The initial greeting is the same as used in 1 Thessalonians. It is believed that the letter was written not that long after the first one, maybe about six months.
Again like the first letter, and in common with many of Paul's letters, it starts with thanksgiving and prayer. It is just that they do give thanks for the Thessalonians, but that they ought to give thanks. And why should they give thanks? Because faith and love are growing among them. Faith and love are hallmarks of the gospel taking root in an individual and in a church. Moreover, this wasn't happening in an easy situation. Rather, they were facing trials and persecutions, but were persevering in the midst of them. So Paul and his helpers boasted about them. Now we need to understand the nature of this boasting. It would be of the form of saying what God was doing among them, how the power of the gospel was being demonstrated, and nothing could stop it.
When we go through trials we can still grow in faith and love. Indeed, these are the times when we can grow the most, when we can become most aware of the extent of God's love and His power for us. For whatever opposition there is, whether it be persecution or the circumstances of life, it is not strong enough to overcome the power of Christ. It is in these circumstances that we truly realise that we are the ones who overcome, through Christ, we are not the ones who are overcome.
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