their predictions misfire. Paul shrugs off such speculation (5:1-2). He presents the right way and the wrong way to prepare for Jesus' return.
Paul does not show undue alarm. The mild tone of his rebukes indicates his confidence in the Thessalonians. He asks that they follow God "more and more," as in fact they are already doing (4:1, 10; 5:11).
History records that the first readers of this letter responded well. Despite lurking problems (4:3-12), the church in Thessalonica continued to show vigor and health for many years. Christians there stayed so faithful throughout persecutions that their city became known as "The City of Orthodoxy."
Life Questions: How should Jesus' second coming affect us and how can we prepare for it? What extremes does Paul warn against? |
