2 Thessalonians

AKA The Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians. Preceded by 1 Thessalonians.

One of the Books of the Bible in the New Testament.

• Author: Obviously Paul, since it's signed, "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:1) The early church unanimously accepted this, and those who question the fact today claim the eschatology differs between the two Thessalonian epistles (1 is more sudden/imminent, while 2 requires signs first), evidence of literary dependence due to commonalities between the two, the colder tone of 2 Thessalonians, and 2 Thessalonians 2:2 and 3:17 make best sense if written by a pseudonymous author, or so they say.
• Date: A.D. 49-51, shortly after 1 Thessalonians
• Theme: The second coming of Jesus preceded by an apostasy and the man of lawlessness whom Jesus will defeat.
• Audience: The church of the Thessalonians in Thessalonica

(The ESV Study Bible^TM, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 2313-2314)

2 Thessalonians Summary

Paul, Silas, and Timothy write to the Thessalonian church because they had accepted the strange claim that the day of the Lord has come. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2) They also had a problem with idlers refusing to earn their own living. Paul wrote to reassure them and address idleness.

(The ESV Study Bible^TM, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 2314)

Topics

Figures

• God our Father
• Our Lord Jesus Christ
• Paul
• Satan
• Silas, Silvanus
• Timothy

Peoples

• Church of the Thessalonians
• Thessalonians

Places

• Thessalonica

Other

• Angel
• Coming of the lawless one
• Day of the Lord, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven
• Firstfruits
• Good work
• Gospel
• Grace
• Hell, Eternal destruction
• Kingdom of God
• Man of lawlessness, lawless one, son of destruction
• Mystery of lawlessness
• Prophecy
• The rebellion
• Salvation, be saved
• Sanctification
• A strong delusion
• The temple of God
• Truth
• Work

Verses

• 2 Thessalonians 2:8 - And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 - For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 - But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 - For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.