In one of the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:10).
The apostle Paul had a similar message for his congregations in Thessalonica, who had "received the word in much affliction" (1 Thes 1:6). In this they were following in the footsteps of Jesus, Paul, and the prophets (Mt 5:11). Some details about how this persecution began are given in Acts 17:1-9.
At the beginning of his second letter to Thessalonica, Paul praises the Thessalonians for their growth in faith and love in the midst of persecution (1:3-4). He then goes on to assure them that they will be vindicated at the judgment that will occur at Jesus' return (vv 5-10), and he prays that God would continue to work in them so that they would be found worthy of their calling (vv 11-12). His praise and prayers for them also function as exhortations for them to continue growing in faith and love.
No comments:
Post a Comment