After the usual inscription and greeting — 1. 1-2 St. Paul first praises the good in the Thessalonians and encourages them to patience – 1:3-12; then he dispels their wrong thoughts about the second coming of Christ with moral lessons from it — chapter 2; Finally, he rebukes those who walk disorderly and persuades them to reform, inserting this denunciation into the final speech — chapter 3. Let us designate these parts as follows: Part One is an inspiring sketch of the bright side of the Thessalonians; the second is corrective; the third is moralizing.

A more detailed development of the thoughts of each part will be placed in the Commentary itself.

PREFACE

a) Inscription and greeting (1, 1–2)

Chapter 1, verses 1 and 2. Paul, and Silouan, and Timothy of the Church of Thessalonica, in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This inscription and greeting word for word are similar to the inscription and greeting of the first Epistle to the Thessalonians. Let him who wishes to refer to what is said in the Interpretation of that Epistle on these Epistle: Here we will append only a few remarks of our interpreters, which they, in addition, make on some utterances.

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy. By this second comparison of his co-workers with himself, the holy Apostle makes it clear that this Epistle is written in the same spirit and in the same circumstances as the previous one. From which, apart from historical considerations, it is fair to conclude that it was written not long after the first.

About God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. If we relate these words to a greeting, then it will be: we greet the Church of Thessalonica on behalf of, in the name, by the good pleasure of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus Blessed Theodorite: "The expression about God the Father is similar to what we write in our letters, for we also usually prescribe: so-and-so wishes to rejoice in the Lord."

If we refer them to the words: the Church of Thessalonica, then they will indicate the spirit of this Church, that it is not gathered in someone else's name, but in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. "For there are churches not about the Father and the Son, such as the Hellenic and heretical churches" (Ecumenios). The Jews may say that their synagogue is in the name of God, but it is not in the name of God the Father, much less in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, therefore it is nothing. All true blessings come down to us by the good pleasure of God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God. Therefore, those who are not gathered in their name are gathered in vain: there is no truth in them, they do not walk in the way of God, and they do not share in the promises of grace. To say: "To the Church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" is the same as to say: to the truly Christian Church. For this is the same as saying: the Church, which has been established and continues to be by the grace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, the Church which God, the Father of believers, has adopted as sons of Himself, and which the Lord Jesus Christ, the Author of our faith and the Savior of souls, has called to faith, has been living united with Himself in baptism, has been united to His body, or has made His body, and filled with the Holy Spirit. But only such a Church is the truly Christian Church, which is in God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise, a true Christian is known from this, if he is in God the Father, by the grace of sonship, and is united with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as a member with his head, and is filled and led by the Holy Spirit. Let everyone remember that through baptism he has become a son of God, a member of Christ, a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and, remembering this, let him keep on his conscience that he must live as a son of God, and act always in the Holy Spirit, or be led by Him in everything.

Grace to you. "The greater part of men do and undertake everything for the purpose of earning themselves the favor of both rulers and those who are nobler than themselves, and they highly value this favor and consider themselves happy when they achieve what they desired. But if it is so important for a person to earn the favor of people like himself, then what value should this have for us when we are vouchsafed God's grace? That is why the Apostle always at the beginning of his epistles places this kind of benevolence on grace and prays to God for it" (Chrysostom).

Grace to you and peace. "When God graces someone, then nothing is unbearable for him, and everything is easily endured and passed. Why does Blessed Paul, knowing how great a blessing grace is in life, wish it prayerfully to the Thessalonians? For as soon as it is inherent in them, they will not only not feel the burden of temptations, but also, enjoying the peace of God, they will remain untroubled and at peace. He also remembers them of grace so that, even if temptations come to them, they, remembering the grace by which they were saved, will be comforted and, strengthened in spirit by the previously received highly valued blessings, will not despair when they encounter temptations and deprivations of little significance" (Theophylact); or (like St. Chrysostom) "so that they, remembering the grace of God, by which they were saved from great evils, would not become discouraged, being subjected to lesser ones, but would find consolation for themselves in it."

From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. From this, no one would guess that the Apostle has the idea that God is our Father and Lord of Jesus Christ. This is not what the words of the Apostle should lead to, but that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are equal in honor and equal in power. It is as if he were saying, "From God, who is our Father, and from Jesus Christ, who is our Lord." The words God and Lord point to the one Divine nature in the Father and the Son. In the Epistles to Timothy it is so: from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord, that is, from Christ Jesus, Who is our Lord and God. Blessed Theodoret writes: "Here the Apostle taught us the equality of the Father and the Son; For having said, "O God our Father," he added, "And to the Lord Jesus Christ," and again, after the words, "From God our Father," he added, "And the Lord Jesus Christ." because the same blessings are given to us by the Father and the Son.

Part One. AN INSPIRING ESSAY ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THESSALONIANS (1, 3-12)

After the first epistle was sent to the Thessalonians and received by them, Saint Paul received new news about the state of this Church, on the whole very comforting; but in some details the Christians there demanded correction, both in regard to the dogmas of the faith and in regard to conduct, which prompted him to write the second epistle.