Paul declares to this church that they are doing great and so now he
prays for more. They are ready for all that God has to give to them theologically
and practically. Paul concludes by pointing to Jesus as the example of how all
these graces from God the Father are lived out.
Paul spends a third of this epistle not on prophecy but on people. The
reason: there is nothing harder or more important than people. All of us need
biblical guidance on dealing with the community that surrounds us. In this
section Paul gives us our marching orders as saints.
The church at Thessalonica is first encouraged about the good job they are doing demonstrating brotherly love. Next, they are encouraged to keep going by: living quietly, minding their own business, work with their hands, walk properly, and being dependent on no one.
Everyone needs examples. The Thessalonian believers were able to look at Paul, Silas and Timothy and then through difficulty, repentance, patience and God’s word they became the models for the entire region.
