Kress Biblical Resources :: Comfort and Encouragement for Those Enduring Persecution (2Th 1:3-12)

Detailed Outline of 2 Thessalonians

The Return of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Glory Calls Us to Persevere in the Midst of Persecution

2. Comfort and encouragement for those enduring persecution (2Th 1:3-12)
   1. Know that we praise God for you and proudly tell others about your perseverance and faith (2Th 1:3-4)
      1. We praise God for you (2Th 1:3)
         1. The responsibility and rightness of thanking God for believers who are bearing fruit (2Th 1:3a)
            1. The responsibility—a moral obligation
            2. The reason—a theological implication [God is the Sovereign Source of faith and love]
            3. The rightness—an appropriate response to growth
         2. The realities of faith and love, which call for constant thanks to God (2Th 1:3b)
            1. An enlarged faith
            2. An ever-growing love
      2. We proudly tell others about your perseverance and faith in the midst of persecution (2Th 1:4)
         1. The Thessalonian believers were an encouragement to other believers (2Th 1:4a)
            1. Their founding pastors
            2. Their fellow believers in other churches
         2. The Thessalonian believers were exemplifying perseverance and faith in the midst of persecutions and afflictions (2Th 1:4b)
   2. Know that your perseverance in the midst of persecution has a purpose (2Th 1:5-10)
      1. The perseverance and faith of believers indicate that God’s judgment is right (2Th 1:5)
      2. The punishment of unbelievers and plan of redemption fulfilled for believers will confirm that God’s judgment is right (2Th 1:6-10)
         1. God will repay with affliction those who afflict His people [God’s justice will be perfectly just] (2Th 1:6)
         2. God will relieve His people at the revelation of Jesus [God’s justice will bring relief to those waiting for the Lord Jesus to return] (2Th 1:7)
         3. God will bring retribution to those who do not obey the gospel [God’s justice will result in eternal destruction for those who do not obey the gospel] (2Th 1:8-9)
            1. Divine retribution declared (2Th 1:8)
            2. Divine retribution described (2Th 1:9)
         4. Christ will receive glory and be admired by those who trust His Word [God’s justice will result in worship for those who do believe] (2Th 1:10)
   3. Know that we’re praying for you (2Th 1:11-12)
      1. We are praying for you faithfully (2Th 1:11a)
      2. We are praying for your spiritual fulfillment (2Th 1:11b-12)
         1. That God would favor you with consistency in your walk (2Th 1:11b)
         2. That God would fulfill your consecrated desires (2Th 1:11c)
         3. That God would fully glorify the name of the Lord Jesus in you, and you in Him, according to His grace (2Th 1:12)