Second Letter to the Thessalonians ~ Part 3

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We paused our ongoing story of Sha’ul’s Second Missionary Journey as we began to dig into his second letter to the Thessalonians while in Corinth. Now, we continue to explore his second letter, which he wrote soon after his first.

A Call to Stand Firm

Sha’ul prays again for the Thessalonians while encouraging them to endure in the face of affliction. His prayer reassures the Believers of their position before God and the Ruach’s work of sanctification.

¹³ But we have to keep thanking God for you always, brothers whom the Lord loves because God chose you as the first fruits for deliverance by giving you the holiness that has its origin in the Spirit and the faithfulness that has its origin in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to this through our Good News so that you could have the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

Sha’ul emphasizes that salvation came through God’s initiative for the Thessalonian Believers. He was confident that God had called them for salvation through the sanctification of the Ruach.

¹⁵ Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught by us, whether we spoke them or wrote them in a letter. ¹⁶ And may our Lord Yeshua the Messiah himself and God our Father, who has loved us and by his grace given us eternal comfort and a good hope, ¹⁷ comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.

The traditions refer to God’s truths passed on to the Thessalonians by Sha’ul (1 Thess. 4:1–2). The letter refers to 1 Thessalonians. Having encouraged them to stand firm, Sha’ul prays for God to encourage and strengthen them so they can do so.

A Request for Prayer

Earlier in the letter, Sha’ul offered prayers for the Thessalonian church. Now, he requests the Believers to pray for him.

3 ¹ Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and receive honor, just as it did with you; ² and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has trust. ³ But the Lord is worthy of trust; he will make you firm and guard you from the Evil One. ⁴ Yes, united with the Lord, we are confident about you, that you are doing the things we are telling you to do, and that you will keep on doing them. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and the perseverance which the Messiah gives. ^[1]

 

 

Sha’ul reminded the Thessalonians that the Lord is worthy of trust even if wicked and evil men were troubling them. Because the Lord is faithful to strengthen and guard them, Sha’ul was confident that the Thessalonians would obey his commands. He then prayed that they would have the love God had and the perseverance which the Messiah gives.

In our next post, we will continue to explore Shaul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians, beginning with 2 Thessalonians 3:6.

Click here for the PDF version.

^[1] 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – 3:5