The church wanted to know what would happen at the end of time…If you have also wondered, you will find what Paul had to say very interesting.
Sometimes facts are interesting, and sometimes they aren’t….you can decide for yourself which time this is.
I guess there is some discussion about who actually wrote 2 Thess. The traditional view is that Paul wrote it, calling as evidence the comment in Chapter 3 where Paul says “I, Paul, write this in my own hand”. Sounds pretty simple to me…I find myself wondering why there is a debate…
This letter is similar to the first, and was likely written shortly after 1 Thessalonians, most likely prompted by a question about the second coming of Christ. And, you guessed it… there are people who think it was written much later. I think they are the same people who think someone else wrote it. (for Paul).
Anyway, those are a couple of tidbits that you can use to impress your friends the next time you are all together. “Is it supposed to rain tomorrow? Who do you like in the next Presidential election? Do you think Paul really wrote 2 Thessalonians?” Yep, I think it will fit…
Notice that Paul begins his letter by commending the church. He almost always does this. If he doesn’t begin by thanking God for the people and their faith, he begins by praising God for who He is, and what He has done. I think Paul does this to set the tone for the remainder of what he wants to share. Thinking of that, I wonder if we are too quick to “get to the point” in our conversations. Maybe there is some wisdom in asking people how they are doing, recalling some reasons why we are blessed and happy…BEFORE we get to the business at hand. Maybe, just maybe…we are so abrupt that we miss opportunities to encourage one another. Paul often had difficult things to say to the church, but he also included praises in those letters. Again, he wasn’t always praising people, but he always found ways to praise God for what He was doing.
The topic of this letter will be the second coming. In church speak, it’s called the “Parousia”. (my spell checker doesn’t like that word…I guess there won’t be any computers in heaven).
A couple of things to note in this brief chapter:
1. Paul brags about the church growing in persecution and hardship. Churches can grow in many different situations, but the ones that grow out of persecution are stronger, I think. Not only is the church growing, but God is using the persecution as the means of growth. What I mean is, they aren’t growing because they have a great public relations plan…they are growing because they continue to serve Jesus while the establishment tries to tear them down. Persecution is their witness!
2. The second coming will bring rest and joy for the faithful, and eternal punishment for unbelievers, and those who have persecuted the church. Some people believe that hell is temporary…this seems to say otherwise. All the more reason to avoid it all costs, and encourage our friends and neighbors to do the same. This also gives a new perspective to suffering through persecution: those who inflict pain on the church will be held accountable…it’s a sure thing. Therefore, we should feel sorry for them, not be angry with them. They can’t hurt us in any permanent way, but their actions are causing them irreparable damage to their own souls (unless they repent).
3. Paul wants the church to pray for power and faith, and to represent Jesus well. When my children were younger, I told them to stay out of trouble, because I didn’t want our family name to be maligned. I don’t want my father to see his last name in the paper associated with theft or some other nefarious deed. And I don’t want my children to become known as the “kids from THAT family”. I think the same is true for our Christian faith. We carry the name of Jesus, and His reputation is our responsibility. I don’t want my “family name” to be maligned.
I wish we had considered that before we marched off on the Crusades and killed some of the Jews. I wish the people who attempt to kill abortion doctors would consider that… and the ones who hold up signs that say “God hates the military”. I don’t think they are doing their job correctly.
Looking forward to the Parousia,
PR