2 THESSALONIANS
2 Thessalonians, although shorter, is quite similar to 1 Thessalonians: Paul expresses his thankfulness for the church’s exemplary lifestyle and their reputation among the churches, he prays for the church, there is a relatively lengthy discussion of the End Times, he reminisces about being a model to them and not being a financial burden—just to cite a few of the similarities. This letter was probably written very soon after 1 Thessalonians, and thus, most of the social-historical background of that letter would apply to this one.
The basic outline of the letter is: introduction (1:1-12), End Times warning (2:1-12), prayers (3:1-5), ethical exhortations (3:6-17), and closing (3:17-18). Let’s look at the text.
Like the first letter, Paul gushes with gratitude for the Thessalonians, particularly for their growing faith, their growing love for one another, and their endurance through their trials (2 Thess 1:3-4). He encourages the believers, saying that their perseverance through afflictions/suffering confirms the genuineness of their faith, as well as stores up heavenly rewards for them when Christ returns (2 Thess 1:5-10). The idea that perseverance through trials confirms true faith, while exposing fake faith—i.e., faith that fails to endure—runs throughout the entire NT, beginning with Jesus’ parables (e.g., Matt 13:18-23), and extending through the life and letters of Paul (e.g., Acts 9:15-16; Phil 1:29-30; cf. 1 Pet 1:6-7). Question: Why does God choose suffering as a means of confirming faith? In light of the return of Jesus to judge the world, Paul prays that the church would (continue to) live a life worthy of their calling in Christ so that Christ might be honoured in/through them (2 Thess 1:11-12).
This talk of the End carries over into the 2nd chapter, where Paul focuses on the “man of lawlessness.” It’s clear that some believers were still under the impression that they had missed the 2nd Coming (2 Thess 2:1-2; cf. 1 Thess 5:1-2). Paul dispels that notion saying that certain, impossible-to-be-missed signs will precede Christ’s 2nd Coming: e.g., many “Christians” will turn away from the faith (2:2a), and, the man of lawlessness will appear and try to usurp God’s place and worship (2:2b-4). Certainly, the man of lawlessness is the Anti-Christ (= AC, with my apologies to people who call themselves “AC” for short), who appears most prominently in the book of Revelation. Similar to his depiction in Revelation, Satan works through and alongside of the AC, bringing about miraculous signs and mass deception (2:8-13). Paul states that, at least for the present time, the powers of darkness associated with the AC have been kept in check by the “restrainer” (2 Thess 2:7). Who or what the restrainer is continues to be debated: the Holy Spirit, the church, James the Just, Roman Imperial power. I, for one, don’t really know.
B/c of the activity of Satan and the AC, the masses will reject the truth and embrace their lies and wickedness; consequently, God will harden the masses in their unbelief, by sending them a spirit of deception so they can believe whatever they like to their hearts’ content (2:10-12). Question: Why? What do you think is the point of God doing this? By way of stark contrast, Paul offers a picture of the Trinitarian salvation which believers embrace: they have been “loved by the Lord,” (God the Son) b/c God (the Father) has chosen them in eternity passed, and set them apart by the Holy Spirit to receive the gospel and gain Christ (2 Thess 2:13-14).
Having offered a 2nd prayer for the Thessalonians (for their encouragement; 2:16-17), Paul now asks them for prayer: that the gospel would spread quickly through he and his partners (Silvanus/Silas and Timothy), and that God would deliver them from their enemies (2 Thess 3:1-2). This prayer request, in turn, leads Paul to pray yet again: that God would enable the Thessalonians to continue in love and steadfast endurance (3:4-5).
In closing out his letter Paul offers an exhortation focusing on idleness (3:6-15). Interestingly, he had addressed this in his first letter (1 Thess 4:11; 5:12-14), but obviously not everyone listened (oh, surprise!). He warns the flock not to keep company with those who lead unruly, undisciplined lives (2 Thess 3:6). It might have been that some people thought, ‘Christ is coming back any second, so why bother?’ That might be true but Christ’s return should never lead to inactivity or be grounds for slothfulness! Such a lifestyle was neither taught nor modeled by Paul; in fact, he and his companions modeled exactly the opposite: hard work and a disciplined lifestyle (2 Thess 3:7-10). Paul is so serious about his warning that he commands the believers not to have fellowship with those who flagrantly disobey his apostolic edicts: so that the disobedient might eventually come to repentance (2 Thess 3:14-15). The prospect of disharmony leads Paul to pray a final time for the church’s peace (2 Thess 3:16), before picking up his quill and “signing off” on his letter to authenticate it—he had been dictating it (on the use of a secretary, see my blog on Ephesians 1).