The Hope of the Gospel (Present: Patience)

To look at the next aspect of Christian conduct, we need to jump back to 2 Thessalonians. As we mentioned before, it seems that the reason why Paul wrote this second letter was to clear up some problems in the church that were not solved by his first letters—problems involving eschatology and idleness. But before he gets to those issues, Paul begins by addressing another situation the church was facing, one that came from without. Paul had some words of instruction and correction and warning for the church. But he begins with a message of encouragement.

Back at the beginning of this study, we looked at the salutation of this letter, and there Paul had words of praise for the church. “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) This was a church full of faith and love; they were a strong church so that Paul repeatedly thanked God for them. This is something we see throughout these letters. Though the church did have its problems, it was overall a strong church.

It may have been among the best churches, but it was not in the best circumstances. It was a good example of a church, but it was not in an ideal situation. Paul praised them, but most of the people around the church had a quite different attitude. That is the theme of this passage—the situation of the church and how the church was supposed to deal with it:

(2 Thessalonians 1:4-12) 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: which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 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. 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: 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.

We need to briefly review what we said earlier about the history of Paul and the Thessalonians. Paul had been preaching at Philippi—when opposition from his enemies had caused him to leave and come to Thessalonica. He had preached in Thessalonica until the opposition of his enemies forced him to leave; he then traveled to Berea. He preached in Berea until his enemies from Thessalonica followed him and caused him to leave Berea. Paul's entire ministry at Thessalonica was surrounded by enmity and opposition.

And this opposition had not disappeared now that Paul was gone. Paul establishes this in verse 4. This was a church enduring persecutions and tribulations. The word translated tribulation literally means “pressure.” This was a church under pressure.

This had been the case in 1 Thessalonians and the pressure had not gone away. If anything, it seems to have become worse. This was a church under pressure; a church where things (externally, anyway) were not going well. For them, the way of Christ had become a rocky road.

This is not explicitly spelled out, but most commentators think that the church was very discouraged and that another reason for this letter was to encourage them. This was a church that was facing a difficult situation—opposition from those around them. As I've mentioned before, this was probably not from the government, which at this point was seldom interested in persecuting Christians—it would have been from their townsfolk and neighbors, perhaps from their friends and family. Obviously, that would be discouraging for anyone.

This passage is Paul's encouragement to them to remain true to God and the gospel despite these discouraging circumstances. Paul is encouraging them to have patience--to face difficult situations without giving up. Patience is pressing on when there is pressure to stop; it is going AGAINST the flow. Paul wanted the Christians of this church to remain true to the faith even in persecution. And so Paul wrote this letter to help encourage them, giving them several reasons why they should endure.

(1) Their tribulation was being used for something good; they were becoming an example to other churches. Paul says that he gloried in them in the churches of God for their patience and faith in the persecutions and tribulations that they endured. To put it in other words, Paul was using them as an example to other churches. When Paul spoke to other churches (perhaps specifically the church at Corinth where Paul probably was at this time), he brought up Thessalonica as an example—and not just in general as a good church, but specifically because they were experiencing persecution. He could point to them as a picture of a church that stood strong during opposition. We know that Paul's work in Corinth experienced some opposition, specifically from the Jews. Perhaps some in the Corinthian church were inclined to give up in the face of adversity, and Paul said: “Just look at the Thessalonian church. They are facing the same thing and still remain true to God.” Their trial was being used to help others.

These are the words of Jesus during one of his final discourses: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John12:32) And that sounds very beautiful and inspiring until you remember what being 'lifted up from the earth' meant for Jesus. It meant false accusation, torture, and death. And yet from that sacrifice, men from all over the world have been drawn unto him. This prophecy is specifically about Christ but perhaps we can make the extension--that when God's people are lifted up, or perhaps more accurately, when Christ is lifted through the means of their identification with him in persecution, then all men are drawn by it. Repeatedly, throughout the Gospel, Jesus warned that just as He faced persecution, so would His followers. Perhaps it is not too much of a stretch to say that if we have a part in his suffering, so we have a part in the effect that suffering has.

I've owned a fire extinguisher for about five years now. I've never used it. I don't actually know whether it works. It might be a fake for all I know. Perhaps if I pulled the handle, nothing would come out. I don't know, because I've never had the occasion where I needed to know. If a fire broke out at my house, and I had to use it and it worked, then I could say with certainty: Yes, this works. This is a good fire extinguisher. You can only know if some things work by testing them out; and in most cases, that testing will be because of a problem.

And some character traits are only shown when men are tested, and in most cases, that testing will be because of a problem. Because of their persecution, the Thessalonians were manifesting a patience and faith—both to others and to themselves—that they never would have shown if the church had experienced no difficulties. 

But it is not simply a matter of proving whether or not they had certain things exist. Look at verse 5: “That ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God.” There is considerable debate about how to interpret this, but the consensus seems to be this: through the things they were experiencing, God was preparing them. Matthew Henry writes: “Their faith being thus tried, and patience exercised, they were improved by their sufferings, insomuch that they were counted worthy of the kingdom of God... not by worthiness of condignity, but of congruity only; not that they could merit heaven, but they were made meet for heaven.” In other words, it isn't that they were earning a place in God's eschatological kingdom—that comes only by grace—but they were be made ready, being prepared for it by their suffering. 

Later, Paul prays that they would be worthy of their calling. Beacon points out that this implies the possibility that they might not be found worthy. Something good was coming out of their persecution, but only if they continued to meet it with patience and faith.

(2) Paul encourages them to remain patient in persecution because they were part of something bigger than themselves. This is the end of verse 5: “The kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.” The problems they were experiencing were not merely bad luck. They weren't some kind of curse. They were suffering because they belonged to God and to his kingdom. This gave a context and a meaning to their experience. They weren't facing these things on their own or because of themselves. Their experience was part of a bigger story.

(3) Paul encourages them because God is still in control. We have these Christians facing opposition because of their faith. They were being ostracized, inconvenienced, and hurt because they remained true to God. You would think, in the abstract, that this would show a problem on God's part. They certainly must have been tempted to think that if God were really in control, then none of this would be happening. Perhaps even their enemies had suggested this.

Paul not only denies this idea but turns it on its head. The fact that they were facing persecution “is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God.” In other words, this very situation proves that God is in control. This isn't happening because God doesn't care or doesn't know or is unable to stop it. It is happening because as part of God's plan, He deliberately chose to allow it.

This situation, so far from proving a problem to their faith, should be a manifest token, that is “evidence, proof” (Thayer) of God's rule. How could that be?

By the very fact we just discussed—the fact that out of this bad situation, something good was coming. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) The Thessalonians were proof of that—proof that God was working all things—even the terrible situation they were in—together for God because they were called according to His purpose. And that must mean that God does have a call and a purpose. If God is working all things together for good, then that means God is working. 

Some connect this phrase “which is a manifest token” directly back to “your patience and faith” in verse 4. The patience and faith they had in their trial was proof that God was at work. If a tree grows in the desert, it is proof that it must have some water source. If a fire burns in the rain, then it must have some source of fuel. If a house is warm in the winter, then it must have a furnace. That was the position of the Thessalonians—they were showing patience and faithfulness in a situation where, judging from the outside, there was no reason to have such qualities. But they knew why and how. They had a secret source. They were in direct contact with the power of God, and so knew that God was still on the throne.

And the inverse of this may have been true. In verse 6, Paul says that God, in justice, would “recompense tribulation to them that trouble you.” This may be speaking of a future judgment; this is something Paul will talk about later in the passage. But it may mean that even at the time, even during their persecution, they were seeing God bring judgment on their enemies.

(4) This leads directly to the fourth point. Paul calls them to be patient in persecution because of eschatology. This is verses 7-9. We have this picture of Christ's second coming: “when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels”--phraseology which sounds very familiar to other words we have read throughout our study. This point links the various parts of Thessalonians and the various parts of NT theology. Our future hope is not an incidental thing that could just be removed and leave the rest of our theology intact. Everything points forward to this reality.

Back at the beginning of this study, I talked about the word 'hope' and one of the things I said about hope is that it always looks to something good, something desirable. That is what we see here: “to you who are troubled [God will give] rest with us.” The Greek word for 'rest' is used for a release in tension, as when a taut string is released. The Thessalonians felt that they were under pressure; that they were being stretched to their breaking point. But there was hope that in the end, they would have a release from that pressure. They would be at rest, free from persecution, safe from oppression.

Note that Paul says specifically they will rest with us. There is a communal aspect to the Christian hope. Heaven is described as a city, and a city implies a community. But it may have a special meaning here. Remember what we read earlier in 1 Thessalonians 2:14: “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews.”  At the time, I said that the Thessalonian Christians may have felt very much alone in their persecution—but the very fact that they were being persecuted gave them a connection to other Christians who were facing the same thing. There was a community in suffering. Here we see the other side, that there will also be a community in relief from suffering. Christians will meet in the resurrection and share in the common experience of persecution and deliverance.

I said before that for the Thessalonians there must have been a temptation to question God—to doubt if God was really in control. A man in the Old Testament dealt with this specific issue. Asaph saw the wicked prospering while the righteous suffered; he saw wrong winning over right; good being defeated by evil. He couldn't understand all this and was tempted to doubt God. But this was his conclusion: “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.” (Psalm 73:17-18)

This was Asaph's realization—that the way things are isn't the way things will always be. The fact that God doesn't hasn't set things right doesn't prove that He never will. We say that “life isn't fair” but that involves the rather brash assumption that we can see all of life. God will defend His people.

But that entails the fact that He will bring judgment against those who are not His people. The fact that God will rescue the oppressed involves the logical corollary that He will defeat the oppressor. Paul describes God bringing judgment with flaming fire on those who do not know God and who disobey or reject the gospel. They will be banished or cast out. Verse 9: “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” Most commentators take the phrase “from the presence of the Lord” to have this idea of banishment, of being cast out from God's presence. The NET Bible translates it: “They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength.” “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23)

All of this is given as hope to the Thessalonians. No matter how unequal things seemed, the scales would be righted. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail. However, there is perhaps an implied warning. The book of Hebrews was also written to people experiencing persecution and one of the main reasons for the book is to encourage them to remain faithful and patient during that persecution. And the writer gives this promise and warning: “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:36-38) There is hope of God's coming to deliver them and fulfil his promises; there is hope that if they have faith they shall be among the just who live. However, with that also comes the warning—the necessity of patience because if they draw back, they no longer have that hope or promise. Those who have faith shall live; so what happens to those who do not keep the faith?

(5) Paul encourages them to remain faithful in persecution because of what God was going to do through them. This is verse 10. Paul is still continuing this idea of Christ's second coming. And he says that when Jesus comes, He will be glorified in his saints and admired in all them that believe. And there is some debate about exactly what this means. But the idea seems to be this: the skill of a painter is shown in his paintings. The strength of an athlete is shown in his victory. And, in some sense and to some degree, the power and glory of God will be shown through His people. What God has done through His people will reflect His grace. They are, so to speak, His masterpiece, His pièce de résistance. 

That is an overwhelming thought—that we, ordinary human beings, could become a part of God's glory. Note that in the middle of verse 10, Paul adds this parenthetical comment: Because our testimony among you was believed. Beacon suggests this reason for that strange interruption. The people in Thessalonica were very discouraged. They would be staggered at the picture Paul was painting; they would think: 'We could never be like that; we could never be part of that glorious picture.' And so Paul stops to remind them—this is a hope for all that believe, and they had believed. They had already entered into the path that would lead to this end. This isn't something relegated to the prophets or apostles; it is for any who will remain faithful.

(6) Paul gives a final reason why they should remain patient in persecution. And it was because he was praying for them. Verses 11-12 is a prayer that they would remain faithful, that they would be found worthy of God's calling, that God's will and goodness would be fulfilled in them, and that Jesus would be glorified in them and they would be glorified in Him. You can see these verses as briefly summarizing the rest of the passage. But the point is that Paul was praying for them.

We need to pray for one another. Paul had great faith in the Thessalonian church, but he also made it a point to pray for them. But that isn't all. Look at Paul's statement in Ephesians 6:18-19: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.” Remember that Paul was writing this from prison, being imprisoned because of his faith. In other words, he was facing persecution. And in that, he asked for prayer. He was an apostle, who had served and suffered for Christ for many years by this point, and yet he still asked for the prayers of others. We all need each other's prayers.

I haven't made this point yet because I was hoping it was obvious—but even though this passage is written for the Thessalonians, all of these other points apply to us. We may not be facing the degree of persecution that the Thessalonians were, but all Christians (and all people for that matter) suffer some problems and obstacles in life. And in whatever we face, as Christians we must remain patient and faithful, not giving up on God and on our faith in our problems. You occasionally see this warning: children can drown in even a small amount of water. Any rock can become a stumbling stone if you stumble on it. We have to keep our faith, even if the problems we face are (comparatively small). And so all of these points here apply to us; these were reasons for the Thessalonians, but they are also reasons for us.

I bring that up here because, in one sense, this sixth point doesn't directly apply to us. Paul was praying for the Thessalonians. Paul is dead now and so, assumably, this is not relevant to us. But I couldn't help but think of Hebrews 7:25: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” We still have someone praying for us in our troubles.

And this connects back to Paul's words because it reminds us that our hope and victory in all of this comes from Christ. It is only “according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”