2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
Stand Firm
The Lord is good; His love endures forever.
Introduction: Context of Thessalonica: Thessalonica city was founded about 315 BC by General Cassander worked under Alexander the Great, later became the king of Macedonia. Thessalonica was a daughter of Philip II of Macedon, and she was also the half-sister of Alexander and became the wife of Cassander too! (ref:jesuswalk.com).
Originally, Thessalonica was an ancient town named Thermai, meaning “Hot Springs” (ref:bible.org). Thessalonica was a capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and a major Mediterranean natural seaport. People from nearby villages had an attraction towards it due to the trade centre and school of philosophy. It had natural resources of timber, grain, continental fruits, gold and silver. It was a self-governed free city. As its citizens were Roman citizens, it was exempt from paying tribute to Rome.
Relation of Paul to this City:
The church at Thessalonica was founded by Paul along with Timothy and Silas, during his Second Missionary Journey in AD 50. This Church had believers from Jewish faith (Acts 17:4), and Gentile faith (1 Thess. 1:9–10). It had wealthy persons, like Jason, Aristarchus, and several leading women (Acts 17:4, 6–7; 20:4). Yet, it has largely consisted of manual labourers and slaves (1 Thess. 4:11). Paul here mentions that he used to thank God for the blessings of the Thessalonians.
Paul wrote to Thessalonians to emphasise the Second Coming of Christ. His main theme has communicated through 2 Thessalonians 3:5. He talks about the Lawless man and the coming judgement upon those people.
STAND FIRM
Paul calls the readers of the Thessalonians to stand firm in giving thanks for others, stand firm in holding on to the teachings of Christ, and doing the good deeds and speaking with good words.
1. Stand Firm to Give thanks for others - 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
Give thanks for the sevenfold spiritual blessings and as well as for the several temporal blessing. God called us, loved us, God has chosen us before the formation of the World, made to believe the Truth, saved us in Christ, sanctified us through Holy Spirit, and called us to share the glory of Jesus Christ.
So, STAND FIRM during trials, temptations and persecutions till the Lord comes to this world, with eternity in mind and God’s time for everything in our lives. Paul emphasis the working faith in 1 Thessalonians 1:3. Which, demands the total life response to the commands and promises of the God who renews us and empowers us through his Spirit in our daily lives (1 Thess. 4:1–8).
Even Peter challenges the diaspora to stand firm (1 Peter 5:6-10. When we go through sickness and troubles, and afflictions, we seek the mercy of God. We also need to pray for others who also have the same matters as us.
Paul gives thanks to the believers in Thessalonica for their spiritual blessings and sailing through the problems.
Teachers and lecturers may be in the same position for many years or till their retirement. But their students may grow taller and taller in their lives, and they may be blessed highly. They rejoice over the development of their students.
Likewise, Ministers of God lead people to Christ, when they pray for their needs: such as, jobs, purchase of vehicles, acquiring plots and flats or anything maybe for that matter. When they had blessed with such blessings, that gives immense joy and excitement to the minsters too!.
Ministers or servants of God may not at par with their believers with their economic status and other facilities, but, they rejoice when they see their members had blessed with all that needed for their lives and exalted and promoted in their high ranks. Here Paul reflects the same pastoral mind. Christian maturity leads to standing firm in giving thanks to God for the blessedness of others.
But, “For most of us, we often give thanks for things that God has given us or has done in our lives. Many times we may have been thankful to God for good things accrued to us. It is about my comforts, achievements, desires, etc. (ref: thefellowship.site). When was the last time you have been thankful to God for the good things that God bestows on others?
Generally, people get jealousy, and they compare with themselves and react differently, even siblings lost the sense and heart thanking God for the development of one another. Let’s rejoice with those rejoicing.
Gill Comments: ‘Saints are not only to bless God’s name for what they receive from him, but for what others enjoy also, and that continually, the characters which show them to be different from the followers of antichrist.’
In Luke 1:58 we read that Elizabeth’s neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shown great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her. Rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15).
2. Stand Firm in holding the Traditions– 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Stand firm and hold the Truth passed through traditions (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Traditions come from the Greek word Paradosis. The word means that which is handed down or handed over. A historical tradition, especially one relating to the teachings of Jesus and his disciples
Paul was against the Traditions institutionalised by the established systems. He condemns and refutes the Traditions (Colossians 2:8). Even our Lord Jesus Christ told it could be a dangerous feature of a religious system in Mark 7:3-4; Mark 7:8, and Matthew 15:2-3.
But here, the same Paul refers to this term ‘traditions’ to God’s truth which Paul had given them in person and through epistles. Traditions were not superstitious acts but real truths passed on to us from Christ through Apostles, Church Fathers and reformers and Bible scholars throughout the generations.
The Message Bible: “So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter”.
The grip is a masterful grip of the teachings” (The Passion Translation) and holding fast to the deliverances taught through the word of God (Young Literal Translation), and keep the instructions (Revised Geneva Translation) and keep the ordinances found in the Holy Scriptures (New Matthew Bible).
Paul address the false rumours that have suddenly arisen to upset this community (2 Thessalonians 2:2). Once the false teaching begins to fly, they can be initiated and encouraged from several directions by number sources--"by spirit," "by word," and "by letter."
Today by TVs, Social Media and communicative systems. Christians are filled with false teachings and magnified among them as they spread in the community. (Ref:workingpreacher.org).
The technological world has brought worldwide false teaching, wrong worship patterns through the internet, and social media. Soon we are going to lose the sanctity of worship, all kinds of heathen worship patterns are adopted in the name of modern worship. The church needs to hold the traditions of sound teaching in worship and communication of God’s word and practices for all generations.
The NT Scholar Barclay says: In this passage, there is a kind of synopsis of the Christian life. The Christian life is a call and not a religion or a sect. It develops through our efforts. Efforts have been rendered by teaching through Godly men and God himself. This call and efforts lead to consecration and salvation on earth and in heaven.
Mathew Poole: Thessalonians should be preserved from apostasy in faith or practice, and obtain salvation. And this he mentions for comfort to them, and with thanksgiving to God.
Mathew Henry: The consolation the Thessalonians might take against the terrors of this apostasy. There is a possibility for us today during the lockdown and so many webinars and Zoom meetings and google meets. There is a possibility of fear, diversion and accusing one another and thinking of the second coming of Christ.
Paul uses the words Stand firm as a present tense command. It indicates that this is not a one-time need. We could translate it as “Keep standing firm.” In 1 Thessalonians 3:8, Paul wrote, “For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord.” (ref: 1 Corinthians 16:13; Galatians 5:1; Philippians 1:27; 4:1.)
The first need when you encounter a trial is to stand firm in the Lord. This does not mean that we should deny or suppress our emotions. It is not unspiritual to cry in a time of trial. (ref: bible.org)
We live in an increasingly globalized world today. Increased globalization has increased the desire for peaceful coexistence. This calls for stronger and stronger tolerance, compromise. The idea emerges that all beliefs and religions have values and valid truths, and lead to the same God. Hence, evangelism is considered very disrespectful. Speaking biblical truth may be treated as hate speech. So, the choice is to Shrink back and keep silent, or Compromise our convictions, or Stand fast on our convictions.
3. Stand Firm in every good deed and word – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Finally, in this passage, Paul urges the readers of the Thessalonians to pray for others and bless them through this lengthy benediction. Pray that they would do good works and they would utter good words to strengthen their lives in Christ. Paul does offer prayers for the Thessalonians, to be encouraged in their hearts, and to be strengthened in every good deed and word.
This sort of prayer functions as benediction, encouragement, and inspiration. The holistic picture of “every good deed and the word” sums up the entirety of life lived: thoughts, emotions, and actions, all brought forth by the strengthening of the Spirit through the encouragement of the love of God. (Ref:workingpreacher.org).
We notice two persons of the Trinity had mentioned here, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and the Father. It brings out the truth of the intimate relationship He has with us in such a strong union, that nothing can ever separate us from Him. The perfect personal security has been found here for all of us.
The examples of good deeds have been found in the Bible: Psalmists says: “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosom” (Psalm 35:13,14).
Book of Job describes the friends who visited Job and mourned with him. “Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came every one from his place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him” (Job 2:11).
Jesus said: Let your good work be the shining witness for others to glorify God (Matthew 5:16). Peter writes: Do the good work among the pagans to glorify God by seeing your life (2 Peter 2:12). Let us spur one another on toward love and good works (Hebrews 10:24). James 3:16 tells that let the good man show his character by good life done in good deeds.
Pauls says to Titus: Knowing God is understood only by our good deeds. Set an example in everything doing good (Titus 1:16, 2:7). “And is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord's people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.”(1 Timothy 5:10). Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds(1 Timothy 6:18).
Conclusion:
Stand Firm in Praising and Thanking God for others and blessings. Stand Firm in holding traditions, teachings of Christ and apostles and Church fathers. Stand Firm in doing good works and the Word of God.
