2 Thessalonians 1

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Thessalonian Believers Stand Firm in Their Faith

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. God’s righteous purposes are revealed in the present persecution of believers.

  2. God’s righteous purposes will be revealed in the future punishment of unbelievers.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Would the apostle Paul boast about you?

QUESTIONS

  1. When was 2 Thessalonians written and what was the purpose of writing it?

  2. What problem did Paul address in 2 Thessalonians?

  3. How did Paul reassure them?

  4. Why does God allow believers to be persecuted?

  5. Is God the source of the evil done to believers?

  6. What are the two classes of unbelievers who will be judged by God?

  7. Does destruction mean annihilation?

ANSWERS

  1. It was written in the early 50’s A.D., in response to how the Thessalonian believers received Paul’s first letter.

  2. Some Thessalonian believers did not understand the day of the Lord. They thought it had already started because of the persecutions they were facing.

  3. He wrote that the tribulations they are facing now were not the tribulations of the day of the Lord. The day of the Lord was (and is) still future.

  4. They are part of the righteous purposes of God.

  5. No, He is not the source, but He overrules, controls, limits, and uses it to accomplish His purposes. See Psalm 76:10 and Romans 8:28.

  6. Those who do not know about God and those who do, but have rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ.

  7. No. It means separation from God.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Read 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5. From a natural point of view, this is a hard concept, but persecutions are part of the righteous purposes of God. Has your faith been tested in the crucible of persecution?

  2. Read 2 Thessalonians 1:6,8-9. This, too, is a difficult concept, that there are people who will be punished with everlasting destruction, banished from the presence of God. In Romans 1 we see that no one has an excuse, because God has revealed Himself even in creation. There also are those who have heard and rejected the word. There are consequences for these choices, yet we are told that God is not willing that any should perish. Remember that one day God will make this plain, and that His righteous standards demand righteous judgment.

CHALLENGE

  1. Paul boasted about the faith of the Thessalonian believers. Would he boast about your faith?

KEY VERSES

  • “ We boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure. They are manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you suffer. ” - 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5

  • “ In flaming fire, He will take vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel. They shall be punished with everlasting destruction. ” - 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9

  • “ We pray that our God would count you worthy of His calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the word of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. ” - 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12



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