Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Wednesday December 10, 2014  

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

While most biblical scholars and teachers are happy with the statement that Paul wrote the first letter to the Christians at Thessaloniki, there is dispute as to the authorship of the second letter, from which we read today.  There are a number of issues – with both content and style – that form the basis for this dispute.  Be that as it may, this is still a letter addressed to a dispersed Christian community, a community with issues to face, and a faith to strengthen.

The letter is written in the classic style of the Ancient Near-East – from the opening signature, signifying who the sender is, to the announcement of the recipients, and through the opening blessing, to the body and intent of the message.  The author is full of gratitude for the faith and expressed love of the members of the body of faith.  These Thessalonian Christians are so well-versed in their faith and mutual love and respect, that the letter’s author states that they are an example which can be used to bolster other congregations in less-admirable circumstances.

It seems from the body of the letter, that the Christians in Thessalonia must work hard to express their faith – they are boasted about because of “[their] steadfastness and faith during all [their] persecutions and the afflictions [they] are enduring.”

The author concludes this portion of the epistle by promising to continue to pray for them, with assurance that their faith and mutual help will always work to their good.

We know very little about what it means to be persecuted today, especially for our faith. But there are many in our world who are persecuted, derided, and abused for the faith they hold and the style of religion they practice. May the message of this letter to the Thessalonian Christians serve to be a call to us to pray for all who are persecuted for what they believe. Pray that tolerance may overcome hatred, and peace overcome violence. 

- Reverend Paul Kett