2 Thessalonians Ch1
- Bible exposition of David Lim
2 Thessalonians Ch1 -ASV
1. Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ;
Paul(Paulos) did not just write by himself alone. The letter of Paul also represent the letter (pros) of other co-workers of Christ.
1. Paulos kai Silouanos kai Timotheos tee ekkleesia Thessalonikeoon en Theoo Patri heemoon kai Kurioo Ieesou Christoo, -Gk
Non-believers / pseudochristians often claim that the letters named by the authors and apostles were not written by them; but somebody who want to assume their authorities.
These letters had to be read in the churches/assemblies before they were recognised as authoritative and compiled as scriptures. Very likely they would have been carried to the intended churches by known christians who testified to the source and authorship. There is also the signature of Paul and familiar handwriting as witnesses.
It is hard to believe that the christians in these local churches who spent time with and listened to these apostles and preachers would not recognise the style of writing, doctrinal teaching of the authors, and the senders/carriers of these letters.
As in this letter, a number of leaders claimed authorship. This forms internal witnesses, and agreement in doctinal content.
The churches could easily find confirmation from any of the writers. Also any of the 3 and their disciples could spot any forgery.
2. Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessing from Paul includes that of the Father and the Master (kurios, Kuriou) Jesus Christ.
The trinity is rarely preached. The Holy Spirit ought to have remained with the christians.
Blessings of the Spirit was close by and heart felt. No need for somebody afar to pass on the blessing.
God imparts grace first. And peace is a consequence of action and deed.
3. We are bound to give thanks to God always to you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith growth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth;
Christian faith are growing through difficulties.
Our experience help us develop our love for members of the body of Christ.
3. |2168| to give thanks |3784| We ought |3588| - |2316| to God |3482| always |4012| concerning |2257| you, |0080| brothers, |2532| even as |0514| right |2076| it is. |3754| Because |5232| grows tremendously |3588| the |4102| faith |2257| of you, |2532| and |4121| multiplies |3588| the |0026| love |1520| one |1538| of each |3956| all |5216| of you |1722| to |0240| each other, -Lit
We ought to|3588|, we owe God our continuing thanks.
God deserves |0514| our giving thanks to Him continually.
We are happy/grateful concerning your tremendous growth in the faith. Our happiness is not a selfish one. It is directly built on your happiness and benefit, your strength and stability in God. Your glory is our glory. All enter into a great commonwealth.
You also love each other and all of the assembly. There is mutual love attributed to the love of God who is the source of love and happiness. Our action is our reminder of Him who sent us.
4. so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure;
Not just one church as just one branch from the vine; but churches/assemblies(ekkleesiais) - branches.
Patience and faith in our persecutions and endurance of affliction are mainifesting the righteous judgment of God. It is within the control and decision of the Most High.
He judged us worthy for such difficulties, and counted that His glory.
Let us not loss heart in our difficulties, knowing that He is taking care of the process and consequence of all that happen to us.
5. which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
What we have in churches are token of his righteous judgment. The great judgment to come at the end of the world will be much more awesome. The bigger judgment is yet to come.
The entirety of His glory and righteous is exceedingly more glorious and substantial. More real and realistic than what we now experience as real and substantial.
6. if so be that it is righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you,
Let the final judgment be the calling of God. Let the Lord our God be God.
Render glory of decision and deliverance to God. Know our source of power and will.
Know that God will show all His fairness at the end.
7. and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,
All of us christians will rest together from labor in the world. The apostles had received affliction to participate suffering with the whole church; to be fore-runners of service to Christ. Let the younger brenthren take heart that unless all these suffering first take place, the church will not have final union with the suffering Christ.
Christ is in heaven with the angels.
Even His angels of His power exhibit His power and glory in flaming fire.
We understand power as energy and heat. Flaming fire expresses no lack in transmission of energy and heat.
8. rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:
The Lord is indignant to sin. The Lord God indeed can be angry, and have Wrath. He therefore can be fair and punishes sin. This is good news that God will show the whole world His glory and justice.
The punishment of God is described as rendering vengeance.
The gospel is not just the 4 gospel books in the bible as some organisation would teach the world and their followers.
The gospel (too euangelioo) refers to the whole preachable message/tiding of our lord Jesus.
The Word of God as in scriptures is the gospel of our Lord Jesus. There is love story. There is law and justice. There is comfort and warning, reproof and acceptance, direction and foretold consequence; and the Great Commission, labor and rest. It points to our great expectation.
9. who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
Paul does not teach that all will be saved from punishment in the life to come.
Paul teaches eternal destruction just as John and Christ have taught in scriptures. Eternal destruction is referred in the Bible as the second death. Death is a certained consequence. A shortlived death followed by ressurection is described as sleep, wound and rest.
The corrupt will remain corrupt in front of the Lord.
The Lord is mighty enough to destroy evil. This is part of the strength of His glory.
10. when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.
His saints are part of His glorification.
Glory is not remotely connected to christians, His creatures.
At the same time, we may enjoy His glorification. Singing praises is great! Working for Him is also great.
"in that day" sets the target of the threshold to eternal union with God and Christ in heavenly state.
The end things, eschatos, be the target and encouragement to our race and service in life.
The glorious end is in sight.
We are not working without direction. We are not striving aimlessly, hitting air. We have God in sight and in mind.
His plan is not vieled to us. His revelation is already made known in word and deed. The bible is substantial, material, physical and readable.
11. To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and every work of faith, with power;
Paul is not just a loner.
Paul worked with other stewards of Christ. It is team work at different levels.
What all the co-workers do is to pray always for christians, people who are in Christ; the elect.
They pray for the will and action of God; not just what christians would do as initiated.
It is the initiation of God that matters first and foremost. He first called.
"your calling" - christians are called to God and called to be with God. God takes the initiation. We are to follow. Never to lead God. Render all glory to God.
God fulfills desires of goodness and every work of faith.
With what? With Power.
12. that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul's hope is that the name (representation of the attribute of Christ) of our lord (our common Master) Jesus may be glorified in the Thessalonians and all christians who would have the blessings in reading his letter and taking it to heart.
We are glorified in His name if we indeed follow His (the Master's) will.
We are able to glorify Him according to the grace of our God(the God we all share and relate to).
Jesus the Christ is regarded as our God and the Master/Lord. We need to keep in our attention more than one attribute of Jesus. He is not just our Lord in some sense. He is Lord in all senses, bringing all to submission; and He is first and foremost God.
He is not just God, but out Lord also. He is far from being remotely related to us.
He is gracious and remains faithful to us and to His promises. He will accomplish what He first set out to do.
By His grace, we are what we are.
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