At the time Paul composed this letter, the Christians in Thessalonica were facing increasing suffering (2 Thess. 1:4, 5). He encouraged them to look beyond their immediate troubles to Christ’s return and the affirmation they would receive from Him at that time (1:6, 7). The Lord would deal justly with their enemies (1:8, 9), and they would join their Savior in joy and praise (1:10). Paul expanded this theme in the next chapter as he explored the Thessalonians’ current difficulties (2:1–12).
God calls us to finish our lives well by holding on to enduring truths (2:15). He challenges us to stay faithful to the end and not to be completely absorbed by our experiences here and now, whether good or bad.
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Like many people in the modern world, the Christians at Thessalonica were agitated by urgent warnings about the future (2 Thess. 2:1, 2). False teachers exploited people’s curiosities and anxieties, feeding on their brightest hopes and darkest fears about Christ’s return (2:3; 1 Thess. 5:2–5).
Paul responded by appealing to the Thessalonians’ reason, urging them to think critically about what they heard and test it against the clear teaching he had already given them (2 Thess. 2:3–12, 15). He clarified that Jesus had not—and would not—return until the unveiling of the Man of Sin (2:3). This embodiment of evil would exalt himself as God and set himself up in the temple to be worshiped (2:4).
We still need to “stand fast and hold the traditions which [we] were taught” (2:15): the truths of God’s Word. By acting on our real-world responsibilities, we push aside fearful speculations about the events of the Lord’s return (3:6–13).
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The concept of the Trinity is essential to Christianity. But the Bible assumes a triune God rather than trying to prove the nature of His being. It simply presents the reality that there is one God who exists in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Paul sought to enrich his readers’ understanding of their new life in Christ by explaining how each Person of the Godhead works on our behalf:
• The Father selects us for salvation, loves us, and gives us consolation and hope.
• The Son shares His glory with us and offers comfort and stability in the faith.
• The Spirit purifies (“sanctifies”) us and develops our faith.
We have a powerful, caring, active God who works on our behalf. The first-century Christians at Thessalonica would have instantly noticed a contrast between the one true God and the many gods of Greek and Roman cultures, who were often frivolous, capricious, and terribly self-absorbed.
When people in our own lives reduce God to a vague feeling or energy or higher power, we can be assured that they are wrong; our God is infinitely more powerful and personal. The doctrine of the Trinity may be difficult to understand, but for now we see the world as it truly is as in a dim mirror (1 Cor. 13:12). We can obey what we know clearly and not dwell on things that remain cloudy. All things will one day be revealed.
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Taking responsibility for meeting our own material needs and those of our family is for some not an obvious obligation. But God commands each of us to take up this challenge. He created a world of resources for us to accomplish this task, and He gives us the authority, strength, and skills we need to earn our living.
There are times when grown children must care for parents or grandparents (Mark 7:9–13; 1 Tim. 5:4). There are also times when the church must assume responsibility for people in need. But the Bible makes it clear that responsibility always starts with individuals.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:12, Paul explained the reason for this command: 1) Christians who beg, borrow unnecessarily, or steal discredit Christ and the church, and 2) God does not want His children to lack what they need. He calls us not to poverty but to adequacy. Work is His means of fulfilling our needs.
More: God takes our work seriously. See “People at Work” at Ps. 8:6.
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Apparently some Thessalonians who anticipated the Lord’s immediate return quit their jobs and spent their days idly waiting for the end times to begin. Paul responded by declaring that those who would not work should not eat.
If these Macedonian Christians were the same ones Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 8:2, they would have struggled to make a living under the best of circumstances. When jobs are too few or pay too little, it is common for some to grow discouraged and give up trying to find employment. But we have been created to work (Gen. 2:15) and called to persevere in the face of life’s obstacles (Rom. 5:3, 4).
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Paul’s words in 2 Thessalonians 3:13 speak to us when we are worn out from doing good and from living up to the high standards set out for us in Scripture. The apostle reminds us that God never forgets us. We are the object of His attention and love. He sees the good that we do when no one else is around, and He will never forget our efforts.
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