THANK GOD FOR GROWING FAITH

Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-7

Key verse: 5

NIV

1 Paul, Silas[a](A) and Timothy,(B)

To the church of the Thessalonians(C) in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(D)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We ought always to thank God for you,(E) brothers and sisters,[b] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.(F) 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast(G) about your perseverance and faith(H) in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.(I)

5 All this is evidence(J) that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy(K) of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just:(L) He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you(M) 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven(N) in blazing fire(O) with his powerful angels.(P)

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Thessalonians 1:1 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
  2. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 2:1, 13, 15; 3:1, 6, 13.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Greeting

1 (A)Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

3 (B)We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers,[a] as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore (C)we ourselves boast about you (D)in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith (E)in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

The Judgment at Christ's Coming

5 This is (F)evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be (G)considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it (H)just (I)to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant (J)relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when (K)the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven (L)with his mighty angels

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Greetings (1-2)

Paul wrote this letter shortly after writing 1 Thessalonians. He had received some news from Thessalonica, so now he wrote again to encourage the believers. He begins with his classic greeting: 'Grace and peace to you...' Grace and peace go together. Both are God's gifts to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Growing in faith and love (3-4)

When worldly people encounter trials, their love grows cold and they are full of complaints. But when God's people persevere in the midst of suffering, their faith grows and their love increases. Paul thanks God for the growing faith and love of the believers.

3. Jesus will come from heaven (5-7)

God is just, so revenge is a useless motive. When Jesus comes in power and glory, he will pay back those who persecute his children. And those who suffer for his sake will be counted worthy of his kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, help me to persevere in trial so that my faith and love may grow.

One Word: Grow in faith and in love