2 Thessalonians
1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy greet the church of Thessalonians. They thank God and boast about their increasing love, steadfastness, and faith in persecution. When Jesus returns with angels in fire, justice will be delivered for those who afflict and the afflicted. Those who don't know God and disobey the gospel will suffer eternal destruction. Paul prays the Thessalonian church will be worthy according to grace.
Paul greets the church of the Thessalonians with co-senders Silvanus, and Timothy with grace and peace. They thank God and boast about their increasing love, steadfastness, and faith in persecution and consider it evidence of the righteous judgment of God. God's justice will repay those who afflict them with affliction and will grant relief to the afflicted when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire. Those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction when He comes on that day to be glorified in His saints. They always pray for the Thessalonian church that God may make them worthy of His calling and fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in them and them in Him according to grace.
2
The day of the Lord will not come unless the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed. You know the one holding him back, but he is already at work. He will exalt himself over all gods and sit in the Temple of God. He will come by the activity of Satan with false signs and wonders, and God will send a strong delusion so that those who are unsaved will believe a lie. When Jesus returns, he will kill the lawless one with the breath of His mouth. Paul thanks God for the church chosen as firstfruits to be saved through sanctification and belief in the truth and asks for God to comfort their hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Do not be shaken by a spirit, spoken word, or letter apparently from Paul's band to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. That day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who exalts himself against every god or object of worship so that he takes his seat in the temple of God. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work, and the one who restrains him will do so until his time. But the Lord Jesus will kill the lawless one with the breath of His mouth. The lawless one's coming is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs, and with all wicked deception for those who refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore, God sends a strong delusion so they may believe what is false in order to condemn them who had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Paul's band thought to always give thanks to God for the Thessalonian church for God choosing them as 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. Stand firm and hold to the tradition you were taught by Paul's spoken word or letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
3
Paul's band asks for the word of the Lord to speed ahead and for the Lord to establish and guard against the evil one. Keep away from any brother walking in idleness. Paul's band labored day and night as an example of earning their own food. Work quietly and earn your own living. Have nothing to do with those who do not obey this letter so they may be ashamed. Warn them as a brother.
The band asks they pray for them, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as it was within the church of the Thessalonians, and that the faithful Lord deliver them from wicked and evil men. They have confidence in the Lord that they are doing and will do as the band commands. May the Lord direct their hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
The band advises in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that they keep away from any brother walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition they received from them. The band toiled and labored day and night for their food as an example. If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. Do your work quietly and earn your own living.
Do not grow weary in doing good. Have nothing to do with those who do not obey this letter, so that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
May the Lord of peace give you peace at all times in every way.
Paul writes this greeting with his own hand as the sign of genuineness in his every letter as the way he writes.