Outline

• Introduction (ch. 1)
  • Greetings (1:1-2)
  • Thanksgiving for Their Faith, Love and Perseverance (1:3-10)
  • Intercession for Their Spiritual Progress (1:11-12)
• Instruction (ch. 2)
  • Prophecy regarding the Day of the Lord (2:1-12)
  • Thanksgiving for Their Election and Calling (Their Position) (2:13-15)
  • Prayer for Their Service and Testimony (Their Practice) (2:16-17)
• Injunctions (ch. 3)
• Call to Prayer (3:1-5)
• Charge to Discipline the Disorderly and Lazy (3:6-15)
• Conclusion, Final Greetings and Benediction (3:16-18)

2 Thessalonians 1 NLT

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Scripture Formatting

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. 

3 Dear 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.

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

• Introduction (ch. 1)
  • Greetings (1:1-2)
  • Thanksgiving for Their Faith, Love and Perseverance (1:3-10)
  • Intercession for Their Spiritual Progress (1:11-12)
• Instruction (ch. 2)
  • Prophecy regarding the Day of the Lord (2:1-12)
  • Thanksgiving for Their Election and Calling (Their Position) (2:13-15)
  • Prayer for Their Service and Testimony (Their Practice) (2:16-17)
• Injunctions (ch. 3)
  • Call to Prayer (3:1-5)
  • Charge to Discipline the Disorderly and Lazy (3:6-15)
  • Conclusion, Final Greetings and Benediction (3:16-18)