New Testament 6	
Lecture 9

2 Thessalonians 
Chapter 1: 1-12

The Chapter Outline:
•	Chapter One:   ASSURANCE!

•	1:1-4	Assurance for Present ______________1:5-8	Assurance from Predicted ______________1:8-12	Assurance for Powerful ______________Assurance for Present Growth (1: 1-4)
Paul begins this letter in his usual manner and it is very closely related to 1 Thessalonian’s introduction.  As a matter of fact, the only major difference is the inclusion of “our” before Father and the words that follow “______________” in verse 2. Is Paul referring to God as the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ or as the Father of believers? Many commentators feel the second is preferred here.  The effect of this phrase is to remind the readers of the origin of the their grace and peace. 
1:3
The normal manner for Paul to move into the body of his letter is to make mention of ______________ to God.  Paul shows that he has an obligation to give thanks to God for all God has done.  The implication is it would be wrong not to give thanks. Notice Paul does not include one item in his thanksgiving here that he had in 1 Thessalonians: hope.  He had not felt a need to protect their hope in that letter nor here.
Their faith and love
Is growing at a vigorous rate. The word “______________” means it is almost unchecked by anything outside of itself. Paul records this answer to his prayer in 1 Thess 3:12. Paul points that the love possessed by the Thessalonians covers all of them. He is at pain to make sure no is left out. It is the “______________ of each one of you.” Love was the bond uniting this church. 
1:4
Paul is assured they will grow. He says, “We ourselves” as an emphatic expression. In is probably in contrast to others who might not expect Paul to be boasting. But Paul finds two things to boast about this church: 1) their ______________ and 2) their ______________. This church had not always had it easy. In fact, Paul uses a present tense verb to indicate their endurance is a continuing experience. This lets Paul continue his glorying in them.
1: 5-8 Assurance from Predicted Judgment
Some might question Paul’s method of reasoning here. How can ______________ and ______________ be seen as a token of God’s righteousness? How can this be said to be God working out His righteous purpose? 
Two Things to Consider:
The NT does not look on suffering the way today’s world does. Today we feel we must  avoid it.  It is like evil. But the NT implies that often suffering is God’s method of working out His will.  It brings the qualities God wants out of His new creations. It teachers valuable lessons about God and about a man’s own person.  It strengthens the believer’s faith. It sends the roots of his faith deeper into the ground of ______________The Second Thing to Consider
2. “The manifest ______________” lets the reader understand that the Thessalonians ability to stand up under the persecution is additional proof that God is at work in their lives.  It is a righteous thing for God to provide all the things His people need to make it through life. The plain truth is God has done this for the Thessalonians. 
The Result of This Enduring Suffering
Is that God has counted them worthy of His Kingdom.  The sufferings have not been haphazard. Here is the purpose behind all their suffering. It is not that they gained merit to enter the Kingdom, but God had lead them into this experience for His own reasons. It is not that they are worthy (in ______________), God deemed them worthy! 
For Which You also suffer
Allows Paul to show the close connection between their suffering and the Kingdom of God. The “______________” can mean “on ______________ of” or “for the ______________ of” or “with a view to”.  
1:6
“if so be” is Paul’s way of couching his point of view of certainty that God will hold those who persecute accountable one day.  “This phrase does not mean the______________ is debatable at all. It means it is a certain thing. It could be stated, “If (as all agree)…”  
The Negative Aspect
Of what was said in verse 5. While God is using the ______________ to achieve His will for ______________, He will use it to achieve His will in relation to non-believers. The positive side is believers will be blessed and provided for by God. The negative side is lost men who attacks the Kingdom find themselves being judged. What did Jesus teach in Mark 9:47 and Luke 13: 3, 5? The wrath of God does not have to wait until the future. 
1:7
God will not only measure out judgment upon those who ravage havoc upon the believing community of faith, but He will turn to the ______________ and ______________ them. He will give them rest. Paul almost always uses this word in conjunction with affliction. Rest denotes freedom from restriction and tension. Of course, this rest is not the motivation purpose of service, but surely it is alright to look forward to God’s rewarding those who serve faithfully.
“Rest with us”
Paul says this to make sure his readers know that they are not suffering alone. Even Paul is ______________, but he knows this rest is from God. He speaks out of his own difficult situation. This retribution will surely be seen in the days to come at Christ’s appearing, but also in the here and now!  
At the Revelation of the Lord Jesus
Paul uses a variety of words to explain the coming of Christ. Here is the word that hints at uncovering what has been covered or hidden.  At the present moment, the Lord is ______________ from the view of the ______________. He is so hidden that it is possible for men to deny His existence.  But in that day, He will be ______________ to all!
Paul’s Description of the Coming
Is done by three prepositional phases:

•	From ______________ – conveys the idea that the highest place of now is His and is His now. He enjoys the glory of the Father.
•	With the______________ – some think the idea is “power” or His “mighty angels”. 
•	In flaming ______________– most likely reveals the vengeance which will be coming.  Others think it refers to His majesty. See Exod 3:2; Isa 66:15; Rev 1:13ff.
3. 1: 8-12 Assurance for Powerful Prayers 
1:8
Here is Paul’s description of the function of the Lord’s returning.  The returning, revealed Lord will measure out divine, righteous judgment. “______________” has no idea of vindictiveness in relation to the Lord.  It means the administration of a firm, unwavering justice. Findlay says, “It is the full justice on the criminal, nothing more, nothing less.”  See Luke 18:3, 7; Rom 12:19; 2 Cor 7:11.  
The Rest of verse 8
Shows who this judgment is reserved for in the coming return of Jesus.  The Greek text has two definite articles, one before each of the phrases. This normally designates two distinct groups: “Them that know not God” and “them that obey not the gospel”.  Some see this as a reference to “______________” and “______________”.  Yet, the two seem to be parallel descriptions of the same people. 
“Them that know not”
Are not those who have never heard the ______________, but those who are guilty of having heard and rejecting it.  This is close to Romans 1:28.  
“Them that obey not”
Is an example of the first clause. These have openly ______________ the ______________ of God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The ______________message is indeed a message of the King. It originates with Him and is His invitation. To reject Him is to reject His invitation.  
v. 9
•	Paul continues to discuss his idea of merited punishment. He does not use a simple relative pronoun here. Instead he uses a relative of quality which has the idea of “who are of such a ______________ as to” or “ones who belong to such as ______________”, “such people”.  
The Verb (______________)
•	The verb arises from a legal background and has the root of “______________”.  It is the result of even handed assessment of the rights of the case. It is the standard to which a person is to conform: law, status etc., It then came to represent the results of a lawsuit, execution of a penalty or sentence.
The Nature of the Penalty
•	Is “eternal destruction”.  The word olethros means ______________ or ruination. It does not carry the connotation of annihilation, but implies the loss of everything that gives worth to existence.  In the NT there is no hint that the coming age will have an end.  
“Eternal” 
•	Can have a couple of meanings for us. It can mean the age to come has not end and therefore will be a life that is much longer than the one here. Or it can imply a different quality of life. From this passage we determine that the future life will be of far better quality because we will be with God and the Lord Jesus.  This is not so for the disobedient and rebellious! The final disaster of the lost man is his not being able to look on the face of Jesus.
v. 10
•	Whenever the Lord returns, He will experience ______________!  How? Through His ______________!  Saints refers to believers, those who set about to serve the Master. The Greek is clear that the glory of God will not only be glorified among the saints, but “in” them. This probably means the Lord’s glory is shared or mirrored in His people.  They are one with Him and will share His glory.
What Might This all mean?
•	When the Lord returns, He will not preoccupied with dealing with the wicked.  That is incidental to His work of the Kingdom.  This new kingdom will surpass anything we can imagine. Paul says “He will be ______________ at when He comes!”  The wonders of that day will not be taken for granted! Who will marvel? Those whose faith is in the LJC!
V. 11
•	Paul has been building the ______________ of his readers with the notion of delivery and glory at the appearing of the Lord. He knows they will have to live their lives in faith in a world that is hard and contrary to most everything God stands and desires. They can never remain steadfast on their own strength. Paul moves into ______________ for his ______________ that God will see them through to the very end.
Verse 11 – “to which end”
•	Is a loosely attached statement added to the previous section and probably should not be attached to any particular word or phrase.  Specifically it refers to the whole idea of salvation that Paul is offering the Thessalonians. The expression implies purpose.  
The First Point of His Prayer
•	Is “______________ may ______________ you ______________ of your ______________.”  We find that the calling of God is one of Paul’s motivation thoughts. For him it usually denotes the decisive moment when God calls men out of darkness into his light. Romans 8:30 is a typical use.  While men who are called are completely unworthy of this call, Paul (and I think God) does not want them to remain that way! They are to walk worthy of their calling!
The Calling is Wonderful, but
•	the believer must not get so excited about that they they fail to live up to it.  Notice this cannot be done in mere human strength, but must be done in such as way that God counts them worthy. What Paul is praying is that the Thessalonians be able to live between this moment and judgment that God will be able to pronounce them worthy of the calling. “______________” is in the emphatic and shows Paul’s concern for them.
Point 2
•	Paul prays that God would “______________ every ______________ of ______________”.  Paul asks God to fulfill these things and open recognizes that no human effort is adequate.  Divine help is necessary. This is reinforced by adding “with power” as the verse ends.  Paul desires to see the fruit of goodness in lives of his friends at Thessalonica. He knows this will come about only by the power of God operating in their lives. 
v. 12 The Purpose of ALL This
•	Is seen here: “that the ______________ of our ______________ may be ______________ in you.”  Name in biblical times was more than a means to distinguish one person from another. It summed the whole character of the person. What does Rev 2:17 mean if one takes it that no one knows this name. We might say, that is useless if no one knows his name.  What the new name means in Revelation is that the man has a new character and it is a secret between Lord and himself.
The Purpose
•	Is that ______________ will be ______________. In additional to His being glorified, the ______________ will be glorified too. We will be glorified in Him on account of what He has done.