2 Thessalonians

The two Thessalonian letters are quite similar.

[Note: These two letters were for the believers at a place called Thessalonica.]

Paul probably wrote this letter soon after he wrote the first letter to the Thessalonians. The Christians were suffering. And he wrote to encourage them again. He told them to continue to be firm and steady in their faith. They could do this because they knew that God would punish evil.

Paul taught about Christ's return. Paul's words were:

  • from the Bible. He often used words that are in the Old Testament.
  • urgent. Some people were teaching wrong things about Christ's return (2:2). And Paul wanted to correct these ideas quickly.
  • practical. False teaching soon produces bad living. And some believers became lazy. They did not work. They thought that work was not necessary. They would just sit and wait for the Lord's return.

The letter clearly explains four subjects:

The Believer's Hard Times (Chapter 1:1-12)

Paul encouraged believers with his first words. He was very happy about two things. First, their faith was growing (1:3). Second, their love was increasing (1:3). Some people would oppose them (3:4). But this should encourage them. Believers can gain good things from persecution. And Paul showed them what these things were.

It helps other believers (1:4). Paul could tell other Christian groups about the Thessalonians. They had courage. They were steady when things were hard. And this news encouraged these other groups. (Read Philippians 1:14.)

It makes character stronger (1:4). Believers were strong and steady because of their troubles. Constant easy times would make them weak in the end.

It proves that they were sincere (1:5). The church members were true Christians. If they were not, the devil (Satan) would not bother them. These troubles showed that they belonged to God.

It encourages prayer (1:11). Paul and his partners knew that they must pray much for the believers. This was because they were having such a hard time.

It brings honour to Christ (1:12). The believers in Thessalonica were suffering very much. But their lives brought honour to Christ. Other people watched them. And they could see what a wonderful God these believers had.

Paul spoke about the fate of people who did not believe (1:7-10). These people:

  • ignored God (1:8). They did not want to know him. (Read Romans 1:28.)
  • refused to obey God (1:8). They would not obey the gospel. This was not only an invitation. It was also a command (Acts 17:30). Or they must have eternal punishment (1:9). This meant that they could never be with God. They would never know his great power (1:9) and honour (1:10. Read Isaiah 2:10, 19, 21).

The Believer's Enemy (Chapter 2:1-12)

The one who is evil. Paul met enemies in his work as a missionary. People often opposed his work. They said nasty things about him. They even tried to stop the work. Someone wrote at least one letter and said that it was from Paul. It said that ‘the day of the Lord’ had come already (2:2). And Paul explained how this could not be true. We do not know the exact moment when Christ will come. But we do know that certain events will happen first.

There will be a terrible time. People will turn away from God (2:3). And their leader will be the Man of Evil.

[Note: The usual name for him is the Anti-Christ. ‘Anti’ is a Latin word. It means ‘against’.]

This Man of Evil will try to take God's place (2:3-4).

These things were not just ideas that could never happen. Gaius was a Roman ruler. In AD 40 he made an image of himself. Then he tried to put it in the Temple in Jerusalem. (Read 2:4 and Mark 13:14.)

The one who checks evil (2:6-7). God has all authority and power. The devil does not decide the fate of men and of nations. We cannot be sure who ‘the one who checks evil’ is (2:7).

People suggest three possibilities. First, it could be either the Roman state or its ruler. At times, the state opposed the gospel. The state did not realize it, but it helped God's work in other ways. (Read Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Revelation 13.) These passages show that people thought about the state in two ways. It protected Christians. But it caused persecution for them too. Second, the ‘one who checks evil’ could be the Holy Spirit. Third, he could be a leader of some special kind.

The one who overcomes (2:8-12). God will defeat the Man of Evil (the Anti-Christ), the devil. This is certain. And it is the most important thing to know. Christ will destroy the Anti-Christ (2:8). Notice something important. The Lord Jesus kills him with his word. (Read Isaiah 11:4; Revelation 19:15.)

This Man of Evil:

  • opposes God
  • persuades people to believe what is false
  • prevents people from obeying the truth (2:10. Read Romans 1:18-32).

The Believer's Confidence (Chapters 2:13-3:5)

Many people believe what is false. So their lives go wrong. But the Thessalonian believers were different. Paul had confidence in them (3:4). This was because he had confidence in God. God would protect them (3:3). This is true Christian confidence.

Four things produce Christian confidence:

God's choice of us (2:13-15). God chose the believers from the beginning (2:13). He invited them to come (2:14). Notice the reference to the Trinity here. This is the word for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. All three Persons of the Trinity share in a miracle. It is the miracle of man's eternal salvation.

God's love for us (2:16-17). Paul described the Christians who lived in Thessalonica.

He called them ‘brothers and sisters whom the Lord loves’ (2:13). Now he made this great truth plainer (2:16). Notice that Paul mentioned Christ first (2:16).

This showed that the Father and the Son were equal in Paul's mind. The Lord's love

gives comfort (2:16) and it brings hope (2:16). These facts encourage witness. And they show people about God (2:17).

God's word to us (3:1-2). The church members were grateful to receive God's word (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6). And they were eager to share it with other people (1 Thessalonians. 1:8). They knew that it was not just men's advice. It was God's truth (1 Thessalonians 2:12).

Now Paul asked them to pray for him. He desired God's word to ‘spread quickly’. He wanted people to honour it (3:1). It was like this in Thessalonica. (Read Psalm 147:15.) And he wanted it to be the same where he was now. This might have been in Corinth. Paul knew that many people there did not have faith.

God's power in us (3:3-5). Some people were not loyal to God. But the Lord was faithful (3:3). He promised to give strength. And he promised to protect his people from ‘the evil one’. (Compare Matthew 6:13.) Paul had told them about Satan's activities (2:2-12). Now they had this wonderful promise. Christ was always steady and strong in hard times. (One example is in Matthew 4:1-11.) And, with God's power, his people could be the same.

The Believer's Responsibility (Chapter 3:6-18)

There were some lazy people in the church. They said that the Lord was about to return. So there was no need to work! But Paul told them clearly that this was wrong (3:6). The church members must work. It must be:

Hard work (3:8). Paul himself worked ‘night and day’.

Work that was an example (3:9). Paul had the right to ask the believers to help him. But he did not do this. He got a local job. ‘We worked to take care of ourselves’. So, Paul, Silvanus and Timothy were examples for people to follow (1:1 and 3:9).

Work that was helpful (3:13). Paul said, ‘Never become tired of doing good’. (Compare Galatians 6:9.)

Paul expected the people who read his letter to accept his teaching (3:14-15). Life might be very difficult for them. But Paul reminded them about a wonderful truth. ‘The Lord of peace’ gives his peace. He gives it ‘at all times and in every way’ (3:16).

Paul himself wrote the final greeting (3:17-18). Some people pretended that certain letters were from Paul (2:2). Paul dictated his letters. But he always ended them with his own writing.

These Thessalonian Christians had many difficulties. But, whatever they were, Christ's grace was more than enough for them. Paul knew this from his own experience. (Read 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.) ‘I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But the Lord said to me, “My grace is enough for you. It is all that you need. My power is strongest when you are weak” ’.