2 Thessalonians


Holy Writer and Recipients


Once again the apostle Paul names himself as the Holy Writer of this epistle in the opening verse: “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:1). At the conclusion of this letter the apostle Paul also states, “The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write” (3:17).


Background and Purpose


It seems from the content of this second letter that it was written soon after the first letter, near the end of Paul’s 18 month stay at Corinth. This would date the letter at about 53 A.D.


In the opening verse of this letter Paul again says that Silas and Timothy are with him just as in the first letter, and it would be difficult to find another time following this when all three of them were together again.


In addition, the contents of this letter are very similar to those in the first. It seems that Paul had received word about the congregation in Thessalonica, and is responding to the results of the letter that he had sent earlier. This second letter was written for the purpose of:


          Encouraging them in the midst of ongoing persecution;


          Correcting either a misunderstanding of Paul’s teaching concerning the return of the Lord, or a teaching that was being spread as though it was Paul’s teaching on the return of the Lord (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come”);


          And addressing a continuing problem of idleness and disorderly conduct towards others.


Content


Part One - Greeting and Encouragement (1:3-12)


The greeting is very similar to that of the first letter. Following the greeting, Paul speaks with thanksgiving to God for the continued growth of the faith of these believers in spite of great persecution: “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure” (1:3-4). But to those who are persecuting the believers, Paul says that they will receive their just reward from God on the last day: “[God will] give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day” (1:7-10).


Paul concludes the first section with a prayer for the Thessalonians, “that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:12).


Part Two - The Lord’s Second Coming (2:1-17)


Next, Paul goes on to the topic of Christ’s second coming, a topic which he had also addressed in his first letter (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11). There may have been some notion being taught that Christ had already come, and that the believers in Thessalonica had been left behind, for Paul says, “we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled... as though the day of Christ had come” (2:1-2). Then Paul goes on to tell the believers that the Lord would not return until after the falling away takes place, revealing the “man of sin” and the “son of perdition.” Here Paul gives us some very valuable information about the Antichrist and the signs which help us to identify the Antichrist. We see that the Antichrist is not a political leader as many today suggest, nor one specific individual, but rather a religious leader in a continuing office or position in the church. We understand the man of sin as Paul describes him here to be fulfilled in the office of the papacy.


          He “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2:4).


The apostle Paul states that the Antichrist will be a religious leader, sitting in the temple of God. He claims to be doing the work of Christ, when in fact he is the strongest opponent of Christ. Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) proclaimed, “It is altogether necessary to salvation for every human being to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” This declaration still stands as the official doctrine of the papacy.


          “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2:9).


The Antichrist will be successful in bringing about the “falling away” because Satan will support him with many miracles.


          “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” (2:7-8).


Paul says that the time of the Antichrist had begun already then in his day, and would continue until the Lord’s return on the Last Day.


          Finally, Paul says that many will “perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2:10-12).


The truth of God’s salvation was being proclaimed by Paul and others. But many who were given the truth of God’s Word would reject it following the desires of their flesh. As a result, God would give them over to desires of their flesh through works.


But Paul tells the Thessalonians not to question their salvation because, “God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel” (2:13-14) and exhorts them, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2:15).


Part Three - General Exhortations and Conclusion (3:1-18)


Paul encourages them to pray for the spread of the Gospel, and encourages them to have confidence in the Lord concerning what He has done and will continue to do for them.


Finally, Paul touches on the topic of idleness, which he had also written about in his first letter (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12). This time Paul is more firm in his admonition to them, that they should work for their own bread and not live a life of unruly behavior. Rather they should follow the example set by Paul while he was among them, working hard for his keep and not depending on others for anything, “for if any will not work, neither shall he eat” (3:10). In his first letter he had told them to “warn those who are unruly” (1 Thess. 5:14) but now commands them, “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us” (3:6 - cf. v. 14).


Paul concludes with a prayer for the Lord to give them peace and blesses them in his typical fashion: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (3:18).


Outline


I.      Introduction (1:1-2)

II.    Greeting and Encouragement (1:3-12)

III.   The Lord’s Second Coming (2:1-17)

IV.   General Exhortations (3:1-15)

         A.     Exhortation to Prayer (3:1-5)

         B.     Exhortation to Work (3:6-15)

V.     Conclusion (3:16-18)


Note: This study was prepared for the Bible Class at Zion Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, GA by Pastor Nathanael Mayhew.

If you would like more information about this study,
please contact Pastor Mayhew