PROMISE AND ENCOURAGEMENT DURING PERSECUTION

Persecution and misinterpretation of the faith are the dominant problems present in Thessalonica and they occasioned this second letter. Certainly these problems are not limited to the churches of the first century. Let us reflect on these issues one at a time. Christian communities, in so far as they call into question the values and judgments of persons and societies, can easily become objects of ridicule and derision. This type of negative behaviour can be expressed through such relatively moderate means as marginalisation and isolation of the Christian, or, at the other extreme, through outright floggings, persecution and death. The peripheralisation and persecution of Christians continues to this day and some readers will have encountered or may still be encountering it first-hand.

For those who find themselves in these kinds of situations, an inevitable question arises: is it worth remaining a Christian? Does God know, let alone care, about my predicament? For the author of 2 Thessalonians, the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. The fundamental presupposition of his appeal is that the gospel has been proclaimed to the Thessalonians and that they have believed in it (1:8 and 2:14). They have been loved by God and chosen by him. This strong beginning and evident growth and maturation in faith (2:13 – ‘sanctification’) is a cause for joy for the writer(s) of this letter.

Since this world is corrupted by sin and polluted by the power of Satan, Christian communities can easily be confused by his deceptions.