This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—
2 Thessalonians 1:5
Have you ever suffered for anything?
I’ve suffered because I’ve made dumb choices. I’ve suffered because I was rude or prideful in my discussions of this or that. I’ve suffered because I chose difficult paths or because I made poor fashion choices (elementary school can be brutal).
In this journey of following Jesus, I have often heard some speak of suffering as a validation of the work of God. In these conversations, the suffering is often attributed to satan, thus allowing satan to serve as the validator of the work of God in one’s life. It sounded something like, “the devil really doesn’t like what you’re doing, that means you are really advancing the Kingdom of God!”
While it’s true that we are in a battle not against flesh and blood, and the enemy comes against us, in 2 Thessalonians 1:5, Paul frames suffering differently. “This evidence,” that he refers to draws from the previous verses. In other words, Paul says that the growth, increase, perseverance, and faith shown by the Thessalonians gives evidence that they are a part of God’s people.* This evidence, excitingly, is a fulfillment of the challenge that Paul gives them in 1 Thessalonians 2.*
The Church in Thessalonica, as discussed previously, was enduring persecution. Historically, many communities of various beliefs and religions have endured persecution.* It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that suffering validates belief.* Just because we are persecuted for our beliefs, it does not mean that our beliefs are true. If anything, it just means that someone else with power over us does not like them.
No, suffering will happen in this life. We live as broken people in a broken world with other broken people. Our suffering for the Kingdom of Heaven does not validate the work of God in our lives, but it does evidence His work in our lives because we are suffering for Him rather than for something else.* As in the case of the Church in Thessalonica, the evidence includes growth, increase, perseverance, and faith despite suffering.
Gary Shogren discusses this well:
There are two theological questions concerning “be considered worthy.” First, given that God’s true people will be persecuted, does the reverse follow, that people who are persecuted are proved to be God’s people? Not at all, as even a cursory glance at history proves: people of every religion have suffered for their faith at some point…
Second, is tribulation salvific; that is, does Paul teach that suffering tribulation is the path that leads to eschatological salvation? No… Paul and Barnabas told the Galatian disciples that “we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22); they did not say that “because we suffer a lot, we will be permitted to enter into God’s kingdom.” It is God’s right judgment, not sufferings, that admits people to the future age. What defines the saved person is belief in the gospel (1:10); what often distinguishes the believer is suffering.*
Sometimes we suffer because we make dumb choices (I know that I do). Sometimes we suffer because we stand up for things that other people don’t like. Other times, we suffer for the sake of the Gospel and the Kingdom of Heaven. Those willing to do this, that is evidence that you belong to the people of God.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to evaluate the questions, “why am I suffering?” and “what am I suffering for?” Perhaps today God wants you to know that you are His because of your belief in Him. Maybe today God wants you to see your suffering for Him as a gift of the evidence of your belonging to Him.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!
*Holmes, M. (1998). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (pp. 212–213). Zondervan Publishing House.
Shogren, G. S. (2012). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (pp. 246–248). Zondervan.
Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 283–286). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Kim, S., & Bruce, F. F. (2023). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (D. B. Capes, Ed.; Second Edition, Vol. 45, pp. 520–523). Zondervan Academic.
Morris, L. (1984). 1 and 2 Thessalonians: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 13, pp. 117–118). InterVarsity Press.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 183–184). InterVarsity Press.
Weima, J. A. D. (2014). Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1–2 Thessalonians (R. W. Yarbrough & R. H. Stein, Eds.; pp. 458–464). Baker Academic.