The ESV Introduction to this book reads in part –
This letter from the apostle Paul was probably written shortly after his first letter to the church in Thessalonica. After a few comments in greeting…… He (also) addressed two recurring problems in this church. First, they were concerned that the Lord had already returned. Paul urged them not to become “shaken in mind or alarmed,” fearing that “the day of the Lord” (2:2) had already come. Second, he admonished them not to be idle, commanding them that, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (3:10).
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
Comment: We must always remember that like most (all) words in a language, the word ‘church’ has a number of meanings. It can mean a building, a denomination, the world-wide massed followers of Jesus etc. The word ‘brothers’ also can have various meanings. Here it includes both males and females. In Africa it often includes male cousins and close friends. Here it means the body of believers, weak and strong, but those who have named ‘JESUS as LORD’ and the Lord of their lives. In the Bible in many translations to spell LORD in capitals is to mean Jehovah God! Paul and his fellow workers write sending their usual beautiful greeting asking for their readers both grace and peace, that is the ‘wellbeing of knowing God.’ This time he acknowledges that they have been going through hard times and praises their steadfast endurance in trying circumstances!
Prayer: God please help to deal with the subtle persecution of being ignored and bypassed as irrelevant in modern society. May we be emboldened to be true to You and Your commands, please.
As I read it! 