In this letter to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul begins by thanking God that their faith and love keep growing all the time (1: 3). They were going through a lot of troubles but Paul insists that this is God’s way of testing their faith, not a way of punishing them (1: 4, 5).
Someone in Thessalonica claimed to have a letter from Paul saying that the Lord had already returned (2: 2). But Paul warns the church not to be fooled. The Lord will not return until after the “wicked one” has appeared (2: 3).
Paul also warns against laziness (3: 6-10) and he tells the church to guard against any followers who refuse to obey what he has written in this letter.
The letter closes with a prayer:
I pray that the Lord, who gives peace, will always bless you with peace.
May the Lord be with all of you (3: 16)
A Quick Look at This Letter
1. Greetings (1: 1,2)
2. The Lord’s Return Will Bring Justice (1: 3-12)
3. The Lord Has Not Returned Yet (2: 1-12)
4. Be Faithful (2: 13-17)
5. Pray and Work (3: 1-15)
6. A Final Prayer (3: 16-18)
Beryl