◄ 2 Thessalonians Devotional Commentary ►
2 Thessalonians 1:4
The Lord Jesus told His disciples some important truths concerning the trials and difficulties that are inevitable in a fallen world, where men are lovers of themselves and sin has taken root in the heart of humanity.
Jesus explained that under this world system, which is subject to the rule of Satan, those that trust in Him would inevitably go through tribulation. However, in order that they might have the peace of God in their read more...
2 Thessalonians 1:5
The Thessalonian believers had been fed some false information from a bogus letter which they mistakenly thought was from Paul. They were undergoing increasingly intense persecution and started to fear that they had somehow missed the Rapture, about which Paul spoke in his earlier letter. They feared that they were in the middle of the Great Tribulation!
These dear saints of God had to come to an understanding that suffering is read more...
2 Thessalonians 1:7
Faith and patience, in the face of trials and tribulation, were two qualities of the Thessalonian believers. Those who are persecuted for righteousness sake are blessed in the eye of Jesus, and this is the message of many New Testament writers. The apostle John tells us that sufferings, imprisonment, persecution, and even death, await many Christians in this life - but a crown of life is the promised reward for those that are faithful during the time of trial, and read more...
2 Thessalonians 1:9
We read in Hebrews that it is a terrible and terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God, but from start to finish, the Bible informs us of the singular way to avoid this horrible and horrifying happening - and it is by faith: "He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
There is read more...
2 Thessalonians 1:11
What a glorious calling we have in Christ Jesus. Because of our faith in His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, we are called children of God and have a dear and gracious heavenly Father, Who is the God of all mercies. In His grace He has promised to help us in times of troubles and to comfort us in times of distress.
Christ died so that we might live and throughout his writings to the Church, Paul emphases the read more...
2 Thessalonians 1:12
Like so many of Paul's epistles, this second letter to the Thessalonians opens with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise for the faith, hope, love, and patience of these believers, amid the serious trials and tribulation they were facing.
Paul wanted these saints to be counted worthy of their calling so that Christ would be glorified in them, and they in Him. He knew that patiently enduring the various trials they were facing would read more...
2 Thessalonians 2:1
In his 2nd letter to the Thessalonians, Paul was addressing Christians who were facing severe persecution and pressure. He was writing to correct a misunderstanding which was causing them to think that the day of the Lord, when the wrath of God is poured out on a sinful world, had begun! Paul was writing to allay the fear that they had somehow missed the resurrection of the dead and the gathering together of Christ's Church-age saints to Himself - the Rapture.
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2 Thessalonians 2:3
In this passage, Paul sets out to clarify a misunderstanding about the coming of Christ "our being gathered to Him," and the Day of the Lord, which not only incorporates the future 70th week of Daniel's great prophecy (the Time of Jacob's Trouble) but also the thousand-year millennial reign of Christ.
Paul had already taught these believers the comforting read more...
2 Thessalonians 2:5
While the first chapter of this epistle gives a broad overview of coming prophetic events, chapter 2 goes into greater detail about the coming Day of the Lord. It begins with Paul having to correct certain doctrinal misunderstandings which caused the Thessalonians great concern.
Paul had already taught about the Day of the Lord during his brief visit to Thessalonica, but the truth had been distorted by a hoax letter they thought read more...
2 Thessalonians 2:6
What reassurance Christians in Thessalonica received in Paul's first epistle, about Christ's soon return. They were expecting to hear the trump of God and the voice of the archangel. They were awaiting Christ's coming in the clouds - He would come like a thief in the night!
These believers were anticipating the resurrection of the 'Dead-in-Christ'. They were looking forward to being changed from mortal to immortal, in a moment - read more...
2 Thessalonians 2:7
The word 'mystery' in the Bible, is not talking about some mystifying enigma or something that is esoteric or eerie. A mystery in Scripture is a truth that has been hidden from previous generations and is only made known to the people of God, by direct, divine revelation, and at God's appointed time.
There are many New Testament mysteries that were hidden from Old Testament saints - truths that were to be revealed to the people read more...
2 Thessalonians 2:9
Paul gives an in-depth description of the coming 'man-of-sin' in this chapter. The lawless attitude and rebellious actions of this 'son-of-perdition' will not only oppose the true and living God and all He stands for, but exalt himself above every religion, including Christianity, and every other form of worship... worldwide.
For 2000 years, lawlessness has been restrained through the prayers, praises, and exploits of read more...
2 Thessalonians 2:13
As in so many of his epistles, Paul contrasts the way of the wicked, who reject God's gracious gift of salvation and the final devastating outcome of their choice, with those who have accepted His call to trust in Christ's sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection. And in this passage, Paul give a précis of the past, present, and future glories of those that are saved by the blood of the Lamb, and the wonders that await them.
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2 Thessalonians 2:16
Paul cared for all the churches where he taught the glorious gospel of the grace of God, desiring that they would hold fast to the truth and stand firm in the teachings passed on to them by Paul himself. How he praised the Lord for the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that was carried out in their lives, and how he encouraged the saints themselves to always give thanks to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul's desire read more...
2 Thessalonians 2:17
Paul often prayed for the comfort, encouragement, establishment, and strengthening of the Body of Christ, which is the Church, and in this great prayer, we find Paul's fervent intercession addressed equally to the Lord Jesus Christ and to God the Father.
He earnestly prayed for the Christians at Thessalonica, asking both God the Son and God the Father to comfort and encourage the hearts of these believers and to strengthen and read more...
2 Thessalonians 3:1
Paul was a man who recognised his utter dependence upon the Lord and the futility of attempting to work the works of God in his own strength, knowledge, education, acumen, and abilities. He realised the importance of prayer in dealing with problems that might arise in his own ministry, as well as in the corporate Body of Christ. In many of his epistles, we find this great apostle of God asking his brothers and sisters read more...
2 Thessalonians 3:3
How often the 'BUTS' of the Bible stand in stark contradistinction between i) the faithfulness of God and His great goodness, and ii) the trite unbelief of His children and their sinfulness. We praise God for the many, eternal 'BUTs' in the Bible. And we rejoice for the glorious 'BUT' in this verse, where we read, "BUT the Lord is faithful, Who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one."
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2 Thessalonians 3:4
It was not long after his first letter to them that Paul received news of the Thessalonian Christians from a trusted contact. He was blessed to hear the good news that they were growing in grace and remaining faithful to the truth, despite the severe persecution they were facing.
Paul also was given disturbing information that a forged letter containing a false teaching was circulating, purportedly from him. read more...
2 Thessalonians 3:5
Paul was a man of prayer who believed that, although everything in life was subject to God's divine will, eternal purpose, and sovereign permission, God also hears the intercessions of the saints and answers the prayers of His servants. And He causes all things to work together for our good and for His own glory. And so in this section of Scripture, we discover Paul asking for prayer, while resting on the fact that God is the strength of our heart and our portion read more...
2 Thessalonians 3:6
The truth of the gospel of Christ is equally under attack today as it was in the days of the apostle Paul. Most of his epistles include sections that address various false teachings that were infiltrating a particular church or congregation, as well as providing clear teaching, sound doctrine, important correction, and great encouragement.
In this letter, Paul had to remind the believers of his earlier teaching on the return of read more...
2 Thessalonians 3:13
In the final few verses of this second letter to the Christians at Thessalonica, Paul gives some wonderful instructions on spiritual growth. He encourages these believers to finish the race that is set before them, to patiently endure the hardships that they may have to face, and not to grow weary of doing the right thing.
Even in Paul's day, there was much confusion and false teaching concerning the prophesied Day-of-the-Lord, read more...
2 Thessalonians 3:16
From the dawn of mankind, there is probably nothing more sought after in this world at war, than peace. Nations have fought bitter wars for the sake of peace and lives have been lost in a vain pursuit after peace. But the peace that is offered by this world's system, is a false, fragile, imperfect, pseudo-peace, that leaves in its wake a hungry heart and a disappointed soul.
The God of Peace started to unveil Himself as, read more...