Affliction
The second epistle to the Thessalonians was probably written shortly after the first. Between the writing of the two epistles, while Paul remained in Corinth with Timothy and Silas, the apostle received another report about the church in Thessalonica (3:11). Among other things, he heard that the persecution Paul experienced in Thessalonica continued to threaten the church that he had established (Acts 17:1-9). Paul’s second epistle to the Thessalonians begins with encouragement to a group of Christians who are facing serious affliction.