God allows Christians to go through trials, suffering and persecution. And they probably didn't even have 2 Peter 3 yet. For God did not appoint us to suffer his wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:5-9). In the past, the Thessalonians had become "sons of light and sons of day." People were satisfied with Paul's explanation concerning those who died and were ready and willing to suffer persecution if need be in … In this chapter Paul recalls his ministry at Thessalonica. It also seems to me that the people who believed that he would just leave them to suffer or cause them to suffer did not know Paul very well or did not know the extent of his love. I did a Google on Thessalonians and 2 Peter 3 to get some idea of the dating. And for another thing, the Thessalonians didn't have the Revelation yet. Thessalonica (also Thessalonike) was an ancient city of Macedon in northern Greece which today is the city of Thessaloniki.Made capital of the Roman province of Macedon, the city flourished due to its location on the major trade route to the east and continued to thrive as one of the most important cities in the Byzantine Empire.Its prosperity and cultural reputation attracted such … 1 Thessalonians 3:4 Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass. It's clear that the Thessalonians were being afflicted and were suffering. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering. What does 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 mean? Paul gives an answer in 2 Thessalonians 1. “Suffer tribulation”: Paul had told them to expect him to suffer as he had already suffered before this Thessalonian experience (2:14-16; Acts 13:14). So it's unclear who the actual offenders in this context are. 1 Thessalonians 3:4 "For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know." Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is the perfect remedy for such a feeling. Yet they did embrace the gospel and Paul says in I Thessalonians they did, indeed, suffer for their faith and were joyful in the midst of all of that. After he left, he wrote them the letter of 1 Thessalonians. How can we cope in such tough times? Nether did Paul. Paul's Second Epistle to the Thessalonians is in one sense a follow-up to the first letter. Here in this passage we see the second letter to the Thessalonians. Its focus on Christ’s return provides water for the thirsty soul today, encouraging growth in maturity by providing hope in the midst of suffering or uncertainty. Evidently, the first letter was well received. His willingness to suffer in order to share the gospel showed he wasn't motivated by money or self-glory. I do wonder what Paul’s reasoning was for staying away while the Thessalonians were suffering persecution. Paul visited Thessalonica for a short time and in response to his preaching a church was established. Paul gets worried about Christians when they experience their first sufferings. 2 Thessalonians 1:4 The Thessalonians set a good example for churches in the area (1 Thes 1:7), and they still set a good example for us today. He had been maltreated at Philippi, but his suffering did not deter him from moving on to Thessalonica and declaring the gospel there. 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