Been moving into a flat the last couple of days, and had a while without internet, so having read the two epistles to the Thessalonians, I'm going to cover them both in this post. About 15 min for the first letter, and 10 min for the second one.
Quick historical note: in Acts we have recorded that when Paul was in Thessalonica he preached for 3 Sabbath days in the synagogues, indicating he was there for about three weeks. It is unclear exactly how long he was in the city though - because he would have continued preaching outside the synagogue after those three Saturdays. Regardless, he was with them a short time, but long enough to teach them thoroughly the Word of God. The first letter is written to encourage them and explains he hasn't abandoned them, and the second is trying to root out the false teaching that was occurring, and encouraging them in the face of persecution.
Trust is not a major point in the epistles, but seems to under-gird the teaching, the encouragement, and the reasons for hope. I am reminded especially as I read through these epistles about the classic hymn: "When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way. When we do His good Will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey" As in the hymn, so in this epistle we see the theme of trust running through, and the outworking of obedience that is expected.
In the first epistle, we see Paul praising God for how the Thessalonians received the Word that was entrusted to Paul, and that he preached. We see him thanking God that they trusted in the Word preached as from God, and not from men. Having been comforted by the fresh news that the Thessalonians continued in faith and love, he continues to encourage them. He exhorts them to trust God with all areas of life, and to obedience in areas of sexual purity and diligence in work. He encourages them to trust God concerning the resurrection, reminding them that the dead will not 'miss out', but will rise with those left on earth during the rapture (he doesn't call it the rapture, but this is the term used today to refer to this event). We must trust in God's timing too, as the Second Coming is according to His schedule, and no one on earth knows the time. Instead of trying to predict times, we must remain alert and active spiritually, not becoming complacent or dulling our senses by living in sin as those who are in darkness, but living as children of light. Trust also those in authority over you - respect them and love them.
He concludes with patterns of Christian life that should be characteristic of us always: rejoicing, praying, giving thanks to God (no matter what!), not quenching the Spirit with sin, listening intently to instruction - and checking everything we hear holding only the good, and to avoid doing any evil like the plague - even the littlest things.
In the second letter, Paul continues to praise God for their testimony, evident despite persecutions and suffering. I wonder sometimes - is my testimony evident during the hard times as well as the good? I pray for God's help that it might be.
He encourages the believers that though the persecutors in this world seem to get away with it, God will judge all people righteously, and they will receive due punishment in eternity, if they don't repent. He continues to pray for them, and God's purposes for them.
He then confronts some false ideas that some were promoting, that the rapture had already occurred and they had missed the boat, as it were. Here we have very interesting information about this event, as Paul reminds them of what he taught them, and exhorts them to stand firm in this knowledge, being comforted in Christ.
Paul requests their prayers, concerning his own persecution, indicating that he was going through similar things as the Thessalonians. With the request, he encourages their faith in the Lord in the midst of persecution.
As a final teaching, he condemns the idea that because the Lord is coming soon, we should give up supporting ourselves and earning our keep. Evidently some were doing this to spend their whole time for God, but they quickly became idle. No, Paul reminds them, we should all work and labour for our own sustenance and God's glory. Paul was a full time minister, and had the right to be supported by the community - as do many preachers today - but this is not true for all believers, and even Paul worked to buy his own bread so that he wasn't a burden, leading by example.
Concluding, he encourages them to continue doing good, and to encourage each other to do the same.
Lord, we thank You for the hope and confidence we have in the resurrection, based in our knowledge of Your own triumph over the grave. We trust our lives to You Lord, and all of our actions, and seek to obey Your Word in all we do, but we admit that we do sometimes grow weary. Lord, thank You for the encouragement we have in these epistles of Paul, the example of many who have gone through much worse than us, and the reminder of the blessed privilege we have of knowing You. Thank you for entrusting us with the gospel, and we pray You would help us to walk, speak, and act worthy of the knowledge and love that You have granted us. To You be the glory, now and forever, Amen.
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