Summary: 1-2 begins with Paul before farewell to the Thessalonians asking them to pray for the gospel that the message would spread quickly and be received with honor just like it did among them also that they pray for those who actively resist the gospel and try to stop God’s work bcz not everyone will accept it. 3 ”But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.1john 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 4-5 the confidence that Paul has is in the lord and prays that God continues to work in them so they would obey the apostolic teachings, also asks God to direct them in two things: The love of God (they would obey bcz they love him and that they understand God’s love for them) and the patience of christ who endured rejection, suffering, false accusations, betrayals and the cross without abandoning the father’s will. They’re in a kinda similar situation and he prays they develop a christlike endurance. In the end Revelation 14:12. (As the two IDs for God’s people is their love for God and one another and their patience) 6-10 Paul is saying to not keep company with those who are going from scripture (think img they don’t have work cz Jesus is coming soon- expecting to be supported). He then gives an example of himself- how even though thyre expecting Jesus’ return, they didn’t sit around wanting people to support them, but they worked in order to support the ministry and themselves. So don’t just put everything on hold saying “Jesus is coming soon”- continue living life but faithfully to Him, and you’ll be found ready when He returns. Those who don’t work,don’t deserve to eat- cz God gave the command to Adam from the beginning even before sin in Gen 2:15 gave him the garden and told him to tend and keep it (work) and then to eat from it & also He says in 3:19 “in the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread”. 11-12 For Paul heard about these people, who don’t wanna work but are busy going around yapping, meddling in other people’s business, gossiping- being a busy leads to all type of sins. So he tells them to tell them to lead a quiet life and work to earn a living - 1 thes 4:11 13-15 he encourages those living well, to not get tired in doing good- gal 6:9 cz their reward is coming 😊 If a brother or sister is walking not in harmony or violating the truth, don’t be in their company- cz that tells them that what thyre doing is fine, but if you keep your distance, they will reflect on their bad actions- like in Corinthians he tells them to deliver that person who was in open rebellion to Satan. But also later told them to restore them gently with love- like now that they’ve seen that they’re in sin/wrong/consequences, bring them back in, restore them. Is what vs 15 is saying too (Galatians 6:1). 16-18 Paul then blesses them praying that God gives them peace- the peace of God which we can’t understand (why? Cz in trials and chaos, we can still have peace, He doesn’t say that we won’t have trials, but if He’s with us, we can have peace)- and others looking at us will wonder how it is that we can have peace in such situations- glory be to God 🥰