S T E P S T O W A R D T H E G O A L The Letters to the People at Thessalonika THE SECOND LETTER 1 1-2 Greeting Paul, Silas, and Timothy send their greetings to the church at Thessalonika. Although this letter is from the same group as the first, it is more a statement of Paul's theological insight and less of a personal communication. 1 STEPS TOWARD GLORY 3-5 Steps already taken Despite persecution and suffering, the people of Thessalonika have been progressing in faith and in love. Through this suffering, the Thessalonians are becoming more worthy of the gift God has promised. 6-10 Steps God will take Even though good may come out of suffering, it is not right that the good suffer. God will turn this topsy-turvy situation back right. Those who are now causing suffering will then be sent away from the face of God, while those who are the victims will then be joined with all the believers in God's presence. Note that destruction is defined by the separation from God, and that reward consists in giving glory to God. 11-12 The prayer for fulfilment The prayer of Paul and his companions is just that God's plan will come to pass. First, they pray that the Thessalonians' sufferings will mean that they will be considered worthy of the reward which was promised. (Suffering does not CREATE worth in its victims, but those who endure may be SEEN to have some measure of worth. The Greek does not distinquish between being made worthy and being considered to be worthy. Our worth depends on how worthy God considers us.) Second, they pray that the Thessalonians' choice or desire for good will be made effective and that the work which they begin in faith will be finished in power. God and the people work together for this, and in this mutual effort there is glory for both: God shares the glory by bringing human choice to fruit, and this glory will reflect back on the one who gives it. 2 THE END OF THE PATH 1-6 Things will get worse There has always been the temptation to explain the slow coming of the end by etherealizing it and saying that it has already come. Paul denounces that thought. In part this idea arises from our tendency to project the future linearly; we want to think that if the end is wonderful, then surely life will be better and better every day. In many ways this will not be true. Instead, there will be more complete evil and rebellion against God than has been seen. 7-12 The evil will be set right The path toward glory is not straight, but after things get worse they will be set right. (It may have been clear to the Thessalonians what held back the evil, but it is less clear to us.) Jesus, when he comes, will destroy the evil one, or at least cancel the evil effect. Jesus will accomplish this victory by means of the life of his mouth. That is his breath, but also the living word which is spoken with the breath. As in the poetry Isaiah, "he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips he shall smite the wicked" [Isaiah 4:11 RSV]. Truly the Lord is terrible is glorious deeds [Exodus 15:11]. The Lord's word is the word of truth; those who prefer delusion to truth construct their own prison of lies. 13-17 The good will share in glory As for us, however, God has called us to glory and not to destruction. Truly, God is fearful in his power; this only makes God's love for us all the more remarkable. Not only are we called to be saved, but Jesus brings us God's own power to stand firm. 3 HOW TO WALK TODAY 1-5 Pray for growth Strength and safety were particular concerns for both the missionaries and the converts, for both evil humans and the Evil One were persecuting them. These opponents want to thwart the growth of the Christian message, both in the number of believers and in the depth of understanding. Not everyone is in the faith, and nothing here suggests that everyone can be brought into the promise. 6-13 Keep working There is temptation to believe that because we have a promise from God, we should be able to have an easy life now. Hasn't God promised to provide all good things? Paul has already said that life is not so easy (and one would think that the persecutions in Thessalonika would be proof enough of that). There is work for us to do, from putting food on our own table to encouraging our fellow Christians. 14-15 Hold back from idlers The Christian's work does not include supporting the wrong opinions of those people who won't listen carefully to the message. Our actions should make it clear that we do not agree or support them - but "to have no dealings with them" should not be expanded to mean that they are to become enemies. Christians are trying to move forward toward the goal, and even in our disagreements we should be trying to move forward together. 3 16-18 Closing The letter ends with a double blessing and Paul's own signature.