Deeper Reflection
PAUL WAS FEARFUL THAT “SOMEHOW THE TEMPTER HAD tempted” the Thessalonians and succeeded (v.5). The situation was suffering of tribulation (vv.3-4). This is spiritual warfare in discipleship suffering. The target of Satan’s temptation was the “faith” of the Thessalonians (vv.2, 5). The temptation was “not simply to commit some sin or sins but rather to commit the sin of apostasy”¹³ – falling away from the faith. Paul was deeply concerned that none of his new converts were “shaken by these afflictions” (v.3) and gave up and turned away from their faith. The issue is “not moral lapse but continuance in faith”, for “the possibility of apostasy was a clear and present danger”¹⁴ for the Thessalonians.How does our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8)? By inflicting suffering on God’s people (cf. Rev 2:10). This ferocious and vicious satanic attack comes in “the same kinds of suffering [that] are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world” (1 Pet 5:9). In our discipleship suffering, Peter calls us to “resist” the devil by being “firm in your faith” (1 Pet 5:9). It is our faith that Satan wants to “devour”, not our bodies that are inflicted with pains. But physical pains do bring about mental and emotional distress that can destabilise our faith in God. To be “firm in faith” is to endure and persevere in “the God of all grace” (1 Pet 5:10), whose “grace is sufficient” (2 Cor 12:9) for us, to strengthen, support, sustain and see us through.

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¹³ Gene L. Green, 165 ¹⁴ Gene L. Green, 165