What Paul had prophesied while still with the Thessalonians had actually come to pass.1 Although the pressure of persecution threatened to draw the new believers away from their faith in Christ, this experience was in fact the fulfillment of Paul’s predictions (we kept telling you beforehand
) and thus served to confirm the truth of the message he preached. In a remarkable way, Paul has used the very experiences which threatened the Thessalonians’ faith to confirm the truth of the gospel and thus establish them more firmly in the faith. The evidence could be found in their own knowledge (just as you know
) and experience (just as it has come to pass
).
4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.