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?
