Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 2

Paul Exhorts & Encourages them to Continue Growing their faith, God with take care of their Troublers

2 Thessalonians 1:4-6 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: 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: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; KJV

Paul was not one to ever glory in mankind at all as we are reminded by these words he wrote to the believers in Corinth, "So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours, Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate {and} threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future--all are yours, And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's." (1 Corinthians 3:21-23) (Amplified Bible), but here as he continues in the opening of his second letter to this Church in Thessalonica, Paul seems to have contradicted his words spoken above to the Corinthian Church when he writes this, "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:" (2 Thessalonians 1:4) (KJV), but upon a deeper analysis of what Paul writes here, we find him not boasting in these men and women in the Church @ Thessalonica, but his boast is in the 'faith' that our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ has molded and shaped within their inner man and inner woman, we know this to be his boast by what he wrote to them at the beginning of his very first letter to them when he said, "For not only has the Word concerning {and} from the Lord resounded forth from you unmistakably in Macedonia and Achaia, but everywhere the report has gone forth of your faith in God [of your leaning of your whole personality on Him in complete trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. So we [find that we] never need to tell people anything [further about it]." (1 Thessalonians 1:8) (Amplified Bible). By the way the English word 'glory' is translated by the Greek word kauchaomai meaning (to boast) and to vaunt (in a good or a bad sense): - (make) boast, glory, joy, rejoice. The Apostle Paul also glories in the 'patience' these believers were enabled by our Lord Jesus Christ to exert, exercise, and exemplify, even under the most horrible circumstances of outward pressure and afflictions and anguish brought upon them by non-believers simply for their faith in Jesus Christ. By the way the English word 'patience' is translated by the Greek word hupomone meaning cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

Paul now shifts his focus on our Heavenly Father's view of their faith 'in Christ' and their 'patience' worked in them by Christ Jesus by saying, "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:" (2 Thessalonians 1:5) (KJV). This little English phrase at the very beginning of this verse 'Which is a manifest token' is translated by one Greek word endeigma (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning simply an indication (concretely): - manifest token. The English word 'righteous' is translated by the Greek word dikaios meaning equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively): - just, meet, righteous. The English word 'judgment' is translated by one Greek word krisis meaning (Subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension a tribunal; by implication justice (specifically divine law): - accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment. The little English phrase 'may be counted worthy' is translated by one Greek word kataxioo meaning to deem entirely deserving: - account worthy. In other words, their ability to endure these many trials, troubles, and tribulations brought on them by un-believers in our Lord Jesus Christ was an evidence of God the Father's fair justice that He will render to those cruel, cross, and crass persons that have continually sought to hurt and harm His adopted sons and daughters who are and have been counted worthy of eternal life through their/our faith/trust in Jesus Christ, just as this same Apostle reminded the Philippian believers with these words to them concerning this very subject, "Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit {and} purpose, striving side by side {and} contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel). And do not [for a moment] be frightened {or} intimidated in anything by your opponents {and} adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance {and} salvation, and that from God. For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ's sake not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on, and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf. So you are engaged in the same conflict which you saw me [wage] and which you now hear to be mine [still]." (Philippians 1:27-30) (Amplified Bible).

Paul wants them and us today to recognize, realise, and remember that our Father in Heaven is not allowing their/our persecution to go un-noticed, un-resolved, or un-punished, but instead He is now working all things that happen to us that are deceitful, dirty, and damaging to us for our good right now as we walk through them and ultimately will recompense those human instruments of the devil with their just reward as Paul declares to them/us with these words, "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;" (2 Thessalonians 2:6) (KJV). It has the same theme and idea that was written by Moses concerning the same God when he wrote these words, "And Abraham came close and said, Will You destroy the righteous (those upright and in right standing with God) together with the wicked? Suppose there are in the city fifty righteous; will You destroy the place and not spare it for [the sake of] the fifty righteous in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing--to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as do the wicked! Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth execute judgment {and} do righteously? And the Lord said, If I find in the city of Sodom fifty righteous (upright and in right standing with God), I will spare the whole place for their sake." (Genesis 18:23-26) (Amplified Bible).

"Their patience as well as faith increased in all their persecutions and tribulations. And patience has then its perfect work when it extends itself to all trials. There were many persecutions which the Thessalonians endured for the sake of righteousness, as well as other troubles which they met with in this calamitous life; yet they endured all these, by faith seeing Him that is invisible, and looking to the recompence of reward; and endured them with patience, not with an insensibility under them, but with patience arising from Christian principles, which kept them quiet and submissive, and afforded them inward strength and support." Matthew Henry

"The persecutions and tribulations which you endure, are a manifest proof that God has judged righteously in calling you Gentiles into His Church; and these sufferings are also a proof that ye are called in; for they who enter into the kingdom of God go through great tribulation; your going through that tribulation is a proof that ye are entering in, and God sees it right and just that ye should be permitted to suffer before ye enjoy that endless felicity. The words, however, may be understood in another sense, and will form this maxim: 'The sufferings of the just, and the triumphs of the wicked, in this life, are a sure proof that there will be a future judgment, in which the wicked shall be punished and the righteous rewarded.' This maxim is not only true in itself, but it is most likely that this is the Apostle’s meaning." Adam Clarke

"The sense is: 'There will be a future judgment, because it is proper that God should punish those who now persecute you. It is not right that they should go unpunished, and triumph forever. It is not an arbitrary thing, a thing which is indifferent, a thing which may or may not be done; it is a just and proper thing that the wicked should be punished.' The doctrine is, that the future punishment of the wicked is just and proper; and that, being just and proper, it will be inflicted. Many suppose that there would be no justice in the eternal punishment of the wicked; that the threatening of that punishment is wholly arbitrary; that it might easily be dispensed with, and that because it is unjust it will not be inflicted, and need not be dreaded. But that it is just and proper, a very slight degree of reflection must show. Because: it is inconceivable that God should threaten such punishment unless it were just. How can it be reconciled with His perfections that He can hold up before mankind the assurance that any of them will be punished forever, unless it be right that it should be so? Can we believe that He deliberately threatens what is wrong, or that, in the face of the universe, He publicly declares His intention to do what is wrong?" Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…