2 Thessalonians 1:5-7 5being proof of the righteous judgment of God in order that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering, 6since justice will be repaid by God to those who afflict you with affliction,
The long sentence begun in verse three continues, which means that these verses are thematically and grammatically related to Paul’s thanksgiving for God’s work in the lives of the Thessalonians. God’s righteous judgment is proven true by how God has sustained the Thessalonians through their suffering. Paul reminds them in these verses of the end result of their faith. One day, everyone will face the judgment seat of God. By enduring in their faith, the Thessalonians will be found worthy of God’s kingdom, which refers to heaven. Their endurance is strengthened by their hope in heaven. This idea is powerful and has helped persecuted believers throughout the ages to endure even to the point of death. If we are faced with the threat of death for our faith in Jesus, will we hold fast to this faith?
Verse 6 echoes the idea that God is the one to revenge (Romans 12:17-21). This verse is similar to what Paul earlier wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:15. Do not worry about getting even or fighting back against those who cause you problems because God is watching and will judge them. You must do your best to endure and even show love towards those who persecute you. God is just and fair. This idea can be difficult to accept because our natural reaction when someone hurts us is to fight back, exert our rights, and protect ourselves. We should not naively invite persecution, but we must think carefully about how we react to it. Minimally, persecution must not cause our faith to weaken.
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