2 Thessalonians 1-3
Issues In Thessalonica
1. Suffering – The persecution, which had begun while Paul was there, was still ongoing.
2. Rapture - Paul had instructed the Thessalonians about the end times while he was with them (2 Thess. 2:5) (1 Thess. 4:13–5:11). Yet they were still confused, fearing they had missed the Rapture and were in the Day of the Lord. The main reason for their confusion came from some false teachers who taught that the Day of the Lord had already arrived(2 Thess. 2:1-2)
3. Idleness - Finally, the problem of idleness Paul had addressed in his first epistle (1 Thess. 4:11–12) had escalated. Some, expecting the Lord to return at any moment, had stopped working altogether.
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Chapter 1
1 1Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. – Cf 1Thess 1:1
Chapter 2
1-2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come – There were false teachers there who were saying that the persecution that the church was going through was the great tribulation. The day of the Lord is not a single day, but a time period that some see begins with the Rapture of the church and includes the Tribulation described in Matthew 24:1-31. In that Day, Christ will rule with a rod of iron over the entire earth (Ps 2:9; Rev 2:27); He will administer absolute justice (Isa 11:1-9). Also, Isa 11:10-12; Zeph 3:14-20.
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction – “The Rebellion:” The Greek word is where we get our English word apostasy (apostasia). The phrase: The man doomed to destruction” is literally Son of Perdition.
4-5 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? – Cf. Daniel 9:27-28; Matt 24:15
Early church fathers (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, V.30.4) understood a
literal, eschatological Jewish Temple (Mt 24:1)
7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way – Taken “out of the midst”. The Holy Spirit is not going to be completely removed from earth during the tribulation. He will be present because many are saved, sealed, and serve God during this period (Revelation 7:3-14 and 14:1-5), and this can’t happen without the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s restraining ministry is taken out of the way.
11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie – “The Lie:” That the Antichrist is God. Cf. Isa 14:14; Rom 1:24-25
Chapter 3
1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you – Paul constantly asked the churches to pray for him (Romans 15:30, 2 Corinthians 1:11, Ephesians 6:18-19, Philippians 1:19, Colossians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:25, and Philemon 22).
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us – The word idle ataktōs means irregular or disorderly.
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