First Thessalonians verse observations
Key words are faith and love
Tod Kennedy, August 2023
Paul, like a father, commends the persecuted Thessalonian believers for their believing faith, godly love, and firm confidence in Jesus and Jesus’ future coming to rescue them and judge the ungodly, and encourages them to continue.
Summary. Paul wrote to these embattled and newer Christians to express his affection, thanks ,and encouragement about their believing faith, love, and ministry. He instructed them about sanctification, Christian death, Jesus’ return to take dead and living believers to heaven, and that the day of the Lord had not yet happened. He closed this letter with general instructions for daily Christian living.
Chapter 1 God’s word is active
- Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy Greet the church with grace and peace grace and peace
- (PST=we) thank God for the Thessalonians in often prayer
- Thinking of their work of faith, labor of love, steadfast hope
- You are loved and choice of God
- Gospel came in word, power, Holy Spirit, conviction
- You imitated us and LORD by receiving the word during suffering
- Examples to believers
- Word sounded forth and faith gone out
- You turned to God from idols to serve God
- Wait for resurrected Jesus who rescues us from wrath to come
Chapter 2 Affection, service, suffering
- Our coming was not in vain
- We were bold to speak the gospel amid opposition
- Our exhortation was not wrong
- Approved and entrusted, and please God
- Never with flattering speech or greed
- We did not seek glory from people
- Gentle and tenderly care for you
- Fond affection for you so impart gospel and our lives
- We worked night and day, did not want to burden you, proclaimed gospel
- You witnessed our good behavior
- We exhort, encourage, implore you
- So that you would walk worthy of God
- You received the word as God’s word which works in believers
- You imitated the Judean believers by enduring suffering from Jews
- The Jews kill Jesus, prophets, and drove PST out
- Hindered us from speaking to Gentiles. Wrath is on them.
- We are eager to see the Thessalonians
- Satan hindered us
- You are our hope, joy, crown when Jesus comes
- Thessalonians are our glory and joy
Chapter 3 Believing faith and love
- Paul and Silvanus stayed in Athens
- Sent Timothy to Thessalonica to encourage them in their believing faith
- Don’t be disturbed by afflictions
- Suffering was to be expected
- Paul sent for information about how the Thessalonians were trusting God in view of the trouble
- Timothy brought news about the good believing faith and love, and their longing to see Paul
- They PST were comforted through their believing faith
- If the Thessalonians stand firm in the Lord, PST are content
- PST are very thankful for joy that that the Thessalonians brought them
- We pray for you continually to see you and build your believing faith
- Asking Father and Son that we may go to the Thessalonians
- May the Lord increase their love for others
- May the Lord establish them without blame when Jesus comes with his saints
Chapter 4 Sanctification; future resurrection
- You walk and please God, even excel more
- You know what we commanded
- Abstain from sexual immorality
- Posses his own vessel sanctification and honor
- Not in lustful passions
- Do not transgress and defraud his brother
- God called us to sanctification
- To reject this is to reject God who gives the Holy Spirit
- God teaches to love one another
- Excell more in love to the brethren
- Lead a quiet life and mind your own business
- Behave properly toward outsiders and have no need
- Don’t grieve about those believers who have died
- Jesus died and arose and God will bring Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Jesus
- When the Lord comes and we are alive we will not precede those who have died
- The Lord will descend and the dead will arise first
- Then we who are alive and remain will meet the Lord in the air
- Comfort one another with these words
Chapter 5 The day of the Lord, Christian life instructions
- You know about times and epochs
- The day of the Lord will come like a thief
- Destruction will come suddenly
- That day will not overtake you like a thief
- Because we are of the light and day
- Don’t sleep like others, be alert
- The sleepers do things at night
- We are day people, so be sober and put on faith and love, and hope of salvation
- God called us to salvation, not wrath
- Christ died for us and we will live with him whether awake or asleep
- Keep encouraging and building up one another
- Appreciate your spiritual leaders
- Esteem them in love, live in peace with one another
- Treatment of various people
- Do not repay evil with evil; seek good for others
- Rejoice
- Pray
- Give thanks
- Do not quench the Holy Spirit
- Do not despise prophesies
- Examine all and hold the good
- Abstain from appearances of evil
- May God sanctify you, may body soul spirit be preserved complete at Jesus coming
- God is faithful
- Pray for us
- Greet the brethren
- Read this letter to the brethren
- Benediction—grace of LJC
2 Thessalonians verse observations
Chapter 1, Perseverance and believing faith during suffering
- Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy greet the church
- Grace and peace
- We ought to thank God for your believing faith and love
- Your perseverance and believing faith during persecution
- Perseverance and believing faith shows God’ righteous judgment when
- God repays those who afflict you
- And gives relief when Jesus returns in flaming fire
- Jesus deals out retribution to those who do not know God
- They pay penalty of eternal destruction
- Jesus comes to be glorified and marveled at in his saints, believers
- We pray for you
- So that the name of Lord Jesus will be glorified
Chapter 2 The mystery of lawlessness
- Coming of the Lord and our gathering to him
- Do not be disturbed by message that day of the Lord has come
- Apostasy and the man of lawlessness come first
- He opposes and exalts himself
- As I told you
- He is now restrained
- The mystery of lawlessness is working, and someone restrains the man
- The lawless one will be revealed and the Lord will destroy him
- The lawless one is under Satan’s power
- The lawless one deceives those who rejected the truth
- God will send a deluding influence on them
- So they may be judged
- God chose the Thessalonians for salvation through sanctification and faith
- God called them through the gospel to glory of Jesus
- Stand firm and hold to the taught traditions
- The Lord Jesus Christ and the Father who loved us and gave us
- Comfort and strengthen your hearts
Chapter 3 Beware of the undisciplined believer
- Pray for us that the word will spread and be glorified
- And that we may be rescued from evil men
- Lord is Faithful; he will strengthen and protect you
- You are doing what we commanded
- Direct your hearts into love for God and and Christ’s steadfastness
- Keep away from unruly believers
- Follow our example
- We worked hard so not to burden you
- This was a model for you
- If one will not work, then he cannot eat
- Some of you are undiscipline and busybodies
- They are to work and eat their own food
- Do not get tired of doing good
- Do not associate with those who reject this
- Admonish him as a brother, not enemy
- May the Lord give you peace
- Paul writes this greeting
- The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all