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2
Thessalonians Chapter One
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Remembrance of the Church in the Lord
A. Introduction (v.1-2):
1. The writer and receiver (v.1);
2. Greeting (v.2);
B. Thanksgiving for the Church (v.3-5):
1. For their faith and love grow and abound
(v.3);
2. For their patience and faith endure in tribulations (v.4-5):
a.This is a testimony to all the churches
(v.4);
b.This is the manifest evidence of the
righteous judgment of God (v
c. This is the evidence that they are
counted worthy of the
C. Comfort to the church in tribulations
(v.6-10):
1. God is righteous and will surely repay with
tribulation (v.6):
a.He will repay with tribulation those who
trouble you (v.6);
b.He will give those who are troubled rest (v
2. The time and condition of God’s righteous
judgment (v.7b-10):
a.When the Lord is revealed from heaven in
flaming fire (v.7b);
b.He will take vengeance on those who do not
know God and on those who do not obey the gospel (v.8);
c. They shall be punished with everlasting
destruction (v.9);
d.When the Lord comes, He shall be glorified
in His saints (v.10);
D. Intercession for the church (v.11-12):
1. The items of intercession:
a.May God would count you worthy of this
calling (v
b.May God fulfill all the good pleasure and
the work with power (v.11b);
2. The purpose of intercession ---- that the
name of our Lord may be glorified in the church, and the church in Him (v.12);
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
2Thess. 1:1 “Paul, Silvanus, and
Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ”
YLT: “Paul, and Silvanus,
and Timotheus, to the assembly of Thessalonians in God our Father, and the Lord
Jesus Christ:”
Literal Meaning: this verse is
exactly the same with the first verse of the first book. Please refer to the
commentary of the first book (1:
“God the Father”, the God is
not only the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ but also the Father of all
believers.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The church of God the Father (Gal. 1:13) is
also the church of the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:22).
2) Once the church has gone away from God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, she will be no longer called the church.
3) The church is never of any spiritual giant.
Therefore, every time when we mention the church in a certain place, we shall
never call it “the church of someone”, for it sins against God.
2Thess. 1:2 “Grace to you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
YLT: “Grace to you, and
peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!”
Literal Meaning: please refer to the
commentary of the first Book (1:1b). Note that “grace” is always before
“peace”. We can only enjoy true peace after we have received grace.
“From God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ”, it indicates that
God the Father is the origin of grace and peace. And the Lord Jesus is the
channel, through whom only believers are enabled to receive grace and peace
from God the Father.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The most significant mission of the church
on the earth today is shining for the Lord and bearing the glorious testimony
of the Lord. For this sake, we shall receive the grace of God from God
unceasingly so that we shall shine the light of life.
2) Satan hates the church mostly and schemes to
attack the church by all sorts of means. Therefore, we shall experience more
peace of God in
all persecutions and tribulations
so as not to be moved.
2Thess. 1:3 “We are bound to thank God
always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows
exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,”
YLT: “We ought to give
thanks to God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because increase greatly
doth your faith, and abound doth the love of each one of you all, to one
another;”
Meaning of Words: “fitting”: deserving, suitable, due reward, worthy;
“grow exceedingly”:
increase above ordinary degree; “abound”: multiply,
increase, be more;
Literal Meaning: “brethren”, from verse three to ten in the original,
it is a long sentence. In the beginning of this sentence, Paul calls them
“brethren” to express his inter intimate sentiment toward the church in
tribulations.
“We
are bound to thank God always for you”,
“are bound to”: have to; “always” tells us that the thanksgiving is not
accidental, but frequent. “Thank God…for you”, it shows that the good
performance of believers in Thessalonica shall be own to the works of God on
them, so Paul thanks God.
“As it is fitting”, “be bound to” emphasizes what
is bound to be done toward God. Here “fitting” shows it is just of doing so
toward believers in Thessalonica. In other words, the former (“be bound to”)
refers to the responsibility of the Lord’s worker, and the latter (“be bound
to”) is the right that believers are worthy to obtain.
“Because you faith grows exceedingly”, “grows
exceedingly”, it means growing beyond the normal speed. Faith is as a grain of
mustard seed (Matt. 17:20) and will grow. At first, Paul was anxious about the
faith of believers in Thessalonica (see 1Thess. 3:5). Later, though he was
comforted, he still found the shortage and hoped to perfect
what is
lacking in their faith (see 1Thess. 3:7, 10). And now, Paul felt
that the growth of their faith is beyond his expectation, so it is worthy of
thanksgiving to God.
“And the love of every one of you all abounds
toward each other”, “abound”, it refers to the increase in both quantity and
quality. “Grow exceedingly” emphasizes the growth of an organism, and “abound”
emphasizes the increase of quantity. Therefore, it indicates that the love of
believers in Thessalonica among one another has spread from the whole church
(see 1Thess. 4:9-10) to each individual of the church (every one of you).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Thanksgiving to God is not only believers’
privilege but rather our duty and responsibility. We “are bound to” always
thank God.
2) Everyone who is called as “brother” shall
have something that makes others thank God for him.
3) Though the servants of the Lord may
unavoidably suffer difficulties and hardship in works, once they see the growth
of the saints whom they serve in the Lord, they cannot but give thanks to God.
4) If we are able to find the works of the
living and true God from us and believers around us, we will naturally give
thanks to Him.
5) God is perfectly worthy of our thanksgiving.
What God has done to us will never be less than our thanks to Him. However, our
thanksgiving always fails to come up with the grace of God.
6) Today, there are many Christians who have
openly obtained the blessing and goodness from God, but they do not thank God
but thank men. It is really not “fitting”!
7) The most highly lethal weapon against Satan
is praise. The best way of overcoming hardship is thanksgiving.
8) The increase of faith is endless. The
unceasing growth is good, and exceeding growth is better.
9) Love is not sufficient if it does not
“abound”. And brotherly affection is not sufficient if there is no love to all
(2Pet. 1:7).
10) The growth of faith is a kind of inner
growth, which grows with the increase of the experience of God in the inner
life. Love is a kind of external increase, which abounds with the daily life
and the increase of the contact with the saints.
11) Tribulation makes us selfish. However, if
tribulation is linked with grace and faith, love will be produced, for the
faith in such condition is “faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6). When
Christians are in afflictions, their faith will rise upon God and their love
will be unto brothers and sisters.
2Thess. 1:4 “so that we ourselves
boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your
persecutions and tribulations that you endure,”
YLT: “so that we
ourselves do glory in you in the assemblies of God, for your endurance and
faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye bear;”
Meaning
of Words: “patience”: endurance, constancy, patient
continuance; “persecutions”: follow after, press forward; “tribulations”: trouble, pressure;
Literal Meaning: “so that we
ourselves boast of you among the churches of God”, “we ourselves” it is
emphatic. It seems to be uncommon of boasting of the church Paul himself has
built among all the churches. If it is not because the church in Thessalonica
has outstanding performance, Paul may not mention the church in Thessalonica
among the churches. Note that Paul mentions in the first book (1Thess.1:8) that
“we have no need to say anything” and yet now he boasts of them. Therefore, the
performance of believers in Thessalonica has become more excellent.
“The
churches of God”, generally it may
refer to all the churches built by Paul and other apostles (see 1Cor. 11:16).
Here, it may relate to all the churches built by Paul.
“In all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure”, “you endure”, in the original it is
present tense, showing that the church in Thessalonica at that time is still in
persecutions. “All”, it refers to not only various persecutions and
tribulations but also unceasing persecutions and tribulations for many times. “Persecution” means external infliction or pressure. Here it
refers to the troubles caused by the faith of the Lord Jesus (see Rom. 8:35).
“Tribulation” means affliction because of pressure and
burden. Here it refers to not only all the afflictions caused by persecutions
but also all the troubles coming upon them.
“Patience
and faith”, “patience” in the original is a kind of active power
resisting persecutions, not passive tolerance. Such patience is produced by the
hope of the Lord Jesus Christ (1Thess. 1:3). “Patience and faith”, both of them are mentioned together, for
they are linked together. Patience makes men suffer with steadfastness in
tribulations and persistent in faith in persecutions. And faith strengthens
their patience.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The character and virtue perfected in the
life of believers by the trial of tribulations are the best testimony that may
encourage the churches of God.
2) Tribulations not only help us grow but also
foster others to increase. God comforts us so that we will be able to comfort
others (2Cor. 1:4-5). We shall not only be the pool of receiving and reserving
water but rather the canal and channel of receiving and conveying water.
3) Our faith shall stand the test of various
environments. No matter how difficult the environment is or how fierce the
persecution is, our faith cannot be shaken.
4) Faith that has never been tried is
unreliable. The life of ease keeps man’s faith in a shallow level. Therefore,
tribulations and persecutions are the great way of God to strengthen our faith.
5) Verse three and four not only mention faith
and love but also patience. And patience is because of hope. Therefore, faith
and love and hope are complete. Faith, hope and love are the foundation of
Christians’ spiritual life as well as the good way for Christians to endure
persecutions and tribulations.
6) If a Christian desires to be pious toward
God, he must have faith. He who desires to serve men and build the church shall
be bound to have love. He who desires to persist with the goal of his life, he
shall have hope.
2Thess. 1:5: “which is manifest
evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of
the
YLT: “a token of the
righteous judgment of God, for your being counted worthy of the reign of God,
for which also ye suffer,”
Meaning of Words: “manifest evidence”: clear token, indication;
Literal Meaning: “which is manifest
evidence of the righteous judgment of God”, “which is…”, it relates to the
patience and faith of believers in Thessalonica in persecutions and
tribulations (see v.4). “The manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of
God”, there are several different explanations as follows:
1) Their persistent faith is out of God,
proving that God’s judgment upon them is righteous, for God has not forsaken
them.
2) Their persistent faith lets them obtain good
testimony in the churches of God. Therefore, God allows men to suffer
tribulations and grants men comfort in tribulations (see v.4), which proves
that God’s judgment is righteous.
3) Their persistent faith is the evidence of
the righteous judgment of God. He will repay the wicked men according to
righteousness (see v.6).
4) Their persistent faith proves that God will
judge them to be worthy of the
5) Man’s internal heart and external deeds are
the evidences of God’s righteous judgment. They are the grounds that decide
whether God accepts or gives up someone (Rom. 1:24, 26) today, and are the
proofs through which God will reward men in the future.
6) Believers keep the persistent faith in
tribulations, proving the verity of the righteous judgment of God manifested by
the gospel. Both believers and unbelievers of the gospel will be under the
righteous judgment of God.
The above-mentioned six explanations interpret the
righteous judgment of God from different angles, seeming to be reasonable
respectively and yet not perfect still. We shall accept them selectively and
synthesize each valuable point of them.
“That
you may be counted worthy of the
“For
which you also suffer”, “for which”: for
the profit of the kingdom, or for the sake of the kingdom;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Believers shall see the tribulations we
suffer with a positive attitude, for tribulations will cultivate and improve
us, thus making us worthy of the
2) Only those who are counted worthy will be
able to enter into the
3) Though many tribulations, we must enter into
the
4) The sweetest thing of man’s life is obtained
from bitterness. Wheat can be used to make bread after being ground. The holy
incense will give out the fragrant odour only when it is burnt in the fire. The
dust will be fit to sow the seeds after it is dug. In like manner, a broken
heart shall please God. The sweet joy of man’s life is the fruit of sorrow.
5) We shall comfort others after we have
personally experienced many tribulations. If you desire to be a messenger of
comfort, if you desire to have part in the gift of mercy, if you want to have
fresh consolation to uphold brethren in the trials, if you long to lead a
smooth and profitable life without hurting others, you have to pay the cost
willingly ---- suffer the tribulations for the Lord.
6) The chief reason why God lets us suffer
tribulations is to remove the natural constitutions in us. That is to say, He
demolishes the old man of us in order to renew and build the inward new man
(2Cor. 4:16). Only those whose spiritual conditions have passed the judgment of
God are worthy of the
7) We should be through many tribulations
before entering into the
8) The way to the
9) The religionists aim at seeking physical and
mental peace and profit. However, Christians have enjoyed true peace and grace
in afflictions or through tribulations.
10) The common people may apostatize from their
original faith because of tribulations. Only a minority have discerned the
connotation of faith through tribulations ---- they are true winners.
2Thess. 1:6 “since it is a righteous
thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,”
YLT: “since a righteous
thing with God to give back to those troubling you -- trouble,”
Meaning of Words: “repay”: requite,
recompense, render;
Literal Meaning: “since it is a
righteous thing with God”, here Paul especially emphasizes the “righteousness”
of God (see v.5). It is in tribulations that men may most easily doubt the
righteousness of God.
“Repay with tribulation
those who trouble you”, “repay” is different from the word “take vengeance on”
in verse eight. This verse emphasizes the tribulations that believers suffer
today (see v.4), and God will repay with more serious tribulations those who
trouble believers.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God’s bowel is love, and the principle of
His working is righteousness. If man is unable to meet the demand of God’s
righteousness, he shall not obtain the loving-kindness of God.
2) God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man
sows, that also shall he reap (Gal. 6:7).
3) Sin and sorrow are linked together. If man
sows sins in this age, he must reap sorrow at present or in the future.
2Thess. 1:7 “and to give you who are
troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His
mighty angels,”
YLT: “and to you who are
troubled -- rest with us in the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven, with
messengers of his power,”
Meaning of Words: “rest”: relaxation,
relief, liberty, peace; “reveal”: appear, come, manifest;
Literal Meaning: “and to give you who
are troubles”, the righteousness of God manifests in those who trouble
believers (see v.6) as well as believers who are troubled.
“Rest with us”, “rest” refers to the relaxation and
relief after sorrow or struggle or labor, and it is a restful and peaceful and
comfortable state (see 2Cor. 2:13; 7:5). This is the hope of those who are in
tribulations as well as the blessing in the
“When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with
His mighty angels”, “mighty angels”: possibly it is a certain rank of angels
who receive special might to fulfill the will of God; and it also means that
these accompanying angels are with the Lord’s power and glory (see Mark 8:38;
Matt. 25:31). “Reveal”: the Lord’s second coming; Christ now is hidden, and
many people even deny His existence. However, when He comes again, everyone
shall see Him and know Him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Believers suffer the persecutions and
tribulations in this world, and will be released when the Lord comes again and
enter into the Lord’s rest and liberty.
2) If the affliction believers suffer today is
compared with the peace and glory in the future, it is only “momentary and
light” (2Cor. 4:17) and unworthy (Rom. 8:18).
3) We Christians shall live for eternity rather
than this world. In fact, living in the “insight of eternal value” makes our
present life significant.
4) “Rest” is not only being released from
sorrows and tribulations but also pleasing the Lord and abiding with Him and
enjoying the rest and liberty in the light of His countenance (see v.9).
2Thess. 1:8 “in flaming fire taking
vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
YLT: “in flaming fire,
giving vengeance to those not knowing God, and to those not obeying the good
news of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Meaning of Words: “taking vengeance on”: vindication, retribution, punishment; “know”: be ware, behold, consider;
Literal Meaning: “in flaming fire”, “flaming fire” symbolizes judgment, showing that
the Lord shall come to punish sins (see Is. 66:15; Dan. 7:9; Rev. 1:14). Here
it especially refers to His terrible majesty and glory (see Heb. 12:18-21,
28-29).
“Taking
vengeance on”, “take vengeance”
and “righteousness” share the same source of word. Therefore, “take vengeance”
here indicates an action of upholding justice, which is different from man’s
“reprisal” out of malice. To those who suffer reprisal, they just “reap as they
have sown”.
“Those
who do not know God”, it is not those who have never heard the true God
but those who stubbornly despise God and resist confessing Him (see 2:10, 12;
Rom. 1:28).
“And
on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”, “not obey the gospel”, here it especially means the doubtful
attitude toward the person and the redemptive works of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He who does not obey the gospel has refused to confess the Lord Jesus.
Both the above-mentioned two kinds of people will
be under the righteous punishment of God.
According to the description of this verse, some
Bible exegetes think there are two groups of men who persecute the church in
Thessalonica (see Acts 17:5): 1) the Gentiles who do not know God; 2) the Jews
who have a partial knowledge of God and yet neither believe the gospel nor
receive the Lord Jesus Christ.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Taking vengeance” is different from
“reprisal”, for the former is to meet the demand of God’s righteousness, and
the latter is to give vent to individual hatred.
2) If one has never heard the gospel, he may
have the chance of remedy (since it is not clearly mentioned in the Scriptures,
we are unable to affirm it). However, if one purposefully ignores the gospel
and always refuses God, he cannot pass the buck on that day.
3) The only way for men to be delivered from
the judgment of God is repentance and asking God for remission. However, those
who have no God in their sight must not receive the forgiveness of God.
2Thess. 1:9 “These shall be punished
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory
of His power,”
YLT: “who shall suffer
justice -- destruction age-during -- from the face of the Lord, and from the
glory of his strength,”
Meaning of Words: “destruction”: ruin, punishment; “power”: strength, might, forcefulness; “glory”: dignity, honor;
Literal Meaning: “these shall be punished with
everlasting destruction”, “destruction”, it does not coming to nothing, but “utter
ruin and losing the value of existence”. Here it means they shall be punished
with everlasting separation from Christ, so they will suffer forever and lose
the significance of existence. The everlasting isolation from the Lord is the
punishment of sin as well as the nature of the hell.
“From
the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power”, the Lord is a Lord of glory (1Cor. 2:8).
Though He was despised and crucified on the earth, He has now risen and
ascended into the heaven and has been glorified (see John 17:1; Luke 24:26;
Heb. 2:9). When He comes again, He shall come with mighty glory from the heaven
(see v.7; Rev. 10:1; Matt. 25:31). At that time, sinners will be under the
punishment of departing from the presence of the Lord and, namely, eternal
destruction.
Note that there are three different kinds of God’s
judgment in the last days: 1) the judgment before the judgment-seat of the
Christ ---- the object is believers (see 2Cor. 5:10); 2) the judgment before
the glorious throne of Christ ---- the object is all the nations who are alive
on the earth (see Matt. 25:31-46); 3) the judgment before the great white
throne ---- the object is men in the world who have no part in the first
resurrection (see Rev. 20:6-15).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If man refuses the light of the gospel now,
he will not see the glory of the Lord’s power. Today, the light of the gospel
condemns their unbelief, and the manifestation of the Lord’s coming will
destroy them (2Thess. 2:8).
2) All those who lead a life which seems to
have no god will depart from the presence of God in the coming age and shall
not enjoy His glory.
3) The true meaning of hell is eternal
isolation from God, which is most unendurable punishment to men.
2Thess. 1:10 “when He comes, in that
Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who
believe, because our testimony among you was believed.”
YLT: “when He may come to
be glorified in his saints, and to be wondered at in all those believing –
because our testimony was believed among you -- in that day;”
Meaning of Words: “come”: appear, fall
out; “admire”: marvel, wonder, have in admiration;
Literal Meaning: “when He comes …
to be glorified in His saints”, when the Lord
comes again, His glory will be manifested in His believers. Such glory is
Christ himself who has now dwelt in us (see
“In
that Day … and to be admired among all
those who believe”, “that Day” refers to the day of the Lord’s coming.
In that Day, the glory of the Lord manifested in those who believe is that
which eyes has not seen, and ear not heard, and which has not come into man’s
heart (1Cor. 2:8-9). Therefore, they admire for such situation.
“Because
our testimony among you was believed”,
the preachment of the gospel is testifying all the works of Christ done in men,
including redemption, regeneration, transformation etc., until when men are
like Him.
Controversial
Clarification: “is glorified in
His saints”, some Bible exegetes interpret “saints” as angels. However,
according to the context, it is proper to interpret it as believer (see v.12).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Lord’s salvation shall not only bring us
into glory (Heb. 2:10) but also transform us into conformity to his body of
glory (Phil.3:21). It is not only the translation of the objective position but
also the transformation of the subjective nature.
2) We shall not despise the works of the Lord
in believers. Today, we see little spiritual transformation with physical eyes.
However, in that Day, we shall greatly admire, for each believer is the
“workmanship” of God (Eph. 2:10).
3) See that we do not despise anyone in the
church (Matt. 18:10), for the Lord has chosen Him and shall manifest His glory
on Him.
2Thess. 1:11 “Therefore we also pray
always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill
all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,”
YLT: “for which also we
do pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of the calling, and
may fulfil all the good pleasure of goodness, and the work of the faith in
power,”
Meaning
of Words: “worthy”: deem entitled, fit, count worthy; “fulfill”: make replete, complete, make full,
perfect, accomplish; “pleasure”: desire, seem good, delight;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore we also pray
always for you”, “therefore”, for the sake of (see v.10); “always”: unceasing;
“That
our God would count you worthy of this calling”, “count”: from the
perspective of God, not the perspective of man; “worthy
of this calling”, it indicates that the daily life after we have
called and the condition of inner life should be worthy of our calling and
mission. Otherwise, we are unable to give an account to God.
“And
fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness”,
“good pleasure of His goodness”, every good purpose and work of faith are of God.
Therefore, Paul prays to God to fulfill them.
“And
the work of faith with power”, it is the work
motivated by faith (see 1Thess. 1:3).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christians are widely reviled because of the
inconformity of their works with their identity ---- they say and do not (see
Matt. 23:3); their walking is unworthy of the gospel of Christ (see Phil. 1:27).
2) Believers shall firstly desire all the
goodness of God with purpose and then ask God for help (see Acts. 11:23).
3) Our faith does not stand in the wisdom of
men, but in God’ power (2Cor. 2:5). It is God who works His great power in us
after we have been saved both the willing and working for His good pleasure
(see Phil. 2:13).
4) Though we believers are weak, Christ in us
is not weak. Christ is powerful in us. We are weak, but He is powerful and
shall fulfill all good works in us with great power.
2Thess. 1:12 “that the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of
our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
YLT: “that the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the
grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.”
Literal Meaning: “that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”, “name”: in the ancient times, the name of
a man is often the sign of him as well as his character, “the name of our Lord Jesus”, it is Christ Himself and His life and
nature.
“May
be glorified in you”, it means that when the life and work of believers
are completely worthy of the calling of God (see v.11), the glory of Christ
will be manifested among them. That is to say, Christ is glorified among them.
In other words, Christ is magnified in them (Phil. 1:20).
“And
you in Him”, believers’ glorifying the Lord is totally on
account of the works of Christ in them, so we are also glorified in Him.
“According
to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ”, “grace”: the graciousness of God given to me in
the Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor. 1:4). Since it is the grace of God, it is also the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor. 16:23). Through the grace, we will be
enabled to glorify the Lord and glorified in the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Glorifying the Lord’s name shall be the goal
and principle of believers’ walking in the world ---- “whatever you do, do all
things to God's glory” (1Cor. 10:31).
2) Believers should glorify the name of the
Lord among us through all
the good pleasure of His goodness
(see v.11) fulfilled by the great power of God. Therefore, when the Lord comes
again, we shall glorify the Lord among us (see v.10).
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Reasons for the Firmness of the Church
A. For she has faithful servants of the Lord (v
B. For she has solid foundation in God the
Father and Christ (v.1b);
C. For believers have obtained grace and peace
(v.2);
D. For the faith of believers grow exceedingly
(v
E. For the love of believers abounds toward each
other (v.3b);
F. For the patience and faith of believers
endure in persecutions and tribulations (v.4);
The Relation of God with Believers in the
Past, at Present and in the Future
A. What God had done for believers in the past
(v.1-4):
1. He is the safeguard of believers ---- the
church is in Him (v.1);
2. He is the provision of believers ---- grace
and peace are given by Him (v.2);
3. He makes believers increase ---- faith grows
exceedingly and love abounds (v.3);
4. He makes believers stand ---- patience and
faith endure in all persecutions and tribulations (v.4);
B. What God shall do for believers in the
future (v.5-10):
1. He judges that believers are worthy of the
2. He repays with tribulation those who trouble
believers (v.6);
3. When the Lord comes again, He shall give
believers who are troubled rest (v.7).
4. He shall also punish those who are wicked
with everlasting destruction (v.8-9).
5. In that Day, He will be glorified in those
who believe (v.10).
C. What God is doing for believers at present
(v.11-12):
1. He encourages believers to lead a life
worthy of the calling (v
2. He fulfills all the good pleasure of His
goodness and the work of faith with power (v.11b).
3. He lets the name of the Lord glorified in
them according to His grace (v.12).
Why Paul Praises the Church in Thessalonica
A. For their faith grows exceedingly (v.3b);
B. For the love of them abounds toward each
other (v.3b);
C. For their patience and faith endure in all
persecutions and tribulations (v.4b);
D. For their testimony has helped all the
churches of God (v
Know the Judgment of God
A. The reason of judgment ---- God is righteous
(v
B. The result of judgment ---- he who is
unrighteous will suffer affliction and he who is righteous shall obtain peace
(v.6b
C. The executioner of judgment ---- the Lord
Jesus with His mighty angels (v.7b);
D. The object of judgment ---- those who do not
know God and who do not obey the gospel (v.8);
E. The sentence of judgment ---- they will be
punished with everlasting destruction (v.9);
F. The time of judgment ---- in the Day of the
Lord’s coming that shall be admired (v.10);
G. The removal of judgment ---- those whom God
count worthy of His calling (v.11-12);
The Purposes of Paul’s Prayer for the Church
in Thessalonica
(Or the Goals of Believers’ Pursuit at
Present)
A. May God the Father would count you worthy of
this calling (v
B. May God fulfill all the good pleasure of His
goodness with power (v.11b);
C. May God fulfill the work of faith with power (v
D. May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may
be glorified in them (or us)
according to the grace of God and Christ (v
E. May they (or we) are glorified in Him according to the grace of God and Christ
(v.12b);
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou