all according to the abounding grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.