Doug Schorle - 03-19-2023 // God’s Righteous Judgment - 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

When Paul arrived in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey, he spent three Sabbaths in the synagogue, reasoning with the Jews and God-fearers from the Scriptures, "explaining and setting before them that the Chris had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is that Christ.'" (Acts 17:3).  The response from the Jewish authorities in the city was to start a riot, ultimately resulting in Paul and his companions being driven from the city, leaving a young church vulnerable to intense persecutions from both Jew and Gentile sources.

But despite these circumstances, the church flourished and grew in their faith, living out the Gospel to the extent that the churches in Greece boasted of their love for the saints.  And so it is that Paul wrote his second letter to this young church to encourage them in the face of continuing persecution by drawing their attention to God's righteous judgment:

1. For the persecuted believer
2. Toward the persecutor
3. The basis for this judgment

Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  We pray you will be blessed and encouraged by the Word of God.