2 Thessalonians 1

Exposition 1:1-12 I. Pastoral Encouragement.

A. Praise of the church. 1:1-4 b. Promise to the church. 1:5-10 C. Prayer for the church. 1:11-12

1. The Saints abounds through their persecution - Good abounds. 1:3-4

2. The Saviour abounds through their persecution - Glory abounds. 1:10-12

3. Encouragement. 1:1-4

4. Exhortation. 1:5-12

In this chapter Paul Commends and Comforts the Thessalonians in their Persecution,. He deals with the Discouraged believers Persecution and Restores their Hope.

V.1-12 Describes 2 different groups of people with 2 different eternal futures.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4

A. Praise of the church. 1:1-4

V.1-2 From - To - From I. It is almost the same introduction as in 1.Thessalonians 1:1. II. It was Paul and Silas (Silvanus) that had established the Church and Timothy was sent to them later to bring them further in the Lord.

III. 1 and 2 Thessalonians are the only epistles of Paul without any further explanations about himself or his workers in the intro. (Also Hebrews has no intro) IV. Grace is the Greek way of saluting and Peace is the Hebrew way of saluting. V.3 a) Exceedingly Growth - I. Paul begins the letter with thanksgiving and prayer.

II. Paul thanked God for the Thessalonians faith and love but not for their hope. Their hope was not abounding but on shaky ground, in due to their lack of understanding the Day of the Lord. III. This is the first thanksgiving out of two. 2:13

IV. Grow exceedingly - A. (Gr.huperauxano) Means to increase above (ordinary degree). B. Among all the churches that Paul began, the faith of the church of Thessalonica grew an extra ordinary growth.

C. Sadly this is the only place the word “huperauxano” occurs in N.T. V. Their love abounded to each other, it wasn’ t the “huperauxano” the increase above ordinary degree. 1.Cor.13:13 VI. In the first epistle to the Thessalonains they had been exhorted by Paul to abound in love, 1.Thess.3:12; 4:9-10. they did abound.

VII. They had acted on the exhortation to put on the breastplate of faith and love. They had failed in some aspect to follow up on the taking on the helmet of hope and suffered, this is one of the purposes Paul writes the epistle. 1.Thess.5:8 VIII. “ Grow exceedingly” can be referring to a tree growing, abounding to a river flowing.

V.4 b) Endurance through Growth -

I. Perseverance in Persecution. Heb.12:1-2 II. They had patience because of the testing of their faith. Jam.1:2-4, 12 III. Patience is:

A. Based upon our hope. Rom.8:25 B. Developed by the Scriptures. Rom.15:4 C. Needed to receive the promise. Heb.10:36 D. Strengthened as we look unto Jesus. Heb.12:1-3

2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

b. Promise to the church. 1:5-10 V.5-9 Reveals the Judge, the judged and the judgement.

What v.5-6 When v.7-10

V.5 c) Evidence of their Growth - The Persecuted

I. The righteous judgment of God is manifested through judging the wicked and rewarding the righteous, their persecutions cried out for the intervention of the Judge. II. Through their sufferings they had been transformed and changed like gold is purified in fire. This change manifested outwardly the worthiness for the kingdom of God, they manifested what they already had inwardly. III. All believers are worthy of the kingdom of God by Christ’ s nature within, but it is not all who allows that worthiness to be manifested. Col.1:12; Eph.4:1; Phil.1:27 IV. Good works are an evidence of salvation, salvation is never an evidence of good works. V. Those that live a life worthy of the kingdom of God gets special rewards. Matt.5:11-12; 2.Tim.2:12

V.6 a) Repaid by God’ s Righteousness - The Persecutors

I. Persecutors will be Punished.

II. Their Trouble is repaid with Tribulation. III. That judgment day is described in Rev.20:11-15

V.7 b) Rest at His Revelation - I. Refer to the Lord’ s 2nd Coming. Matt.24:30-31; Rev.19:11-16

A. The Lord will appear visibly to all man. Rev.1:7; Matt.25:31 B. He will come with His angels. Matt.16:27; 25:31 C. He will come with the saints. Jude.13-14; 1.Thess.3:13 D. His glory will be seen when He appears. Matt.16.27; 25:31 E. He will Judge the Antichrist, the false prophet and their army. Rev.19:17-21; Joel 3:1-2, 12; Zech. 14:1-15 F. He will then judge the nations. Ezek.20:33-38; Zech. 14:16-19; Matt.25:31-46 II. Believers in heaven are already resting but the believers on earth will enter the rest at the Coming of Christ. Heb.4:1-11 Verses 1:8-9; 3:6-15 deals with the sin of man and reveals its final result. Verses 2:1-12 deals with the man of sin and reveals his final result. V.8 c) Redeemer Revenging - I. 2 categories of sinners who will experience judgment. A. Those who do not know God. Rom.1:18-20 B. Those who do not obey the Gospel. John 3:16-19 The first is because of wilful Ignorance of God, the last because of wilful Insult toward the Gospel.

II. It will be by fire. Mal.4:1

V.9 d) Rebellious eternally Removed -

I. 2 times the word everlasting occurs in this epistle:

A. Unbelievers everlasting destruction. B. Believers everlasting consolation. 2:16 II. It is not a destruction that is everlasting in the sense of non-existence, but a destruction that goes on everlasting.

III. The destruction in view is. A. From the presence, the life and Spirit of God.

B. From the glory, the light, the power and the Majesty of God.

C. Eternal fire. Matt.25:41; Mark 9:47-48 IV. Destruction (Gr.olethros) means ruin,

V. Sinners Work must receive sins Wages. Rom.6:23 V.10 e) Redeemed Responding in Reverence -

On the Day of the Lord - The 2nd Coming of Christ, He also comes to be glorified and be admired by the saints.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

C. Prayer for the church. 1:11-12 V.11 f) Request for Realisation -

I. First prayer of Paul out of four. 2:16-17; 3:5, 16 II. V.11 Pray, Prove “ Count” , Plan “ Calling” , Pleasure of goodness, Power and faith. V.12 Purpose “ Glorification” , Provision “ Grace” . III. His good Pleasure and Power: The Purpose is to Praise One Person. v.12 IV. How are we counted worthy?

A. By standing in His grace. Gal.5:1-4 B. By going on. Heb.6:1 V. Whom God counts worthy He first makes worthy.

VI. Pleasure releases His goodness and faith releases His power.

V.12 g) Realisation Results in Reverence -

I. The heavens declare the glory of God: His Majesty, perfection, wisdom, power and beauty. It cannot declare His love, grace and mercy, that is where believers join the grand picture in creations glorification of God. II. Both the Possibility and Position to do this is by His grace.