The Apostle Paul opened this epistle by identifying himself and his companions to the recipients. He also wished God"s grace and peace for them to introduce himself and to express his continuing good will toward his children in the faith. [source][source][source]2 Thessalonians 1:1-2 are almost identical to 1 Thessalonians 1:1. One change is that Paul called God "our" Father here rather than "the" Father. [source][source][source]
The benediction ( 2 Thessalonians 1:2) is fuller than the one in 1 Thessalonians 1:1. Paul mentioned both grace (God"s unmerited favor and divine enablement) and peace (the cessation of hostility and the fullness of divine blessing) again, but he identified their source here. Both blessings come from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. He again asserted the deity of Christ, and he balanced the fatherhood of God with Christ"s lordship over the church and the believer. [source][source][source]