AM Oct 4th 2 Thess 1

October 4th       2 Thessalonians 1          A. Prologue      Greetings Paul Silvanus Timothy

1: Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. Persecution  We know your suffering

3: We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4: So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7: And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8: In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10: When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11: Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s second letter to the church at Thessalonica is written with Silas and Timothy as co-workers, exactly the same as the first letter. Paul says we are bound to give thanks to God for you because your faith is growing so much and the love you have to each other is overflowing. We are so proud of you because of your faithfulness and patience in persecutions and troubles. These sufferings are a proof of your godliness and God will bring those who persecute you into judgment. Paul says that one day Gods mighty angels will come from heaven to bring the judgment of God on those who do not know God and who refuse to respond to the Gospel. They will face the eternal punishment of everlasting destruction in which those who refuse Christ will be banished from his presence and from the outward display of his almighty power when Christ comes to his kingdom. At that time Christ will be glorified with his saints and he will be admired but all those who believe in Christ in the world. Paul says, and so we pray always for you that God will count you worthy of his calling to glory and that you will delight to do the good will of God – works of faith in the almighty power of God. And that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you might be glorified in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus.