The Book of 2 Thessalonians

Book of 2 Thessalonians

Summary of the Book of 2 Thessalonians

This summary of the book of 2 Thessalonians provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of 2 Thessalonians.

Author, Date and Place of Writing

Paul's authorship of 2 Thessalonians has been questioned more often than that of 1 Thessalonians, in spite of the fact that it has more support from early Christian writers. Objections are based on internal factors rather than on the adequacy of the statements of the church fathers. It is thought that there are differences in the vocabulary (ten words not used elsewhere), in the style (it is said to be unexpectedly formal) and in the eschatology (the doctrine of the "man of lawlessness" is not taught elsewhere). However, such arguments have not convinced current interpreters. A majority still hold to Paul's authorship of 2 Thessalonians.

Because of its similarity to 1 Thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letter -- perhaps about six months. The situation in the church seems to have been much the same. Paul probably penned it (see 1:1; 3:17) c. a.d. 51 or 52 in Corinth, after Silas and Timothy had returned from delivering 1 Thessalonians; see also Introduction to 1 Thessalonians).

Purpose

Inasmuch as the situation in the Thessalonian church has not changed substantially, Paul's purpose in writing is very much the same as in his first letter to them. He writes (1) to encourage persecuted believers (1:4-10), (2) to correct a misunderstanding concerning the Lord's return (2:1-12) and (3) to exhort the Thessalonians to be steadfast and to work for a living (2:13 -- 3:15).

Theme

Like 1 Thessalonians, this letter deals extensively with eschatology (see Introduction to 1 Thessalonians: Theme). In fact, in 2 Thessalonians 18 out of 47 verses deal with this subject.

Outline

I.                  Introduction (ch. 1)

A.    Greetings (1:1-2)

B.    Thanksgiving for Their Faith, Love and Perseverance (1:3-10)

C.    Intercession for Their Spiritual Progress (1:11-12)

                 II.         Instruction (ch. 2)

 .      Prophecy regarding the Day of the Lord (2:1-12)

A.    Thanksgiving for Their Election and Calling (Their Position) (2:13-15)

B.    Prayer for Their Service and Testimony (Their Practice) (2:16-17)

III.         Injunctions (ch. 3)

 .      Call to Prayer (3:1-5)

A.    Charge to Discipline the Disorderly and Lazy (3:6-15)

B.    Conclusion, Final Greetings and Benediction (3:16-18)

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From the NIV Study Bible, Introductions to the Books of the Bible, 2 Thessalonians
Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

2 Thessalonians 1 NLT

1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 

3Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 

4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. 

5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 

6 In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. 

7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 

8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 

9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 

10 When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him. 

11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 

12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2 NLT

1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 

2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 

3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. 

4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. 

5Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 

6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 

7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 

8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 

9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 

10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 

11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 

12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.

13 As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 

14 He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

15 With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, 

17 comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

2 Thessalonians 3 NLT

1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. 

2Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. 

3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 

4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. 

5May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. 

6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. 

7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 

8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 

9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 

10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” 

11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business.

12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 

13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. 

14 Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 

15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister. 

16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. 

17HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL. I DO THIS IN ALL MY LETTERS TO PROVE THEY ARE FROM ME. 

18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.