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 (Thessalonians, Timothy, and Titus)
9. Patience and Faith in Persecutions (2Thess 1:1-12)

9: Patience and Faith in Persecutions (2Thess 1:1-12)

I.       The Basics

A.     Setting

Paul gives thanks to God first of all for the growing faith and love of the Thessalonians in the midst of persecutions. He comforts them by assuring them of the righteous judgment of God. He also mentions the continual prayers of him and his co-workers on their behalf.

B.     Key Verse

            “so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer” (1:4-5).

C.     Did You Know…?

1. “Flaming fire” (1:8): “In biblical times, fire was often the symbol of divine presence, such as at Mt.Sinai and on the day of Pentecost. Compare these related references: Exodus 3:2; Isaiah 66:15; Daniel 7:10-11; 2 Peter 3:7” 2/80

2. “Vengeance” (1:8) literally means ‘out of justice.’

II.    Observation

A.     Outline

(1:1-2)

(1:3-4)

(1:5-10)

(1:11-12)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

III. Segment Analysis

A.     1:3-4

1a. For what does Paul give thanks to God?

1b. Relate Paul’s thanksgiving to his earlier prayer and exhortation in 1Thessalonians 3:10,12 and 4:1

2. “We are bound to thank God always for you…” What attitude can you learn from this?

3. Is your faith growing exceedingly? How do you know?

B.     1:5-10

4. Record what this paragraph teaches about

4a. The persecutors

4b. The persecuted

5. What is evidence of the righteous judgment of God? Why?

6. What does it mean that the believers be counted worthy of the kingdom of God? Does it mean that they deserve to enter God’s kingdom by virtue of their endurance?

7. To whom will God take vengeance?

C.     1:11-12

8. How does this prayer encourage believers who are suffering persecutions?

9. What is “the good pleasure of His goodness” (11)?

10. What does it mean that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in us and we in Him (12)?

11. What is the basis of Paul’s prayer?

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