2 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 1:1-10

After the introduction, ver. 1, 2, the apostle begins this epistle with an account of his high esteem for these Thessalonians, ver. 3, 4. He then confounds them under their afflictions and persecutions, ver. 5—10. And tells them what his prayers were to God for them, ver. 11, 12.

1. PAUL, and ‘Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians, in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2. ‘Grace unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. ‘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 towards each other aboundeth: 4. 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. 5. Which is ‘a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be accounted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God ’to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you: 7. And ’to you who are troubled, ‘reft with us, when ’the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8. ‘In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them ’that know not God, and ’that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9. ‘Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the pretence of the Lord, and ‘from the glory of his power: 10. ‘When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and ’to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

VOL. II.

The apostle joins the same persons in the inscription of this epistle with himself as in the former. 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.

1. He expresses his thankfulness to God on their behalf. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, and gratefully to acknowledge his blessings and merrens, especially those spiritual blessings, which he hath so richly believed upon you, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, in fuller discoveries of the gospel, and more unthaken confidence in the promises, as is evident in all the blessed trusts of grace and holiness, which flourish among you, and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth, the fine proof of your faith unweighed. Note, (1.) Faith, as well as every other grace, is at present imperfect; and they, who are most advanced, have need to pray, increase our faith. (2.) Where true faith is, every other grace must follow, for it worketh by love.

2. Their eminence in grace gave him occasion to boast of them to other churches. So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God; as for your other gifts and graces, so especially for your patience and faith in all your persecutions, and tribulations that ye endure, with holy intrepidity, unthaken perseverance, and calm submission, bearing up under every trial. Note, The commendation of good men should be a powerful encouragement to us abidingly to approve our fidelity in the cause of Christ.

3. Their sufferings would soon end in eternal reft, and the authors of them suffer consign vengeance, which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, who will soon make his impartial justice to appear, and even now it is your honour, and wisely ordered by him, that such tribulation should be held you, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer, conformed thus to your heart, and made meet to reign with him: seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you, who shall shortly feel the aim of an ‘avenging judge; but to you who are troubled, reft with us, even the present reft in God, into which they who believe do now enter, and soon that eternal reft will come, which remaineth for

9 G Chap. M.

the people of God, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in all the pomp of tremendous majesty; in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that knew not God, and that they not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; whether idolatrous Gentiles, or unbelieving Jews, or impenitent sinners of every kind, who shall be punished with everlasting deprivation, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; driven into eternal banishment from his blissful abode, and suffering in body and soul the vengeance of eternal fire; when, in that happy day for the redeemed, he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and the present salvation shall then be accomplished; and to be admired of all that believe, being hencefice and the subject of their everlasting adoration, love, and praise; hereby set up among you and believed, and you will reap the blessed fruits of your faith in that great day. Note, (1.) There is a day at hand, when the persecutors and the persecuted will have impartial justice done them at the bar of God, (2.) The prospect of that tribunal should comfort us under all the unjust reproaches, reviling, and tribulations which we now endure. (3.) The appearing of the Lord will be terrible to the ungodly and the sinner, whose neglect of God and his gospel will then be avenged; when wrath to the uttermost shall overtake them, and, divers with confusion from the presence of an angry Judge, the jaws of hell shall yawn to receive them; and, deep inguinalled in everlasting burnings, they shall sink, and never rise up again. (4.) Christ will be the eternal object of his people’s admonition; and whilst with wonder they react from first to last the amazing desperation of his grace, their hearts will glow with rapture, and their tongues be filled with never-ending praise.

11. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

v. 11, 12. In the prospect of this day the apostle redoubled his supplications for them. Wherefore also we pray always for you.

1. That our God, in whose favour and love we have the most afflicted interest, would count you worthy of this calling; enabling you to walk as becomes your vocation, and bring you to the profession of the glory he hath promised; and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, accomplishing the purposes of his sovereign grace towards you, carrying on and completing in you the salvation which he hath begun; and the work of faith with power, strengthening this radical grace, that all the rest may flourish with greater vigour. Note, (1.) All our worthiness comes from God’s good pleasure, who hath chosen, called, and led us hitherto; and to his sovereign grace we must be alike indebted for all that is yet to come, that we are enabled in faith to persevere, and shall reach at last the heavenly ball, (2.) If our faith be wrought of God with power, then shall we never fail.

2. He prays, That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, by your exemplary conduct and conversation, and ye in him, as now united to him by faith, and soon to rise and reign with him eternally; according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, which hath bestowed it on you for this great end, that his own glorious name might be for ever exalted, and all the praise of the sinner’s salvation be ascribed to him alone.