Paul finished his first letter to the Thessalonian church with a list of things to remember, all related to being good members of a community of faith. He started at the top and asked the church to respect their leaders. He encouraged the congregation to love the hard-working people who taught and cared for them.

When it came to life together in the congregation, Paul wanted them to dwell peacefully with each other, but this didn’t mean they couldn’t confront problems.

• If someone was a troublemaker or was not pulling his weight, they should warn him to change his behavior.
• If there were weak or disheartened members in the church, people should come alongside and encourage them.
• They should nip conflict and retaliation in the bud and look for the resolution that was most beneficial to everyone concerned.

Paul also had advice for living joyfully. He suggested that the Thessalonians pray about everything and give thanks to God in every circumstance – because, after they prayed, whatever happened was God’s will for them in that moment.

They should listen to the Holy Spirit and not shut him down. And they should pay attention when God spoke through someone in their community – but test what they said with Scripture and prayer. Then they would be able to discern good ideas from evil ones.

Paul closed his first letter to the Thessalonians with a request that they share it with the other churches in Macedonia.

Paul’s Second Letter

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians again a few months after his first letter. He had heard about the persecutions and trials they were facing and he wanted to encourage them to stand strong.

First of all, he wanted them to know they were on the right track if wicked people were persecuting them. Their openly evil behavior proved that God was justified in judging their wickedness, and drawing that kind of persecution meant the Thessalonians were doing a good job for the kingdom.

God was going to deal with those troublemakers when Jesus returned with blazing fire and his powerful angels. But he was going to reward the faithful who lived holy lives – in spite of persecution.

“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11

The Second Coming

“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us – whether by prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter – asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

There has been speculation about the second coming of Christ in every era of the church. In Paul’s day, people came into town and spread rumors, or wrote fake letters purporting to be from Paul, and claiming that Jesus had already returned.

Paul told the Thessalonians that Christ would not return until the anti-Christ had come.

“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

The forces behind this evil man were already in the world, but he had not yet been revealed. When he was revealed, the Lord Jesus would destroy him with one breath from his mouth.

Paul didn’t want the Thessalonians caught up in speculation about the second coming. When it happened, everyone would know it. Until then they just needed to keep doing what God had given them to do on earth.

“We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” 2 Thessalonians 3:4-5

Exhortation to Work 

Apparently there were some idle, disruptive people in the Thessalonian church. They didn’t follow the teaching Paul, Silas and Timothy had given them, particularly about working for a living.

The missionaries worked while they were in town so they could pay their own way. They modeled industriousness, “for even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’” 2 Thessalonians 3:10

The Church had a well-deserved reputation for generosity. Starting in Jerusalem, the believers had pooled their resources so that no one went hungry. Some people took advantage of this provision to the point where they became idle and lazy. Then they stirred up trouble to deflect attention away from their own shortcomings.

“We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12

Paul didn’t want the diligent people of Thessalonica to become discouraged from doing good just because some of their members were freeloaders.

“And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instructions in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.” 2 Thessalonians 3:13-15

Paul closed his second letter to the Thessalonians with a blessing of peace. He loved this young church and was encouraged by them.

Paul and the Jews of Corinth

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia to give Paul a hand, he turned his attention exclusively to the Jews at the synagogue in Corinth. He tried to prove to them that Jesus was the Messiah, but they opposed him and became abusive.

Jesus always encouraged his followers to move on when people resisted their message with abusive behavior. He told his disciples to shake the dust off their feet and go somewhere else when they were vehemently opposed. He moved away from such people himself and went where he was more welcome.

So Paul was justified when he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” Acts 18:6

Nevertheless, Paul’s teaching persuaded Crispus, the synagogue leader, and he and his entire household believed in Jesus. Many other Corinthians believed as well and were baptized, so Paul didn’t give up on Corinth entirely.

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.” Acts 18:9-11

The Lord Protects Paul

Paul needed the comfort and assurance in that vision from the Lord in order to stay strong. He had already been flogged and beaten by the Jews in other places, and the Jews in Corinth were making a concerted effort to attack him again.

They brought Paul before Gallio the Roman proconsul and accused him of breaking their law. But Gallio refused to hear the case.

“‘Since it involves questions about words and names in your own law – settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.’ So he drove them off. Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.” Acts 18:15-17

Paul Goes Home

Paul stayed with his friends Priscilla and Aquila while he was living in Corinth. They were tentmakers, as was Paul, so they worked and fellowshipped together. When Paul was ready to head back home, Priscilla and Aquila went with him as far as Ephesus.

Despite Paul’s declaration that he would only go to the Gentiles after the way he was treated in Corinth, when he got to Ephesus he went to the synagogue and discussed Christ with the Jews. They were interested and asked him to stay with them, but he declined. He promised to come back if he could later.

He sailed away from Ephesus to Caesarea and then traveled up to Jerusalem where he greeted the church. Finally he went home to Antioch and spent some time there.

Today’s reading ends with Paul setting off again to re-visit Galatia and encourage the believers. The greatest missionary of all time still had one more amazing journey ahead of him.