2Th 1 | TNotes | STEP | Book of 2 Thessalonians — Quick facts: Purpose: To instill hope in the midst of persecution and to address false teaching and idleness in the community Author: Paul, with Silas and Timothy Date: Around AD 51 Setting: Written soon after 1 Thessalonians, after persecution had increased in Thessalonica and false teaching had emerged Book of Thessalonians — Overview: Setting From the time of their conversion, the Thessalonian Christians had experienced hostility (1 Thes 1:6 ; 2:14 ), and Paul had worried whether they would retain their faith (1 Thes 3:5 ). When Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians, they had stood firm in faith, love, and hope (1 Thes 1:3 ; 3:6-8 ). After Paul sent his first letter, the situation in the Thessalonian church deteriorated and the persecution intensified. What Paul had previously written was being countered by a false teaching that said that the day of the Lord had already come (2:2 ). Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians after receiving this news (2:2 ; 3:11 ) in order to give this church a shift in perspective. Summary Second Thessalonians opens with the customary greeting (1:1-2 ), then quickly moves to thanksgiving for the church’s faith, love, and persevering hope, which had become a model for other congregations (1:3-4 ). Noting their suffering, Paul says that God will judge their persecutors and bring reward to the Thessalonian believers (1:5-10 ). Paul gives thanks for this church and prays that God will continue to make them worthy of his calling (1:11-12 ). In spite of their troubles, Paul is confident in God’s work among them. Paul counters the false teaching that “the day of the Lord has already begun” (2:1-2 ) and urges the church not to be deceived by this doctrine (2:3 ). He outlines events that will precede Christ’s coming, when the church will be gathered to meet him (2:1-12 ). First, there will be rebellion against God (2:3 ). Then “the man of lawlessness” will come, who will claim to be divine and demand worship (2:3-4 ). Although he will be empowered by Satan and will deceive many, Jesus will destroy him (2:8-12 ). Paul is confident that God chose and called the Thessalonian Christians, and he urges them to stand firm (2:13-15 ). Paul concludes his discussion on final events with a prayer for the church (2:16-17 ) and a request that they pray for him as he preaches the Good News (3:1-2 ). His confidence in the church is based on God’s handiwork in them (3:3-5 ). In the closing section (3:6-18 ), Paul returns to an issue that he had addressed in the first letter. Some believers were refusing to work, despite Paul’s instruction and example, so Paul calls on the church to discipline them (3:6-10 ). He also addresses these idle members directly, telling them to get to work (3:11-12 ). He commands the church to treat these slackers as errant Christians rather than hostile enemies (3:14-15 ), and he encourages the church to continue its generosity toward those in genuine need (3:13 ). He closes the letter with prayers and a final greeting (3:16-18 ). Authorship Paul’s name is in the letter opening (1:1 ); at the conclusion, Paul adds a note in his own hand to certify the letter’s authenticity (3:17 ). As in 1 Thessalonians, the names of Silas and Timothy, the cofounders of this church, are included alongside Paul’s, indicating that they stood behind the contents of the letter and probably shared in its writing. Most of the first-person pronouns in the letter are plural (“we”), suggesting that Silas and Timothy had real input into the letter and that their names were not included simply as a courtesy. However, the final greeting in Paul’s own writing emphasizes that he is the primary author, personally responsible for the contents of the letter. The early church unanimously affirmed that 2 Thessalonians was a genuine letter of the apostle Paul, and the letter is in harmony with Paul’s other writings. Recipients The recipients of the letter were the same as those who received 1 Thessalonians: “the church in Thessalonica, ... you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thes 1:1 ). Many were artisans who earned their living by manual labor (3:6-12 ) or were clients of rich patrons. They were not people who had great wealth. Meaning and Message Wars are often fought on multiple fronts. This was certainly the case with the conflict in the church at Thessalonica. With persecutors assailing the church, false doctrine circulating, and unruly members refusing to work, the battle lines were numerous. In his response, however, Paul never embraces despair or exasperation. He is very clear in his teaching and correction. He intends for his words to strengthen the troubled church, stop the false teaching, and correct the errant members. The value of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians is not merely in figuring out how events will occur at the end of human history, but that has often been the approach to the second chapter of this letter. Second Thessalonians is primarily a pastoral letter from Paul that provides hope and confidence in God when the world has gone mad. Christ reigns now, and Christ will be triumphant in the end. Summary for 2Thess 1:1-2: 1:1-2 Paul follows ancient letter writing customs, but instead of the normal greeting (Greek chairein ) he blesses them with grace (Greek charis ) and peace .

Book of 2 Thessalonians — Quick facts:

Purpose: To instill hope in the midst of persecution and to address false teaching and idleness in the community

Author: Paul, with Silas and Timothy

Date: Around AD 51

Setting: Written soon after 1 Thessalonians, after persecution had increased in Thessalonica and false teaching had emerged

Book of Thessalonians — Overview:

Setting
From the time of their conversion, the Thessalonian Christians had experienced hostility (1 Thes 1:6 ^a; 2:14 ^b), and Paul had worried whether they would retain their faith (1 Thes 3:5 ^c). When Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians, they had stood firm in faith, love, and hope (1 Thes 1:3 ^d; 3:6-8 ^e).
After Paul sent his first letter, the situation in the Thessalonian church deteriorated and the persecution intensified. What Paul had previously written was being countered by a false teaching that said that the day of the Lord had already come (2:2 ^f). Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians after receiving this news (2:2 ^g; 3:11 ^h) in order to give this church a shift in perspective.

Summary
Second Thessalonians opens with the customary greeting (1:1-2 ⁱ), then quickly moves to thanksgiving for the church’s faith, love, and persevering hope, which had become a model for other congregations (1:3-4 ^j). Noting their suffering, Paul says that God will judge their persecutors and bring reward to the Thessalonian believers (1:5-10 ^k). Paul gives thanks for this church and prays that God will continue to make them worthy of his calling (1:11-12 ^l). In spite of their troubles, Paul is confident in God’s work among them.
Paul counters the false teaching that “the day of the Lord has already begun” (2:1-2 ^m) and urges the church not to be deceived by this doctrine (2:3 ⁿ). He outlines events that will precede Christ’s coming, when the church will be gathered to meet him (2:1-12 ^o). First, there will be rebellion against God (2:3 ^p). Then “the man of lawlessness” will come, who will claim to be divine and demand worship (2:3-4 ^q). Although he will be empowered by Satan and will deceive many, Jesus will destroy him (2:8-12 ^r).
Paul is confident that God chose and called the Thessalonian Christians, and he urges them to stand firm (2:13-15 ^s). Paul concludes his discussion on final events with a prayer for the church (2:16-17 ^t) and a request that they pray for him as he preaches the Good News (3:1-2 ^u). His confidence in the church is based on God’s handiwork in them (3:3-5 ^v).
In the closing section (3:6-18 ^w), Paul returns to an issue that he had addressed in the first letter. Some believers were refusing to work, despite Paul’s instruction and example, so Paul calls on the church to discipline them (3:6-10 ^x). He also addresses these idle members directly, telling them to get to work (3:11-12 ^y). He commands the church to treat these slackers as errant Christians rather than hostile enemies (3:14-15 ^z), and he encourages the church to continue its generosity toward those in genuine need (3:13 ^aa). He closes the letter with prayers and a final greeting (3:16-18 ^ab).

Authorship
Paul’s name is in the letter opening (1:1 ^ac); at the conclusion, Paul adds a note in his own hand to certify the letter’s authenticity (3:17 ^ad). As in 1 Thessalonians, the names of Silas and Timothy, the cofounders of this church, are included alongside Paul’s, indicating that they stood behind the contents of the letter and probably shared in its writing. Most of the first-person pronouns in the letter are plural (“we”), suggesting that Silas and Timothy had real input into the letter and that their names were not included simply as a courtesy. However, the final greeting in Paul’s own writing emphasizes that he is the primary author, personally responsible for the contents of the letter.
The early church unanimously affirmed that 2 Thessalonians was a genuine letter of the apostle Paul, and the letter is in harmony with Paul’s other writings.

Recipients
The recipients of the letter were the same as those who received 1 Thessalonians: “the church in Thessalonica, ... you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thes 1:1 ^ae). Many were artisans who earned their living by manual labor (3:6-12 ^af) or were clients of rich patrons. They were not people who had great wealth.

Meaning and Message
Wars are often fought on multiple fronts. This was certainly the case with the conflict in the church at Thessalonica. With persecutors assailing the church, false doctrine circulating, and unruly members refusing to work, the battle lines were numerous. In his response, however, Paul never embraces despair or exasperation. He is very clear in his teaching and correction. He intends for his words to strengthen the troubled church, stop the false teaching, and correct the errant members.
The value of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians is not merely in figuring out how events will occur at the end of human history, but that has often been the approach to the second chapter of this letter. Second Thessalonians is primarily a pastoral letter from Paul that provides hope and confidence in God when the world has gone mad. Christ reigns now, and Christ will be triumphant in the end.

Summary for 2Thess 1:1-2: 1:1-2 ^ag Paul follows ancient letter writing customs, but instead of the normal greeting (Greek chairein) he blesses them with grace (Greek charis) and peace.
1:2 ^ah God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are coequal as the source of grace and peace. The Thessalonians’ hope was bound to God’s grace (2:16 ^ai), and even in persecution they could experience God-given peace (3:16 ^aj).
Summary for 2Thess 1:3-10: 1:3-10 ^ak After thanking God for the Thessalonian church (1:3-4 ^al), Paul writes about persecution (1:4 ^am), which had intensified since his first letter (1 Thes 1:6 ^an; 2:14 ^ao; 3:3-4 ^ap). God will relieve their suffering (2 Thes 1:5-10 ^aq) and judge their persecutors. 1:3 ^ar Dear brothers and sisters: Greek adelphoi, a generic term that refers to members of the same family, both male and female.

• thank God: Paul begins with thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and “endurance” (1:4 ^as). These fundamental Christian virtues (see 1 Cor 13:13 ^at; Col 1:4-5 ^au; Heb 10:21-24 ^av; 1 Pet 2:1-22 ^aw) were maturing in the church despite the persecution they endured (2 Thes 1:5 ^ax).
1:4 ^ay Paul’s boasting to other churches about the Thessalonians’ endurance and faithfulness would stimulate the church’s resolve to endure and remain faithful in the face of great hostility (1 Thes 2:14 ^az; 3:3-4 ^ba).
1:5 ^bb Those called by God to enter his Kingdom will suffer for it (Acts 14:22 ^bc; 1 Thes 2:12 ^bd).
1:7 ^be rest: Relief from suffering.

• Elsewhere, Paul speaks of Christ’s “coming” (2:1 ^bf; 1 Thes 2:19 ^bg; 3:13 ^bh; 4:15 ^bi; 5:23 ^bj); here, he speaks of the event as the “appearing” or “unveiling” of the Lord Jesus, who cannot currently be seen physically (cp. 1 Pet 1:7-8 ^bk; 4:13 ^bl).
1:9 ^bm They will be punished for rejecting the message about Christ (1:8 ^bn).

• Eternal destruction (see 1 Thes 5:3 ^bo; 1 Tim 6:9 ^bp) is irrevocable.

• Separated from the Lord refers to the source of the judgment to come (Isa 2:10 ^bq, 19 ^br, 21 ^bs).
1:10 ^bt that day: The day of the Lord (2:2 ^bu; 1 Thes 5:2-4 ^bv; see thematic note for The Day of the Lord at end of chapter).
Summary for 2Thess 1:11-12: 1:11-12 ^bw Paul assures the Thessalonian believers of God’s promised justice, both for them and their persecutors (1:5-10 ^bx). Because future deliverance means carrying out present responsibilities, Paul prays that they will be found worthy at Christ’s return. 1:11 ^by enable you to live a life worthy of his call: Paul had previously reminded the Thessalonians that God called them to conduct themselves “in a way that God would consider worthy” (1 Thes 2:12 ^bz; see also Eph 4:1 ^ca; Phil 1:27 ^cb; Col 1:10 ^cc).

• Paul prayed that God would give the Thessalonian Christians power to live and work in a manner that would please God.
1:12 ^cd Though the name of our Lord Jesus was rejected by the Thessalonians’ persecutors (1:8 ^ce), Jesus will ultimately be glorified because of the lives of the believers. Further, they will be honored along with him (2:14 ^cf; 1 Thes 2:12 ^cg; cp. Rom 8:17-18 ^ch; Col 3:4 ^ci). Cp. Isa 66:5 ^cj.

Thematic note: The Day of the Lord
The expression day of the Lord refers to a time of retribution when God judges his enemies in wrath and fury. The ungodly receive the punishment they deserve, while the righteous enter into their full salvation (see Isa 3:16–4:6 ^ck). On the day of the Lord, God manifests his awe-inspiring lordship over creation. When God comes in glory, humans experience terror (2:10 ^cl, 19 ^cm, 21 ^cn) because all human support structures (religious, economic, military, social) come under his scrutiny.
This expression first appeared in the prophecy of Amos (Amos 5:18 ^co), but evidently it did not originate with him. Amos was correcting a popular misunderstanding that the Israelites already held. They believed that the day of the Lord would be a joyous day of salvation when God would intervene in the world to judge Israel’s enemies and reestablish Israelite rule over all of greater Canaan. But Amos warned the Israelites that the day of the Lord would not be light for them, but darkness, for they were in rebellion against him (see Amos 5:10-12 ^cp, 21-27 ^cq). Self-confident Israelites assumed that God was always on their side, but their sins had, in fact, made them God’s enemies, and they deserved his full punishment.
The expression became part of the standard vocabulary of the prophets, often being referred to simply as “that day” (e.g., Isa 2:11 ^cr; 27:1 ^cs; Zeph 1:8 ^ct). In light of God’s warnings and the people’s sinfulness, the prophets envisioned that day as imminent (see, e.g., Joel 1:15 ^cu; 2:1 ^cv). As such, they hoped that their warnings would spur repentance among God’s people (see Zeph 2:1-3 ^cw). Unfortunately, their warnings largely fell on deaf ears. The day of the Lord came for the northern kingdom when Assyria destroyed Samaria; it came for the southern kingdom when Babylon invaded in 605–586 BC and destroyed Jerusalem.
While the day of the Lord is catastrophic for the ungodly—Joel compares its devastation to that of a locust plague (Joel 1:1–2:11 ^cx)—it provides assurance to God’s people that God is sovereign and just, and it serves as a day of salvation for those who have listened to the prophets and turned to the Lord (see Joel 2:31-32 ^cy). The same God who would bring devastation upon his enemies would be a refuge and a fortress for his people (Joel 3:11 ^cz). And the nations that were used by God to bring his judgment upon Israel and Judah would later face their own day of the Lord (see, e.g., Isa 13:4-22 ^da; Ezek 30:1-5 ^db; Obad 1:15-16 ^dc).
While the judgment referred to by the Old Testament prophets was largely realized in the Exile, New Testament writers picked up the expression day of the Lord to speak of the return of Christ as judge of all the earth. That day will come “as unexpectedly as a thief” (2 Pet 3:10 ^dd; see also 1 Thes 5:2-4 ^de), so God’s people must be prepared—or else face a similar fate to those who failed to heed the warnings of the prophets.

Passages for Further Study
Isa 2:10-22 ^df; 4:1-6 ^dg; 13:4-12 ^dh; Ezek 30:1-5 ^di; Joel 1:13-15 ^dj; 2:1-11 ^dk, 28-32 ^dl; 3:9-16 ^dm; Amos 5:18-24 ^dn; Obad 1:15-16 ^do; Zeph 1:2-18 ^dp; Mal 4:1-5 ^dq; 1 Cor 1:8 ^dr; 5:5 ^ds; 1 Thes 5:2 ^dt; 2 Thes 2:2 ^du; 2 Tim 1:18 ^dv; 2 Pet 3:10 ^dw; Rev 20:1-15 ^dx