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CHAPTER 53 – 2 Thessalonians: Approx. 51 A.D.

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians is the fifty-third book of the Bible. The title of the book in Greek is Pros Thessalonikeis B meaning “To the Thessalonians 2.” The title in the English Bible is “The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians.”

Authorship

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, is the author of the book, The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians. It was probably written about 51 A.D.

Summary and Analysis

The book of 2 Thessalonians is actually a letter (epistle) that was written by the apostle Paul to the Christian church in the city in of Thessalonica in what is modern-day Greece. It was probably written from Corinth also in modern-day Greece on his Second Missionary Journey.

The book opens with greetings from Paul, Sylvanus (Silas), and Timothy, to the Thessalonians. They thank God because the faith of the church grows exceedingly and their love abounds. Paul and his fellow Christian workers commend the Thessalonians for their cheerful, patient endurance, and faith in Christ, in the face of all their persecutions and tribulations.

Their courageous attitude to their troubles, Paul says, is plain evidence that God judges fairly and that God by His grace is making them worthy of the kingdom of God for which they suffer. Moreover, it is only right for God to repay those who are afflicting the Thessalonian church with affliction on them. So, you Thessalonians, Paul says, who are now troubled, rest with us (Paul, Sylvanus [Silas], and Timothy). For when Jesus shall come from heaven with His mighty angels, he will take vengeance with flaming fire on those who do not know God and who obey not the gospel.

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of Jesus, when He comes to be praised and honoured by His saints (those who are sanctified) and to be admired in that day, because you have believed our (me, Paul, and my fellow Christian workers’) testimony about Jesus Christ. Therefore, Paul and the others pray that the Thessalonians will be found worthy of God’s calling on their lives through the grace of God.

Paul then says that he and the others are entreating the Thessalonians not to be shaken in their minds, nor be troubled, neither as if by the Holy Spirit, nor by a spoken word, nor by a letter seeming to come from us, that says that the day when Jesus returns to the earth has already come.

They are not to let anyone deceive them for the day of Jesus’ return will not come before there is first a falling away from faith in Christ and “that man of sin” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) be revealed. This man of sin will oppose and exalt himself above all that pertains to God or that is true worship, sitting in the Temple of God and declaring falsely that he is God. The Thessalonians are to remember that when Paul was with them, he had warned them of these things.

That is, Paul says, there is now a restraining power by God so that the man of sin will only be revealed in God’s appointed time. For the “the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thessalonians 2:7), that is to say, the mystery of wickedness, Satan himself, is already at work, and only God who now restrains Satan will continue to restrain him until Satan is taken away by God.

Before that time comes, “that Wicked” (2 Thessalonians 2:8), Satan’s human agent, will be revealed who works signs and lying wonders through the power of Satan, deceiving those persons who are perishing in their sins because they did not receive from God a love of the truth so that they might be saved by God. This Wicked, the man of sin, Jesus will destroy when He comes to the earth again. This Wicked, the man of sin, is also, symbolically, Satan himself who, in accordance with Satan’s greatest desire, will near the end of time come out of hiding and appear on earth working signs and lying wonders seeking to receive the worship of the whole earth. And God will cause those people who have not received a love of the truth from God, to receive instead a strong delusion from Satan, so that they believe Satan’s lie and be condemned by God because of their pleasure in unrighteousness.

Paul then thanks God for the Thessalonians, who are beloved by Jesus, because God has chosen them to be saved by their being sanctified (made holy) by the Holy Spirit. He urges the church to be steadfast and hold securely to Paul’s teachings, whether they were given by the spoken word or by Paul’s letter. Next, Paul prays that God, who has loved all humanity and who has given to the human race, everlasting comfort and hope by His grace, will comfort the hearts of the Thessalonians and establish them in sound teachings and good deeds.

Paul also prays that the word of God will go out into the world unhindered for the praise and honour of God, and that Paul, his fellow Christian workers and the church be delivered from evil people. I and my fellow workers, Paul says, have confidence in the Thessalonians that they now do and will continue to do what I, Paul, have commanded them. He also prays that God will lead them to love God and to patiently wait for Jesus’ return.

Next, Paul commands them not to associate with any church member who is disorderly and who does not live according to Paul’s godly teachings. That is, the Thessalonian church should imitate the exemplary conduct of Paul and his fellow workers when they were with the church. For Paul and the others did not eat anyone’s food free of charge, but they worked night and day to support themselves, so as to be an example to the Thessalonians.

Paul then reminds the church that he had commanded them that anyone who would not work, neither should they eat. For Paul and the others had heard that some church members were disorderly, not working at all, and were busybodies. So, Paul commands and urges such persons to lead a godly, quiet life of useful labour and to eat food which they have bought themselves.

After this, Paul cautions the Thessalonians against becoming weary of doing good. Also, Paul declares that if anyone in the church does not obey what Paul says in this letter to the church, the church should take note and not keep company with them. Nevertheless, do not regard such persons as enemies but warn them as one’s own Christian brother. Lastly, Paul prays that God will give them peace at all times and be with them and he pronounces a blessing upon the church.

Themes

• A church’s cheerful, patient endurance of persecutions.
• Words of hope and comfort to a church from their church planter.
• The coming falling away from faith in Christ and the man of sin to be revealed.
• Satan who is working through his human agents.
• The destruction of that Wicked, who is the man of sin, and all the unrighteous by God.
• The salvation of the righteous by God.
• A church planter’s prayers for the church.
• Warning to the church not to be deceived by false teachings.
• Warning to the church concerning members of the church who are disorderly, idle, and busybodies, and instruction to the church on how to treat such persons.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God who takes vengeance on those who persecute the church.
• God who will reveal the man of sin and Satan’s wickedness at God’s appointed time.
• God who leads people to love God and to patiently wait for the return of Jesus Christ to the earth.
• God who saves the righteous.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

God says, “He [God] will swallow up death in victory [do away with eternal death (annihilation) for those made holy by God]; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD [God] hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD [God]; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:8, 9.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits [firstborn] of them that slept [died]. For since by man [by Adam] came [eternal] death [which is to be annihilated by God], by man [Jesus Christ] came also the resurrection of the dead [rising from the dead to life again]. For as in Adam all die [eternally], even so in Christ shall all be made alive [eternally]. But every man [every person] in his own order: Christ the firstfruits [firstborn]; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming [to the earth again].” 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.

“Then cometh the end, when he [Christ] shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he [Christ] must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his [Christ’s] feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:24-26.

“For he [the Father] hath put all things under his [Christ’s] feet. But when he [the Father] saith all things are put under him [Christ], it is manifest [evident] that he [the Father] is excepted, which did put all things under him [Christ]. And when all things shall be subdued unto him [Christ], then shall the Son [Christ] also himself be subject unto him [the Father] that put all things under him [Christ], that God [the Father] may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:27, 28.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Have cheerful, patient endurance in the face of persecutions.
• Receive joyfully God’s words of hope and comfort to you from the Bible.
• Know that there has been a falling away from true faith in Christ and the man of sin, the Pope, who is head of the Roman Catholic Church, has already been revealed (refer to Chapter 27 of this book that you are now reading).
• Be aware that Satan works through his human agents.
• Take care that you are not among those whom God will destroy (annihilate), namely, that Wicked, who is the man of sin, and all the other unrighteous among humanity, Satan and his evil angels. But instead that you are found among the righteous who will be saved by God to eternal life.
• Pray for the spiritual wellbeing of the Christian church.
• Take care that you are not deceived by false teachings.
• Be a godly example to the church and to the world and do not keep company with anyone who is disorderly, idle, or a busybody, but instead seek to win them to Christ that they may receive eternal life from God.

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