The Run Down
2 Thessalonians 1
Setting:  written just after 1 Thessalonais in the Summer of 50AD from Corinth.      
Main thrust:  1) The Lord hasn’t Come.  2)  Don’t Be Idle.   vs. 3-10 is one long Pauline sentence.
Country Boy:
We “ought”… as if they had written in humility “don’t”.  (Also 2:13)  Personal obligation.
1:3, 1 Thess. 3:12, answered prayer “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all…”
2 Thess. 1:3 “your faith is growing and abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.”
Hard Older Brother:
Your Love for the Body here increasing? How?  How would that be expressed?
If we don’t start here with each other… then where will we?  We will seem to be like the older brother in the Prodigal son story. 
Obedient to rules, missing the affection and love.
Good Church/Bad Church:
Thankful boasting, steadfastness and faith.
Boast about TMCC faithfulness?  (not a brag)  Or be like Corinth (1 Cor. 1:10-11)  that needed strong correction (divisions, lawsuits, sexual immorality) ? 
Collectively who will we be?  Individual love/action make up the body.
Building blocks like Lincoln logs.
Perseverance in Suffering:
Steadfastness and Faith – Perseverance: active, courageous quality.
Suffering is not contrary to God’s will but appears to be His will, 1 Thess. 3:3, Matt. 5:11-12 – Joel Osteen???.
Vs. 5 Evidence – suffering faithfully Phil. 1:28
Be made worthy of received salvation by suffering for it.
Right:
Vs. 6-8 Paul moves from present trouble to future triumph.  This is looking for that hopeful triumph of Jesus.  The 2^nd coming.  The final scene where good wins.
God is just.  Reap what you sow.  Gal. 6:7.  Live by sword, die by it.
Not a desire for them, but a natural consequence for those who reject, oppose, and afflict God’s people.
Saved out of it… have a tremendous testimony of His grace… those who persist against His patience… will meet justice.
Romans 12:19 vengeance.  Jude 14-15. The Lord comes w angels.  Matt. 16:27 w his angels.
YHWH – Jesus role:
Isaiah 66:15-16  The Lord in fire.
1 Cor. 3:1-15 works tried w fire.  Matt. 3:11-12 baptize with fire
Vs. 8 two groups:  Gentiles and Jews.
Vs. 9 punishment, eternal, out of his presence, away from His glory “that day” opposite saints in His glory.  Marveled.  Believed.  (not hide in caves, beg for rocks to cover)
Vs. 11 Praying, God’s will sanctification, worthy, calling, good, work of faith.
Abide in him, and He in us.

 The Run Down
2 Thess. 1
Setting.
Country Boy Paul “We ought”… 
Hard Older Brother.
Good Church/Bad Church.
Perseverance in Suffering.
Right.
YHWH – Jesus role.
Abide in Vine.

I.Elders:  From Synagogues to Christian Denominations.
Synagogue elders,
  Christian elders, elder teachers/administrators,
   Paul Timothy Titus authority over elders/churches,
    they are appointing elders at all the churches,
     Church expansion needs leadership,
      elder/overseers term used interchangeably,
       Develops to Overseeing Bishops (Episkopos) like “Paul”,
        to Official Separate Offices of Bishop and Elder,
         geographic churches, expansion, denominations.
          Elders/Overseers: preach/teach/guard doctrine, pray, admonish, serve, rule, discipline, appoint, give.
           Summary: Word, Sacrament, Order.

II. Elder Timeline:   Jesus to Paul to Peter.
33AD Matt. 16:21 (acts 6:12)
              40-50AD James   (acts 11:29-30)                                                  
               46-49AD 1^st Mission   (acts 13:2-3, 14:23)                            
                      49AD Jerusalem Council (acts 15:2, 22-23)                     
                      49-52AD 2^nd Mission     (acts 15:36; 16:4)                                                
                      Spring 50AD 1 Thess. 
                      Summer 50AD 2 Thess. 
                             53-60AD 3^rd Mission  (acts 18:22, 20:17, 28, 21:8) 
                                    62-66AD 1 Tim. 4:11-16 (elders over elders)                                  
                                    60-66AD Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-7 (elders/overseers interchanged)
                                       65AD   1 Peter 5:1 (elders)
                                           70AD Temple Destruction
                                                          107AD Apostolic Father Ignatius dies  (Disciple of John)

III. Elder Timeline:  Christian Elders to Bishops development.
a) 33AD Originally, Jewish Christians a Sect of Judaism.
 b) Thru Jesus Messianic/Deity teachings Jewish persecutions push separation with Christians.
  c) 40-70’sAD Increasing Gentile conversions outside of Judaism.
   d) 49AD Official decision the Jerusalem Council of Apostles/Elders, Gentiles don’t have to become Jewish 1^st.
    e) 40-90’s Progression of worshipping on 1^st Day the Lord’s day/Jesus’ Resurr. vs. the 7^th Day Jewish Sabbath.
     f)  66-73AD Roman/Jewish war.
      g) 70AD the destruction of the Temple.
       h) Along the way there naturally appears Christian Leadership with Jewish Synagogue Elder Model.
        i)  50s?-90s?AD Develops into official positions, first only 2 Offices of Elders/Overseers and Deacons.
         j)  100’sAD Ignatius and Apostolic Fathers referring to 3 Established Offices –Bishops (episkopos overseers) & Elders (presbyteros) & Deacons (diakonos).

33-100AD Organizing Church, overseers…elders…deacons
100’s-300’sAD? Catholic/Orthodox Claims, Bishops…Elders…Deacons
1054 AD The Great Schism Between East/West, Completion of Catholic / Orthodox division.