Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 1

Paul Greets the Thessalonian Church for the 2nd Time & Gives God the Father Thanks for them

2 Thessalonians 1:1-3 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; KJV

The great Apostle Paul was compelled to write a second letter to these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica, perhaps with them he spent the least amount of physical time and felt he needed to expound, expand, and enlarge the spiritual things of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ that he began with them before his sudden departure. Paul begins with his customary greeting as follows, "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:" (2 Thessalonians 1:1) (KJV). Paul list his two co-missionaries and declares them to be 'in' God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. This little English word 'in' is used over 2700 times here in the New Testament and it is translated by the Greek word en which is a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest. In other words, the people in the city of Thessalonica who heard the Gospel of Grace preached by Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus and were baptized into the Body of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit can enjoy right now and for all eternity a fixed position of redemption, restoration, and rest from their sin and guilt as the adopted sons and daughters of God the Father through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

It was always Paul's method, manner, and motivation to speak 'grace' to everyone he wrote to no matter what the main subject or topic of spiritual truths he was trying to get across to his listeners as he speaks such here with these words, "Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:2) (KJV). The meaning of the English word 'grace' he uses here (translated by the Greek word charis) is the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude. Paul knew that for any believer to walk or live for Christ down here on the earth, they would need much grace/charis/divine influence to navigate through the difficulties, set backs, hardships, and spiritual warfare that would be a daily reality in everyone of our lives, therefore, Paul always spoke God's grace into the lives of every believer he encountered physically or by way of hand written letters. Paul now expresses in the opening of his second letter here great regard, repute, and respect for these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica by his writing of these words, "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;" (2 Thessalonians 1:3) (KJV).

The little English phrase 'we are bound' is translated by the Greek word opheilo meaning (through the idea of accumulating); to owe; figuratively to be under obligation (ought, must, should). The little English phrase 'to thank' is translated by the Greek word eucharisteo meaning to be grateful, that is, (actually) to express gratitude (towards). The English word 'meet' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word axios meaning deserving, comparable or suitable (as if drawing praise): - due reward. In other words, Paul writes to them his felt need or necessity, or something he owed to them which was (in prayer) thanking God the Father for these new believers in the city of Thessalonica for they were deserving of such a reward to be honored before the Throne of God the Father because of their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ 'groweth exceedingly'. This little English phrase 'groweth exceedingly' is translated by one Greek word huperauxano meaning to increase above ordinary degree: - grow exceedingly.

In other words, unlike the believers in the Church @ Corinth that the Apostle Paul said this concerning them, "However, brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual [men], but as to nonspiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates], as to mere infants [in the new life] in Christ [unable to talk yet!] I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet you are not strong enough [to be ready for it], For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy {and} wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual {and} of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard {and} like mere (unchanged) men?" (1 Corinthians 1:1-3) (Amplified Bible), these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica were growing up spiritually rapidly and had apparently left the milk of the Word of God and was desiring to devour the solid food of the Word of God from the Apostle Paul.

It was also evident to Paul that their 'charity' which is translated by the Greek word agape meaning their love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - dear love. Again in complete contrast to the believers in the Church @ Corinth who were doing these things to one another as Paul documented for us with these words, "But brother goes to law against brother, and that before [Gentile judges who are] unbelievers [without faith or trust in the Gospel of Christ]? Why, the very fact of your having lawsuits with one another at all is a defect (a defeat, an evidence of positive moral loss for you). Why not rather let yourselves suffer wrong {and} be deprived of what is your due? Why not rather be cheated (defrauded and robbed)? But [instead it is you] yourselves who wrong and defraud, and that even your own brethren [by so treating them]!" (1 Corinthians 6:6-8) (Amplified Bible), the believers in Thessalonica were loving one another and doing just as Paul commanded the believers in Philippi to do with these words, "Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit {and} empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than {and} superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. Let each of you esteem {and} look upon {and} be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4) (Amplified Bible).

"It was not wrong for the Apostle Paul to declare to the Thessalonian believers how high of regard he held them in his heart or inner man, because their actions (with him and in their local Church) warranted and justified such high praise from Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"The word ὑπεραυξανει signifies to grow luxuriantly, as a good and healthy tree planted in a good soil; and if a fruit tree, bearing an abundance of fruit to compensate the labor of the husbandman. Faith is one of the seeds of the kingdom; this the Apostle had sowed and watered, and God gave an abundant increase. Their faith was multiplied, and their love abounded; and this was not the case with some distinguished characters only, it was the case with every one of them." Adam Clarke

"'We owe it as a debt'. They had prayed for the Thessalonians (1Thessalonians 3:12) that they might 'increase and abound in love'; their prayer having been heard, it is a small but a bounden return for them to make, to thank God for it. Thus, Paul and his fellow missionaries practice what they preach (1Thesalonians 5:18). In 1Thessalonians 1:3, their thanksgiving was for the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and patience'; here, for their exceeding growth in faith, and for their charity abounding. 'We are bound' expresses the duty of thanksgiving from its subjective side as an inward conviction. 'As it is meet,' from the objective: side as something answering to the state of circumstances [Alford]. Observe the exact correspondence of the prayer (1Thessalonians 3:12), ('The Lord make you to abound in love') and the answer, 'The love of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth' (compare 1Thessalonians 4:10)." JFB Commentary

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…