2 Thessalonians
Below you'll find notes on 2nd Thessalonians in the form of summary, application, and some older notes.
SUMMARY
During the 2nd
Missionary Journey, the Spirit steered Paul and his team to Macedonia (Acts
16:6-10). Upon reaching the strategic city of Thessalonica, Paul preached the
Gospel in the Jewish synagogue. Some Jews believed, but even more God-fearing
Gentiles became believers (including a number of prominent women). A church was
born!
No sooner than its birth, the
church began to face opposition initiated by jealous Jews but eventually
including loyalists to Caesar and the Roman Empire (motivated politically or,
most likely by economic factors). The missionary team was forced to leave,
leaving the fledgling church on its own.
Unable to return to the
city for some time (1 Thes. 2:18) and fearing the worst for its congregation (1
Thes. 3:5), Paul’s team sent Timothy to encourage them in the midst of
persecution (1 Thes. 3:2). Timothy reported that the church was doing well,
prompting the writing of 1st Thessalonians.
Sometime later, Paul had
been given an update on the fledgling church. This report suggested that the
faith and love amongst the Thessalonian Christians was growing, but there was
also some confusion over a couple of issues. This report prompted the writing
of 2 Thessalonians.
In 2nd
Thessalonians, Paul expresses thanks for the congregation and encourages them
that the 2nd Coming will bring ultimate justice (chapter 1),
attempts to straighten out some confusion over its timing (chapter 2) and tells
them how to deal with disorderly (idle) members (chapter 3).
APPLICATIONS
1. The entire letter is smothered with prayer (1:3,
11-12, 2:13, 16-17, 3:1-2, 5, 16). The early Christians recognized the
importance of praying for one another.
2. We are promised ultimate justice, but not until the 2nd
Coming. When justice takes place prior to that event, it is evidence of God’s
grace in the world and the coming of the Kingdom.
3. The Thessalonians were confused about the timing of
the 2nd Coming. We get confused too. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 is
difficult to understand, but has the potential to shed light on the subject.
4. Our goal is to continue growing in faith and love
(1:3) so that God may use us in powerful ways (1:11, 2:17, 3:5) to the point
that we actually share in his glory (2:14).
5. If a Christian brother or sister is unwilling to work,
they should not be supported by the church. In fact, the church should lovingly
disassociate with them until they start working.
OLDER NOTES
2 Thessalonians 1
Marks of a great church
1. An ever-increasing faith (1:3a)
2. An ever-increasing love (1:3b)
3. An ever-increasing hope (1:5-10)
Three Stages of Works
1. We ask God to bless what we are doing
2. We seek to do what God is blessing
3. God chooses to bless things done with a pure heart (1:11)
Marks of a great church
1. An ever-increasing faith (1:3a)
2. An ever-increasing love (1:3b)
3. An ever-increasing hope (1:5-10)
Three Stages of Works
1. We ask God to bless what we are doing
2. We seek to do what God is blessing
3. God chooses to bless things done with a pure heart (1:11)
“I frankly confess I do not know what he (Paul) means”
(Augustine)
“I attempt no interpretation of this passage” (Marvin Vincent)
“So vague that we can hardly hope to clear it up” (Robertson)
“There is an obscurity in the language rendering it difficult” (Gloag)
“Undoubtedly one of the most difficult in all Paul’s writings” (Demarest)
3 Views of 2 Thessalonians 2
The Preterist Interpretation
1. The ‘coming’ (2:1, 8) refers to the AD70 coming in judgment
2. The term ‘gathered’ refers to the union of Jewish & Gentile believers
3. The phrase ‘day of the Lord’ refers to any period of judgment of sin
4. The ‘day of the Lord’ in 2:2 can’t possibly refer to the final judgment of the world since they were afraid that a letter had told them of it!
5. Paul was assuring them that Jerusalem was still standing (2:2-3)
6. The ‘rebellion’ (2:3) refers to 1st century Jewish apostasy
7. The 1st century Thessalonians knew who the man of lawlessness was, but we can only make educated guesses since we don’t have all the data
8. The 1st century Thessalonians knew what restrained him (2:6), but we can only make educated guesses since we don’t have all the data
9. The Preterist interpretation is proven by the time indicators in the passage, such as ‘now’ (2:6-7) & ‘already at work’ (2:7)
The Historicist Interpretation
1. Both the early church fathers & the reformers viewed the ‘coming’ as the 2nd Coming & the ‘gathering’ as the final gathering of all believers
2. The Roman Empire was the restrainer, but Paul was being careful
3. The Papacy is the ‘man of lawlessness’ that gained power after Rome fell
4. The 2nd Coming will destroy the Papal System
The Futurist Interpretation
1. The ‘coming’ described is the 2nd Coming
2. The ‘gathering’ described is the rapture
3. The ‘rebellion’ (2:3) refers to a final century Christian apostasy
4. The ‘man of lawlessness’ is the future ‘Antichrist’
5. He is being held back by the presence of the church on earth
6. Once the church is raptured, he will present himself
7. He will set himself up in a rebuilt Jewish temple and declare he is God
8. He will be destroyed by the 2nd Coming
Quotes seemingly supporting the historicist (reformation) view
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now hinders must hinder, until he be taken out of the way." What obstacle is there but the Roman state, the falling away of which, by being scattered into ten kingdoms, shall introduce Antichrist upon (its own ruins)?
~Tertullian
One may naturally enquire, what is that which withholdeth, and after that would know, why Paul expresses it so obscurely. What then is it that withholdeth, that is, hindereth him from being revealed? Some indeed say, the grace of the Spirit, but others the Roman empire, to whom I most of all accede…But because he said this of the Roman empire, he naturally glanced at it, and speaks covertly and darkly. For he did not wish to bring upon himself superfluous enmities, and useless dangers
~John Chrysostum
We should therefore concur with the traditional interpretation of all the commentators of the Christian Church, that at the end of the world, when the Roman Empire is to be destroyed, there shall be ten kings who will partition the Roman world amongst themselves. Then an insignificant eleventh king will arise
~Jerome
For what does he mean by "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way: and then shall the wicked be revealed?" [2 Thess 2] I frankly confess I do not know what he means. ... However, it is not absurd to believe that these words of the apostle, "Only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way," refers to the Romans
~Augustine
“The Roman Pontiff judges all men but is judged by no one. I have the authority of the king of kings. I am all and in all and above all. Wherefore if those things that I do be said not to be done of man, but of God, What can you make me but God? Wherefore, no marvel if it be in my power to change time and times, to alter and abrogate laws, to dispense with all things…I conclude commanding, declaring and pronouncing to stand upon necessity of salvation that every creature be subject to me.”
~1302 Pope Bonoface
“You know that I am the holy father, the representative of God which means that I am God on earth.”
~1922 Pope Pious XI
“We hold the place of almighty God on earth”
~1897 Pope Leo VIII
We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist...personally I declare that I owe the Pope no other obedience than that to Antichrist.
~Martin Luther
Some persons think us too severe and censorious when we call the Roman pontiff Antichrist. But those who are of this opinion do not consider that they bring the same charge of presumption against Paul himself, after whom we speak and whose language we adopt... I shall briefly show that (Paul's words in II Thess. 2) are not capable of any other interpretation than that which applies them to the Papacy.
~John Calvin
Speaking of the Papacy he said, "He is in an emphatical sense, the Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers... He it is...that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...claiming the highest power, and highest honour...claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone.
~John Wesley
“I attempt no interpretation of this passage” (Marvin Vincent)
“So vague that we can hardly hope to clear it up” (Robertson)
“There is an obscurity in the language rendering it difficult” (Gloag)
“Undoubtedly one of the most difficult in all Paul’s writings” (Demarest)
3 Views of 2 Thessalonians 2
The Preterist Interpretation
1. The ‘coming’ (2:1, 8) refers to the AD70 coming in judgment
2. The term ‘gathered’ refers to the union of Jewish & Gentile believers
3. The phrase ‘day of the Lord’ refers to any period of judgment of sin
4. The ‘day of the Lord’ in 2:2 can’t possibly refer to the final judgment of the world since they were afraid that a letter had told them of it!
5. Paul was assuring them that Jerusalem was still standing (2:2-3)
6. The ‘rebellion’ (2:3) refers to 1st century Jewish apostasy
7. The 1st century Thessalonians knew who the man of lawlessness was, but we can only make educated guesses since we don’t have all the data
8. The 1st century Thessalonians knew what restrained him (2:6), but we can only make educated guesses since we don’t have all the data
9. The Preterist interpretation is proven by the time indicators in the passage, such as ‘now’ (2:6-7) & ‘already at work’ (2:7)
The Historicist Interpretation
1. Both the early church fathers & the reformers viewed the ‘coming’ as the 2nd Coming & the ‘gathering’ as the final gathering of all believers
2. The Roman Empire was the restrainer, but Paul was being careful
3. The Papacy is the ‘man of lawlessness’ that gained power after Rome fell
4. The 2nd Coming will destroy the Papal System
The Futurist Interpretation
1. The ‘coming’ described is the 2nd Coming
2. The ‘gathering’ described is the rapture
3. The ‘rebellion’ (2:3) refers to a final century Christian apostasy
4. The ‘man of lawlessness’ is the future ‘Antichrist’
5. He is being held back by the presence of the church on earth
6. Once the church is raptured, he will present himself
7. He will set himself up in a rebuilt Jewish temple and declare he is God
8. He will be destroyed by the 2nd Coming
Quotes seemingly supporting the historicist (reformation) view
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now hinders must hinder, until he be taken out of the way." What obstacle is there but the Roman state, the falling away of which, by being scattered into ten kingdoms, shall introduce Antichrist upon (its own ruins)?
~Tertullian
One may naturally enquire, what is that which withholdeth, and after that would know, why Paul expresses it so obscurely. What then is it that withholdeth, that is, hindereth him from being revealed? Some indeed say, the grace of the Spirit, but others the Roman empire, to whom I most of all accede…But because he said this of the Roman empire, he naturally glanced at it, and speaks covertly and darkly. For he did not wish to bring upon himself superfluous enmities, and useless dangers
~John Chrysostum
We should therefore concur with the traditional interpretation of all the commentators of the Christian Church, that at the end of the world, when the Roman Empire is to be destroyed, there shall be ten kings who will partition the Roman world amongst themselves. Then an insignificant eleventh king will arise
~Jerome
For what does he mean by "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way: and then shall the wicked be revealed?" [2 Thess 2] I frankly confess I do not know what he means. ... However, it is not absurd to believe that these words of the apostle, "Only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way," refers to the Romans
~Augustine
“The Roman Pontiff judges all men but is judged by no one. I have the authority of the king of kings. I am all and in all and above all. Wherefore if those things that I do be said not to be done of man, but of God, What can you make me but God? Wherefore, no marvel if it be in my power to change time and times, to alter and abrogate laws, to dispense with all things…I conclude commanding, declaring and pronouncing to stand upon necessity of salvation that every creature be subject to me.”
~1302 Pope Bonoface
“You know that I am the holy father, the representative of God which means that I am God on earth.”
~1922 Pope Pious XI
“We hold the place of almighty God on earth”
~1897 Pope Leo VIII
We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist...personally I declare that I owe the Pope no other obedience than that to Antichrist.
~Martin Luther
Some persons think us too severe and censorious when we call the Roman pontiff Antichrist. But those who are of this opinion do not consider that they bring the same charge of presumption against Paul himself, after whom we speak and whose language we adopt... I shall briefly show that (Paul's words in II Thess. 2) are not capable of any other interpretation than that which applies them to the Papacy.
~John Calvin
Speaking of the Papacy he said, "He is in an emphatical sense, the Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers... He it is...that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...claiming the highest power, and highest honour...claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone.
~John Wesley
My Own Interpretation
1. Paul had previously taught the Thessalonians about some of the details of the end-times (5)
2. Someone was persuading them toward a teaching contrary to Paul's teaching (2a)
3. The new/false teaching insisted that the day of the Lord was imminent (2b)*
4. Paul wanted to remind them that 2 things must happen before the 2nd Coming (3)
5. One of the things that would happen first would be a significant apostacy (3, 'the' rebellion)
6. The other thing that would happen first would be the revealing of the man of lawlessness (3)
7. Neither of those things had happened yet... so the 2nd Coming clearly wasn't imminent (3)
8. Currently, the secret power of lawlessness (Satan's Zeitgeist) is at work (preparing the way for the man of sin) (6-7)**
9. At some future point, Satan's zeitgeist will in some way be personified (a counterfeit incarnation) (8)
10. This personification of evil will proclaim deity (4), perform miracles (9), and even deceive Christians (4)
11. The wicked, especially, will buy into this self-proclaimed god (10). God will even assure that this happens (11)***
12. After some time (enough time to deceive many and do miracles, apparently), Jesus will return and gather the elect (1, 8)
13. The coming of Jesus will easily destroy the man of lawlessness (3, 8)
14. The wicked will be condemned along with satan and his system (12)
15. The righteous will be gathered to Jesus (1)
In Sum... The Thessalonians should have known better than to believe that the return of Christ was imminent because Paul had taught them, previously, that certain things must take place before the Lord returns. There had not yet been a significant apostacy. Nor had Satan's systems (for them, the Roman Imperial cult, for instance) given way to a personification of evil. They needed to remain aware of Satan's present schemes, but even more importantly cling to Apostolic teaching.
Over the past 2000 years, we've certainly seen apostacy and even candidates for the incarnation of evil. I believe each time either of these occurs, it should serve as a warning that the end could be right around the corner. We cannot guess when a given apostacy is THE apostacy or when a very sinful man is THE sinful man.
This interpretation avoids the problems of all of the more 'particular' interpretations while potentially including the best of them, it seems to me.
* It seems to be a possibility, in the Greek, that the false teaching did not insist that the day had 'already come,' but that it was already beginning to dawn.
** Yes, I equating the entity 'holding him back' WITH the secret power of lawlessness. This possibility is argued for in Gene Green's commentary. The Greek for 'holding back' or 'restrain' could be taken differently. The current zeitgeist is holding sway now, but will eventually give way to its own personification (Satan is behind all of this, of course).
*** I theorize that this is God's method of clearly and completely separating the wheat from the chaff at the end of the world (since people living at that time won't have as much opportunity to take their beliefs to their conclusions). I think of it almost as God setting up a magnet @ extreme evil... pulling all evil further towards it.
2 Thessalonians 3
1. A good WOMAN isn’t idle (Proverbs 31:27)
2. A good MAN isn’t idle (Ecc. 10:18, 11:6)
3. Idleness is BAD theology (Col. 2:18, 2 Thes. 3:6)
4. Idleness leads to a multitude of SINS (1 Tim. 5:13)
5. The idle should be WARNED (1 Thes. 5:14)
6. The idle should be SHUNNED (2 Thes. 3:6-7, 14-15)
7. God’s workers must exemplify HARD work (2 Thes. 3:7-9)
8. If a man ‘will not’ work, he ‘shall not’ EAT (2 Thes. 3:10-12)
9. Christians should never TIRE of doing good (2 Thes. 3:13)
1. A good WOMAN isn’t idle (Proverbs 31:27)
2. A good MAN isn’t idle (Ecc. 10:18, 11:6)
3. Idleness is BAD theology (Col. 2:18, 2 Thes. 3:6)
4. Idleness leads to a multitude of SINS (1 Tim. 5:13)
5. The idle should be WARNED (1 Thes. 5:14)
6. The idle should be SHUNNED (2 Thes. 3:6-7, 14-15)
7. God’s workers must exemplify HARD work (2 Thes. 3:7-9)
8. If a man ‘will not’ work, he ‘shall not’ EAT (2 Thes. 3:10-12)
9. Christians should never TIRE of doing good (2 Thes. 3:13)
posted by matthew at 1:39 PM
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