These words are connected to the previous description of Timothy’s ministry with the conjunction for
(Greek: γὰρ), and provide further reasons why the Thessalonians’ faith should not be shaken by the trials which they were experiencing. Paul thus adds an important pastoral exhortation which, like the ministry of Timothy, was intended to strengthen and encourage the new believers.
The exhortation is marked off as a unit by the repetition of you know
at its beginning and end: you yourselves know...just as you know. Rather than telling them that their trials will soon be over, Paul reminds them that suffering is inevitable for followers of Jesus and that this is a reality which they knew about from the first days of their faith. However painful suffering may be, it would only shake their faith if they believed that the Christian life was intended to be free of suffering. If, however, suffering was an expected part of following Jesus, then their experience of it would confirm the truth of the gospel rather than undermining it. This is why Paul emphasizes their knowledge of this reality from the very beginning.1 In the remainder of this section Paul explains what they knew and how they knew it.
3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.