The Start of 2 Thessalonians

Today as we delve into 2 Thessalonians let us start with the first couple of verses.

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul starts off this book in much the same way he did 1 Thessalonians.

1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

What he does differently here is add "from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" and changes the "the" in God the Father to God our Father.

Little things eh? But doesn't it show the closeness of God more when you refer to God as our Father instead of just The father? Doesn't change anything about God, but it does make God more endearing. :) JFB is responsible for me seeing that! :)

The linking of "God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" is a way of showing the equality between God the Father and his son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

One thing I didn't notice when I was reading 1 Thessalonians was how Paul does not defend his apostleship among the Thessalonican church. Most commentators believe this is due to his close relationship with this church. They knew him to be what he was.

So I read all this and I wonder....what is here for me to apply to my life?

1. I can call God MY father. he is our father, but that term of endearment is one I can apply as well.
   
2. I can see that God and Christ are equal to each otherl.
3. It must have been nice for Paul to not have to defend himself with the Thessalonican church. They took him for who he was. I too, can accept people for who they are. Give them that same comfort that the Thessalonicans offered Paul.