Deeper Reflection
THE THESSALONIANS WERE FIRST “TAUGHT” “THE traditions” – “the truth” (2 Thess 2:10, 12, 13), in order to be able to “stand firm and hold fast” in their discipleship challenges. Otherwise, there is nothing for them to “stand firm and hold fast” to. Likewise for us, to live by the Word of God, we must first learn with diligence, know and understand with wisdom, the Scriptures. Standing firm and holding fast constitute the human part that we play. But there is the divine part – the much more important part – that we must not be ignorant of or ignore. Significantly, the human part (v.15) is sandwiched by the divine part (vv.13-14, 16-17). The divine sandwiching is not just a literary sandwich, but a theological sandwich.It is in the salvation of God, being chosen and called by God (vv.13-14) – and thus, safe and secure in God’s hand – that we stand fast and hold fast to the truth. And as we stand fast and hold fast, the sanctifying and transforming work of the Holy Spirit is taking place (v.13), empowering us and renewing our minds and inner beings (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 4:16), building our character into Christlikeness, the glory of Christ (v.14; 2 Cor 3:18). And we also stand firm and hold fast in the “eternal encouragement and good hope” that God “has given” us, in which we pray for divine encouragement and empowerment (vv.16-17). Above all, enveloping our standing fast and holding fast is the divine love sandwich: “loved by the Lord” (v.13), and Christ and God “who loved us” (v.16).