Followers who Suffer. 1st Thessalonians 2:14 When believers in the Lord Jesus are recognized by those who do not believe in God or have rejected Him, they will face opposition when they openly preach the Gospel. The clear, simple truths of the Gospel, spoken with authority and supported by Scripture, are vigorously opposed by religious people with their “own truth.' God’s truth and human religious ideas and imagination do not align. It is expected that there will be persecution from those who disagree with the message of the Gospel.
The Jewish Christians in Jerusalem faced persecution from other Jews who wanted to maintain their religion and religious status. Meanwhile, the Gentile Christians in Thessalonica were being persecuted and opposed by Gentiles who practiced their idolatrous religion, which was tied to their national identity. False gods and the government often went hand in hand in the Roman Empire. When Paul first visited Thessalonica, the Jews there incited the Gentiles to persecute and oppose the Christians. Jews and Gentiles came together in the same assembly, which caused great hostility among religious Jews who believed they were favored by God simply because their nation had promises of a blessed future.
Opposition can be discouraging, and persecution can feel overwhelming, especially when paired with suffering. Knowing that believers in other places are enduring the same struggles can strengthen us. When we see how they have faced their trials, we can follow their example and share in the fellowship of suffering with them.