2nd Thessalonians 1:1-4

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1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4Therefore, we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

Commentary

            Verse 1. The opening verse of this letter is nearly identical to 1 Thessalonians as it has the same three authors Paul, Silas (Silvanus), and Timothy. However, there are some minor differences. Paul uses “God our Father” in this situation but used “God the Father” in 1st Thessalonians. Paul wanted to indicate to the church that Paul and company were in this with them in their persecutions and trials.

            Verse 2. The second verse is again an echo of 1st Thessalonians with the extension of noting where the Grace and Peace come from. “He wants to bring them comfort in their difficult circumstances and remind them that God is their source of peace.1” We should not view Grace and Peace as a nice sounding Christian platitude but a sincere wish for them to know the joy of experiencing God’s grace and peace in their everyday lives. In Thessalonica at the time they were experiencing much persecution so experiencing grace and peace would be welcome relief.

            Verse 3. This verse is a giving of thanks. Paul uses an unusual construction here saying that “3We ought always to give thanks to God for you” saying that the authors were duty bound to give thanks to God for the church in Thessalonica. The church had a couple of excellent attributes that Paul mentions specifically in the text. These are faith and love these are truly things to be thankful for. “Being thankful is not limited to what we have or are about to get. It should include gratefulness for everything we are able to do and will do. It is about having a ritual of thanksgiving attached to everything we do throughout the day.”2 Thanksgiving should be a way of life for the Christian.



             Verse 4. Paul goes on to say that he so pleased with what he sees in the church that he brags to other churches about them. That they remain true to the gospel even though it costs them “persecutions and afflictions.” It is not empty boasting either. The church consistently demonstrates their faith and love, and they clearly hope for a better future with Christ on the day of the Lord. Which Paul will discuss for a good portion of the letter to come.

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1Byron, John. 1 and 2 Thessalonians (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 221). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
2Byron, John. 1 and 2 Thessalonians (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 227). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

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