Page 44 - Pauline Epistles Student Textbook

Study Section 9: Commendation for Evidential Spiritual Growth,
Comfort Toward the Coming Judgement, and Prayer for them.

9.1. Connect.

Have you ever heard of the SANDWICH approach to talking with someone about a
problem? A sandwich has three layers: The top bun, the stuff inside, and the bottom
bun. If the sandwich is a good sandwich, all three layers are tasty. However, if the
middle layer is rotten or spoiled, then the only two layers that are tasty are the top and
bottom bun.

If you must deal with a person who has a problem, take the sandwich approach. Start talking
with them by commending them for what positives they possess. Then, when they are feeling
quite positive, move to sharing the problem (the stuff inside). Lovingly show them how their
behavior or action caused problems. But after you point out the negatives, conclude your talk
again commending them on other things that they have going for them. The sandwich approach
makes it much easier for someone to consume criticism.

Paul did this in many of his letters to various churches. Only in the book of Galatians did he
immediately launch into them without commendation. But to this church, he commended them
for many wonderful things. Let’s see what those commendations were…..

9.2. Objectives

1. We will come into a knowledge of spiritual growth of the believers at Thessalonica and
why.

2. We will also learn the timing for the revenge on our behalf to those who wrong or
slander us.

3. We will learn concerning the nature and longevity of punishment given to those who progressively
rebut the knowledge and obedience of God.

4. We will also learn the importance of prayer for each other.

9.3. Commendation for Evidential Spiritual Growth, Comfort Toward the Coming
Judgment, and Prayer for them (2 Thess. 1:1-12).

Salutation (1:1-2)

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Paul, Silvanus or Silas, and Timothy are mentioned in the opening of this epistle. Note the
connection between God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, “. . .to the church of the
Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. . .” (1:1b). In the first section of this
course (page 8-10), we learned about the significance of the preposition “in” and the definition of a
church grounded on the Greek language to which the New Testament was written with a little bit of
Aramaic in it. However, there is one very important thing not discussed: the function of a coordinate

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