Explore the Bible: May 8

Enduring • II Thessalonians 1:3-12

By Cyndi Grace

As we begin the second letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, we discover the church is stronger than ever. The writing of this letter comes several months to a year after the first letter. Paul was probably still in Corinth at the time, somewhere around 53-54 A.D.

Why is this important? About that time, not only were the Jews persecuting this new teaching called The Way, the Romans who had always been cruel were beginning to see that persecuting Christians could be good sport.

In 54 A.D., a young 17-year-old Roman named Nero came to power and ruled to 68 A.D. He was arguably an even worse madman ruler than his uncle Caligula who ruled Rome from 37-41 A.D. To prove this fact, he had his step-brother Britannicus killed, his wife Octavia executed, and his mother Agrippina stabbed and murdered.

Nero cared very little for anyone other than himself. The young church was going to have to live under Nero’s tyranny, so Paul’s encouragement to remain faithful was very timely.

Second Thessalonians opens with Paul giving thanks for this church. In his previous letter to the Thessalonian Christians, Paul told them their faithfulness was helping to spread the Gospel and for this, Paul gave thanks.

He indicated that not only were they doing well, they were flourishing and their love for one another was increasing. They were unrelenting in their faith. The enemy’s plan of persecution was not working; just the opposite was occurring. Paul stated because of this, they would be counted worthy of God’s kingdom for which they were suffering (v. 5).

This church had taken Jesus’ words literally: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] (Matt. 16:34 AMP).

These words should stop the American church in its tracks. We must ask ourselves if we have become soft in our resolve to preach the Gospel. Have we so tried to be seeker-friendly that we have watered down the way we are to live? Do we have a distorted view of what “loving” truly means?

In Jesus’ very words, we must deny ourselves to follow Him. His way was a way of building for the eternal Kingdom of God, not building kingdoms on the earth. The Thessalonians understood this and joined together to build for this Kingdom.

This is hard, so Paul affirmed that God will execute vengeance upon those who have caused suffering to those who follow Christ. It would not be immediate; it would be at Christ’s coming, but the persecutors WILL pay for their injustices. Paul offered this hope that their sufferings are not taken lightly by God. Neither are ours.

Paul reaffirms that their fidelity in the midst of suffering was causing the Gospel to spread. It was a testimony of God’s faithfulness to all. They were being made worthy of His calling, of taking up their cross for God’s glory.

Nothing was going to stop this church. God loved them, gave them power, and was always with them. They understood that this life is temporal but the life beyond was eternal and it was for eternity they suffered.

Perhaps Paul had this church in his mind when he wrote these words to the Corinthian Christians: For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.So, we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (CSB).

Are we wanting and willing to be made worthy? To be made worthy requires suffering. It is not what we want, but what Jesus requires. We must be willing to stand in faith that what we experience here is but a tiny dot compared to the glory we will inherit in eternity.

Church, the world is watching. What good is a testimony never tested? What good is it to declare allegiance and surrender at the first sign of battle? We must be armed and alert. May we follow Paul’s words spoken in prison: Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest (Ephesian 6:14 (CSB).

Grace is a member at  First Church, Jackson,  and is a conference speaker and Bible teacher.