Deeper ReflectionSHORTLY AFTER PAUL, SILAS AND TIMOTHY HAD PLANTED
the church at Thessalonica and began to build the new believers in the
faith, they faced strong opposition for proclaiming the Gospel (Acts 17:1-8).
They were then forced to leave the still very young church abruptly
(Acts 17:9-10). When they left Thessalonica, the Thessalonian believers
were suffering “much tribulation” for their faith (v.6; 1 Thess 2:14).
Subsequently, Paul made attempts to return to Thessalonica, to continue
to establish their faith, for fear that their faith would be shaken by the
persecution that they suffered (1 Thess 3:5). However, those attempts
made were not successful, because “Satan hindered us” (1 Thess 2:18). So
Timothy was sent instead to Thessalonica “to strengthen and encourage
you in your faith” (1 Thess 3:3-4). Then Timothy returned to Paul and Silas
at Corinth with the good news of the Thessalonians growing in faith, love
and hope in the Lord (1 Thess 1:3), and that they were standing firm in the
Lord amidst their suffering (1 Thess 3:6-8). In response to the good news,
as well as to address certain pastoral problems in the church, Paul wrote 1
Thessalonians in Corinth.Since Paul’s first letter was sent and received by the Thessalonians,
“probably only a few weeks or months later, news reached him in Corinth
that matters had got worse”
56. In 2 Thessalonians chapter 1, we read of the
Thessalonians’ “persecutions and afflictions” (2 Thess 1:4). Apparently,
they had been “asking questions about the rationale of their afflictions”
57.
Then Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians, in part, to address these questions.
56 John R. W. Stott, 140
57 John R. W. Stott, 140
