2Th 2:1-3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Thess 2:1-12: 2:1-12 False teaching about the day of the Lord had disturbed the Thessalonian church (2:1-2 ). Paul reminds them (2:5 ) that two events will precede that day: a great apostasy and the unveiling of the man of lawlessness (2:3-12 ). Christ will destroy this man when he returns (2:3 , 8 ), and those who have been deceived will also be judged (2:9-12 ). 2:1 At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1:7-10 ; 1 Thes 2:19 ; 3:13 ; 4:15–5:2 ; 5:23 ), all of his people will be gathered to meet him . This will occur at the resurrection and rapture of the church (1 Thes 4:13-18 ).

Summary for 2Thess 2:1-12: 2:1-12 ^a False teaching about the day of the Lord had disturbed the Thessalonian church (2:1-2 ^b). Paul reminds them (2:5 ^c) that two events will precede that day: a great apostasy and the unveiling of the man of lawlessness (2:3-12 ^d). Christ will destroy this man when he returns (2:3 ^e, 8 ^f), and those who have been deceived will also be judged (2:9-12 ^g). 2:1 ^h At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1:7-10 ⁱ; 1 Thes 2:19 ^j; 3:13 ^k; 4:15–5:2 ^l; 5:23 ^m), all of his people will be gathered to meet him. This will occur at the resurrection and rapture of the church (1 Thes 4:13-18 ⁿ).
2:2 ^o The Thessalonian Christians previously asked Paul when the day of the Lord would come (1 Thes 5:1-11 ^p). Now a false teaching that this day had already begun (cp. 2 Tim 2:18 ^q) was causing them to waver in faith and become frightened.

• a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter: The source of the teaching might have been a false prophecy (cp. 1 Jn 4:1-2 ^r), an erroneous sermon, or a letter falsely attributed to Paul.
2:3 ^s Two events will precede that day of the Lord (2:2 ^t).

• Both Jewish and Christian theology predicted a great rebellion against God before the end (Matt 24:11-14 ^u; 1 Tim 4:1 ^v).

• The man of lawlessness is without or against law; his character is defined by sin.

• the one who brings destruction (or the one destined for destruction): The emphasis is on the lawless man’s own destruction (2 Thes 2:8 ^w) rather than on the destruction he brings.