BRUCE C WEARNE looks at the opening lines of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians…
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians [together] in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. – II Thessalonians 1:1-2/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne.
“[A]s we read on in the letter we infer that there have been “developments” for the Thessalonians, particularly from those who might distract them from such ongoing encouragement in the ways of the Lord with destabilising teaching. Matters that were only foreshadowed formerly are now well and truly operative in their midst and Paul obviously considers that they are in need of urgent, careful consideration.”
This repeats the formal greeting at the top of the page in the initial letter. The fact that it is a second letter reminds us of our Christian task to keep on encouraging each other in an ongoing way. This is evident throughout the first letter and Paul writes as one keen to write letters that give evidence of his commitment to walk “more and more as he has been doing” (I Thessalonians 4:1, 5:11) just as he encourages the Thessalonians to do.
This might seem so obvious that there is almost no need to mention it, but as we read on in the letter we infer that there have been “developments” for the Thessalonians, particularly from those who might distract them from such ongoing encouragement in the ways of the Lord with destabilising teaching. Matters that were only foreshadowed formerly are now well and truly operative in their midst and Paul obviously considers that they are in need of urgent, careful consideration.
This does not mean that the former letter is now “outdated” – in many respects it place in the life of this congregation is confirmed as an initial “founding document” or, at least, a document that reminds the congregation of how they came together. The congregation at Thessalonica was then in relation to the first epistle, as we are now with respect to both of these letters and the teaching they contain along with the entire New Testament. Paul’s letters are to the teaching of Jesus and the 12 apostles what Leviticus and Deuteronomy were to Genesis and Exodus. They are teachings and elaborations of the “way of life” of those who, with faith in Christ Jesus, would walk in the ways of the Lord.
Sight+ is a new benefits program we’ve launched to reward people who have supported us with annual donations of $26 or more. To find out more about Sight+ and how you can support the work of Sight, head to our Sight+ page.
We’re interested to find out more about you, our readers, as we improve and expand our coverage and so we’re asking all of our readers to take this survey (it’ll only take a couple of minutes).
OPEN BOOK: II THESSALONIANS – PAUL’S SECOND MESSAGE TO ENCOURAGE THE CHURCH
BRUCE C WEARNE looks at the opening lines of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians…
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians [together] in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. – II Thessalonians 1:1-2/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne.
A second letter. PICTURE: Green Chameleon/Unsplash
“[A]s we read on in the letter we infer that there have been “developments” for the Thessalonians, particularly from those who might distract them from such ongoing encouragement in the ways of the Lord with destabilising teaching. Matters that were only foreshadowed formerly are now well and truly operative in their midst and Paul obviously considers that they are in need of urgent, careful consideration.”
This repeats the formal greeting at the top of the page in the initial letter. The fact that it is a second letter reminds us of our Christian task to keep on encouraging each other in an ongoing way. This is evident throughout the first letter and Paul writes as one keen to write letters that give evidence of his commitment to walk “more and more as he has been doing” (I Thessalonians 4:1, 5:11) just as he encourages the Thessalonians to do.
This might seem so obvious that there is almost no need to mention it, but as we read on in the letter we infer that there have been “developments” for the Thessalonians, particularly from those who might distract them from such ongoing encouragement in the ways of the Lord with destabilising teaching. Matters that were only foreshadowed formerly are now well and truly operative in their midst and Paul obviously considers that they are in need of urgent, careful consideration.
This does not mean that the former letter is now “outdated” – in many respects it place in the life of this congregation is confirmed as an initial “founding document” or, at least, a document that reminds the congregation of how they came together. The congregation at Thessalonica was then in relation to the first epistle, as we are now with respect to both of these letters and the teaching they contain along with the entire New Testament. Paul’s letters are to the teaching of Jesus and the 12 apostles what Leviticus and Deuteronomy were to Genesis and Exodus. They are teachings and elaborations of the “way of life” of those who, with faith in Christ Jesus, would walk in the ways of the Lord.
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Sight+ is a new benefits program we’ve launched to reward people who have supported us with annual donations of $26 or more. To find out more about Sight+ and how you can support the work of Sight, head to our Sight+ page.
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Grief
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