2 Thessalonians 1:3 - Homilies By T. Croskery

Thanksgiving for the spiritual progress of the Thessalonians. Timothy had brought the apostle tidings of their faith, their love, their sufferings, and their patience.

I. THE GROUNDS OF HIS THANKSGIVING . "Because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward each other aboundeth."

1 . The marked growth of their faith. At his last writing to them he had hinted at deficiencies in their faith ( 1 Thessalonians 3:10 ), but he had now learned that it had grown exceedingly.

(a) in its strength

(b) and in its range.

The Thessalonians had been able to receive new truths, and to bear the shock of persecution with calmness. Their faith worked by love ( Galatians 5:6 ), and the trial of their faith worked patience ( James 1:3 ).

2 . The marked growth of their love to one another. He had prayed for an increase of love among them, and he was thankful that his prayer had been heard.

(a) Their persecutions had endeared them the more to each other.

(b) They "looked not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" ( Philippians 2:4 ).

They "bore one another's burdens" ( Galatians 6:2 ). They were "kindly affectioned to one another with brotherly love" ( Romans 12:10 ).

II. THE OBLIGATION AND APPROPRIATENESS OF HIS THANKSGIVING . "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet."

1 . The apostle regards it as a positive debt which it would be injustice not to discharge, for he feels that God is the true Author of all the blessings they had received.

2 . He regards it as demanded by the very proprieties of the case. "As it is meet"—that this recognition should be made.—T.C.

2 Thessalonians 1:4 .—The apostle's interest in the Thessalonian Church as manifested by his praises of it to other Churches.

He had formerly listened to their praises from the lips of other Churches; he could now sound their praises at Corinth and elsewhere, ascribing all the while due praise to God.

I. THE GROUND OF HIS PRAISES . "For your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure."

1 . Afflictions, whether in the form of sharp persecution or of more general trouble, are the lot of God's faithful children. They are "appointed thereunto" ( 1 Thessalonians 2:3 ).

2 . It is the glory of a Christian to bear such afflictions with patience and faith. The Thessalonians had not been "moved by these afflictions" ( 1 Thessalonians 3:3 ).

II. IT IS NOT UNLAWFUL , BUT EXPEDIENT , THAT A MINISTER SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PEOPLE . Not in their social rank, or riches, or numbers, but in the graces of the Spirit manifested in their life. The apostle elsewhere advises us not to glory in men, but in the Lord. But in this case the glory is given to God, not to man.

III. IT PROMOTES THE SPIRITUAL WELFARE OF CHURCHES TO HEAR OF THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL IN OTHER CHURCHES . The example of faith, love, and patience at Thessalonica would stimulate the saints in all Greece.—T.C.

2 Thessalonians 1:5 . — The significance of these sufferings in relation to Divine judgment.

He comforts them with the thought of the certainty of the future judgment.

I. THERE WILL BE A RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF MEN . "Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth" ( Psalms 58:11 ). The afflictions of the righteous and the prosperity of the wicked in the present world are not inconsistent with this righteous judgment. The problem is an old one, how to understand the mystery of Divine providence. The Book of Job sets forth its conditions and its mysteries. The disturbing effect of sin is not sufficiently considered in estimating the character of the Divine administration. It is the inequalities in Divine providence that lead us to expect a future rectification of wrongs; for God's judgment is righteous.

II. THE PATIENT HEROISM OF THE SAINTS IS ITSELF A SIGN OF GOD 'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT . "Which is a token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may he counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer."

1 . It is not that believers suffer, receiving here their evil things, while the wicked receive their good things.

2 . It is not because God is just and there rest be a future judgment.

3 . It is not that the persecution was an indication how the judgment would go at the last clay.

4 . It is that the patience of the saints accredited them, by the righteous judgment of God, as meet heirs of his kingdom, while it was a presage of the coming judgment, when the future would bring its double compensation for the present. The idea is the same as in the Philippian Epistle: "And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God" ( Philippians 1:28 ). It follows, therefore,

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 . — The future judgment as to its righteousness, time, circumstances, and results to the two classes concerned in it.

The apostle proceeds to set forth the certainty of the Divine judgment as affecting the saints and their persecutors.

I. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THIS JUDGMENT . "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you; and to you who are afflicted rest with us."

1 . An appeal is made to man's innate sense of justice. A want of this element of justice in human character is regarded as a defect. A right-minded man is indignant at wrong, and delights in the retribution that fails upon wrong doers. This sentiment of justice is but a reflection of Divine character, for we are made in the image of that God who hates sin with "a perfect hatred' ( Psalms 139:22 ).

2 . God is "not unrighteous who taketh vengeance" ( Romans 3:5 ), for he has established in his government of the world an inseparable connection between sin and misery. Therefore we may expect to see a Divine retaliation upon transgressors—"affliction to them that afflict you"—the penalty partaking of the very character of the sin. On the other hand, God is not "unrighteous to forget your work of faith and labour of love." The afflicted shall be recompensed with "rest," as well as reward for all their patience.

II. THE TIME OF THE JUDGMENT . "When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven."

1 . There is a day appointed for the judgment of the world; for God "hath appointed a day in which he wilt judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained" ( Acts 17:30 , Acts 17:31 ).

2 . The day is that which is to be the manifestation of the Lord from heaven. He is now in heaven, "sitting at the right hand of God" ( Acts 7:56 ); but he shall then come forth in glory to those who "wait for him," to the judgment of the world.

3 . The time of the judgment is unknown to man. The day of the Lord "shall come as a thief in the night."

III. THE SUBORDINATE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE JUDGMENT .

1 . The angelic retinue. "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with the angels of his power."

(a) They "gather together his elect from the four winds" ( Mark 13:27 ).

(b) They "shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them that do iniquity, and shall east them into a furnace of fire" ( Matthew 13:41 , Matthew 13:42 ).

2 . The flaming glory of his manifestation. It shall be "in flaming fire;" not as the instrument of vengeance, but as enhancing the glory of the Divine presence. "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people" ( Psalms 50:3 , Psalms 50:4 ).

IV. THE RESULTS OF THE JUDGMENT TO THE TWO CLASSES .

1 . The class of persecutors. "Those which afflict you."

(a) The first class refers to Gentile persecutors. "They know not God." Ignorance is their great sin. They had resisted the light of nature.

( α ) It was wilful ignorance, for they had the truth brought to their doors in Thessalonica;

( β ) their ignorance made confidence in God impossible,

( γ ) as well as an intelligent worship of God.

(b) The second class refers to Jewish persecutors—"that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." As ignorance was the sin of the Gentiles, disobedience was the sin of the Jews. They knew God, but rejected the gospel of Christ. They were fiercer persecutors of the saints even than the Gentiles.

( α ) Christ is the Author of the gospel as well as its theme.

( β ) The gospel is to be obeyed as well as received, and is therefore called "the obedience of faith;" for faith without obedience is dead, as obedience without faith has no value.

(a) The judgment is everlasting destruction. This does not imply annihilation—an idea equally opposed to Scripture and to the facts of natural science. The term "everlasting" associated with it neutralizes the idea of annihilation, which implies a point of time in which the wicked cease to exist. The duration of the punishment will be as the duration of the blessedness ( Revelation 16:1-21 :26; Hebrews 9:14 ; Matthew 25:46 ).

(b) It involves separation from "the face of the Lord, and the glory of his strength." It is heaven to "see Christ as he is," to be "with him where he is, that they may behold his glory." The sum of all woe is, "Depart from me." A great gulf is fixed between the saved and the lost ( Luke 16:26 ). The wicked are to be outside the apocalyptic city of God. "Outside are dogs" ( Revelation 16:14 , Revelation 16:15 ).

2 . The class of saints. The results of the judgment as affecting them are thus described.

(a) They are heirs of it, as children of God.

(b) They are called into it.

(c) The kingdom "shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High" ( Daniel 7:27 ). "The saints shall judge the world" ( 1 Corinthians 6:2 , 1 Corinthians 6:3 ). They shall "inherit the kingdom" ( Matthew 25:34 ). This is "the grace that is to he brought to them at the revelation of Jesus Christ" ( 1 Peter 1:13 ).

(a) There is a rest—a sabbatism—"for the people of God" ( Hebrews 4:9 ). They "shall rest from their labours, and their works do follow them" ( Revelation 14:13 ).

(b) It is rest in the fellowship of all saints—"rest with us."

(a) The Church is to be "the glory of Christ." Jesus said, "The glory which thou gavest me I have given them" ( John 17:10 , John 17:22 ). "The beauty of the Lord God shall be upon her," and "his glory shall be seen upon her" ( Psalms 90:17 ); Isaiah 60:2 ). The Church is addressed thus: "There shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God" ( Isaiah 62:3 ).

(b) Christ shall be an Object of wonder to believers in that day. "To be admired in all them that believe." The wonder will spring out of the extraordinary manifestations of his glory and power.—T.C.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 , 2 Thessalonians 1:12 . — Prayer for the Thessalonians in prospect of their glorification.

His wish was that they would undergo the necessary preparatory work in anticipation of their future glorification. It was a double prayer.

I. A PRAYER THAT HIS CONVERTS MIGHT APPROVE THE REALITY OF THEIR CALLING BY THEIR FAITH AND LIVE . "Whereunto we pray always for you, brethren, that God would count you worthy of his calling."

1 . The nature and intent of the calling.

(a) high ( Philippians 3:14 );

(b) holy ( 2 Timothy 1:9 );

(c) heavenly ( Hebrews 3:1 ).

(a) to fellowship with Christ ( 1 Corinthians 1:9 );

(b) to holiness ( 1 Thessalonians 4:7 );

(c) to liberty ( Galatians 5:13 );

(d) to peace ( Colossians 3:15 );

(e) to glory and virtue ( 2 Peter 1:3 );

(f) to eternal life ( 1 Timothy 6:12 ).

2 . A walk worthy of such a calling. "That God would count you worthy of this calling." How can any sinful man be accounted worthy of it? He is already called, and God's counting him worthy proceeds on the supposition of that pre-existing fact. It supposes:

II. A PRAYER THAT HIS CONVERTS MIGHT FULLY REALIZE THE BLESSED PROCESS THROUGH WHICH THE APOSTLE 'S OBJECT MIGHT BE SECURED . The process is twofold.

1 . That God would work in them every delight in moral goodness. "Fulfil every good pleasure of goodness."

2 . That God would fulfil the work of faith with power.

III. THE ULTIMATE OBJECT OF THE APOSTLE 'S PRAYERS FOR THE THESSALONIANS . "That the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him."

1 . The very Name of Christ is to be gloried in the saints.

(a) in their holiness of life;

(b) in their victory over the world and sin;

(c) in their steadfast loyalty to him;

(d) in their final exaltation to "his kingdom and glory."

2 . The saints will be glorified in Christ.

3 . The spring or source of all the blessings of the saints. "According to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

(a) The purpose of the Father is of grace;

(b) the mediation of the Son is of grace;

(c) the blessings of the new covenant are all of grace.