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1 2 THESSALONIANS Introduction Like 1Thessalonians this epistle deals with the theme of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was written to correct some misunderstandings that had arisen among the Thessalonians regarding the second coming. Paul sets their present sufferings in the light of the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (ROM 8:18; 2CO 4:17-18). He sets forth a panoramic view of history from the present to its consummation. He clearly shows that the present division among men is a token of things to be fully manifested at the coming of the Lord. And he connects this division back to God s election of His people from the beginning. Paul links this magnificent panorama to the present necessity of working for a living. Christ s second coming does not lessen the responsibility of the present. His teaching in this epistle reaffirms the words of Christ in LUK 19:13: Occupy till I come. Chapter 1 1. Silvanus is Silas (1TH 1:1; 2:1-6 with ACT 15:32, 40; 17:1-4). 2. Exceedingly Of degree: Above measure, extremely. 3. Abound - To be present in overflowing measure; to be plentiful; to prevail widely. 4. Glory v. To exult (leap for joy) with triumph, rejoice proudly. 5. Their growing faith and abounding charity demonstrated itself in their patience and faith in all their persecutions and tribulations. a. Persecution The action of pursuing with enmity and malignity; esp. the infliction of death, torture, or penalties for adherence to a religious belief or an opinion as such, with a view to the repression or extirpation of it. b. Tribulation - A condition of great affliction, oppression, or misery; persecution; distress; vexation; disturbance of life. c. Patience - The suffering or enduring (of pain, trouble, or evil) with calmness and composure; the quality or capacity of so suffering or enduring. The calm abiding of the issue of time, processes, etc.; quiet and self-possessed waiting for something; the quality of expecting long without rage or discontent. i. By definition we would never know patience without suffering. ii. Endure To last; to suffer continuously. iii. The Greek word translated patience is hupomone and means cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy. It is translated enduring, patience, patient continuance (ROM 2:7). iv. Waiting is connected with patience in ROM 8:25; 2TH 3:5. v. LAM 3:26 is a beautiful definition of patience. d. There is a spiritual opposition that we encounter in any tribulation (1TH 3:4-5; 1PE 5:8-10).

2 e. Their faith and patience in all their persecutions and tribulations showed that Satan s design had been overthrown. Hence, the occasion of glorying. f. These Christians thrived spiritually in adversity. 6. Patience and faith are connected in the following passages (1TH 1:3; 1TI 6:11; 2TI 3:10; TIT 2:2; HEB 6:12; JAM 1:3; REV 2:19; 13:10; 14:12). a. If the Christian religion is worth believing, it is worth suffering for. b. If we really believe it, we will patiently endure suffering for it. 7. Their willingness to suffer for what they believed demonstrated the depth of their commitment to it 8. Token Something that serves to indicate a fact, event, object, feeling, etc.; a sign, a symbol. 9. Count To esteem, account, reckon, consider, regard, hold (a thing) to be (so and so). 10. Those who hold their faith while patiently suffering for Christ s sake give the proof that they are children of God (ROM 5:3-5). Hence, they are counted worthy of the kingdom of God. 11. The present division between persecutors and persecuted is a token of the great division of men that will be manifested at the appearing of the Lord Jesus in glory. 12. Glory Resplendent beauty or magnificence. An effulgence of light such as is associated with our conceptions of heaven. 13. Glorify To invest with glory. To extol (to lift up, raise, elevate), honour, magnify with praise. 14. God s end in saving His people is that He may be glorified in them (EPH 1:6, 12, 14; ISA 60:21) 15. When the saints are glorified, the Lord will get all the glory and admiration. 16. God fulfilling all the good pleasure of His goodness is God filling our lives with all the goodness He is well pleased to work in us. a. This is experiencing God s best for our lives. b. This process is described in COL 1:9-12. c. Those who trust in the Lord and walk uprightly experience this goodness (PSA 34:8-9; 84:11-12). d. This is the one God counts worthy of the calling to eternal glory. 17. Where faith is at work there is the power of God, even though other things may not work, as we would wish. 18. This life is our only opportunity to glorify our Saviour on the field of battle in the face of opposition without and within. 2 nd Thessalonians Page 2 of 11

3 Chapter 2 1. At hand - Within easy reach; near; close by (Sometimes preceded by "close," "hard," "near," "nigh," "ready"). 2. When he was with them, Paul had told them the things he is here writing. a. If they now heard that Paul taught something different, then they would be troubled. b. If they believed that the day of Christ was at hand, and it did not soon occur, this would shake their faith in the promise of Christ s coming. 3. Men have many different means whereby they deceive. 4. Scripture indicates that there would be a long time between Christ's first and second comings (MAT 25:14, 19; LUK 19:11-12). a. Paul and Peter did not expect Christ's return immediately in that they expected to die (ACT 20:29; 2PE 1:14-15). b. Not expecting the second coming immediately should not destroy one's anticipation of it. c. The intensity of one's longing disregards time and distance (GEN 29:20). d. The interest men take in a goal more depends on its greatness and probability, than on its nearness. 5. Scripture teaches that there are events that must come before the second coming of Christ. a. Although these events indicate the approach of Christ's coming, they do not indicate the time of His coming (MAT 24:42-44; MAR 13:32-33; 1TH 5:2-4). b. Christ spoke of His return before He died, rose again, and ascended, all of which had to occur before His return (LUK 17:24-25). c. The Holy Spirit had to be poured out before His return (ACT 1:8). d. The gospel had to be preached to all nations before that time (MAT 24:14; ACT 1:8). e. The destruction of Jerusalem would take place before that time (MAT 24:34). f. The events of Revelation that lead up to the final judgment must take place before the second coming. g. Since it is possible to not perceive the fulfillment of a prophecy until after it is fulfilled, we may not recognize the coming to pass of some of the events in Revelation as they transpire. So we should be always ready for Christ's coming. 6. One thing that must occur before the second coming is the great falling away and the revealing of the man of sin. 7. The word translated "falling away" is "apostasia" from which we get our word "apostasy" and it means defection from the truth. 2 nd Thessalonians Page 3 of 11

4 a. Apostasy - Abandonment or renunciation of one's religious faith or moral allegiance. b. Later verses in this chapter contrast the truth of Christianity with the deception of the man of sin. c. Connected with the rise of the man of sin will be a great departure from the truth of Christianity. d. In order for one to defect from the truth, he must have adhered to it at one time. e. Consider our day. i. There has been a widespread departure from the true text of God s word. ii. There is ever less emphasis upon the sinfulness of man and the grace of God. iii. Man s value is being ever more affirmed. iv. The New Age movement, which is revived paganism, has crept into professing Christendom. v. Human psychology is replacing the gospel of Christ as a cure for man s spiritual ills. vi. Church discipline is a relic of the past. 8. The description Paul gives of this man of sin shows him to be the coming antichrist spoken of in 1JO 2: a. The prefix "anti-" means opposite, against, in exchange, instead, representing, rivalling, simulating. b. A christ is coming that will simulate and yet rival the true Christ. c. John also connects the rise of antichrist with apostasy i. John says that the antichrists "went out from us," that is, they fell away. ii. Antichrists come out from among true believers (ACT 20:29-30; 1TI 4:1). iii. Not all of those who are among the saints are of the saints (GAL 2:4). iv. False brethren enter into the church and provoke defections from the truth. v. Had these apostates been of the saints, they would no doubt have continued with the saints. 9. This man of sin is called the son of perdition. a. Perdition The fact or condition of being destroyed or ruined; utter destruction, complete ruin. b. Judas Iscariot is also called the son of perdition (JOH 17:12). i. Like Judas Iscariot, this man of sin is led by the devil (LUK 22:3-6). ii. Like Judas Iscariot, the antichrist conspires against Jesus Christ. 2 nd Thessalonians Page 4 of 11

5 iii. Do not be surprised if he, like Judas Iscariot, appears to be a humanitarian (JOH 12:4-6). 10. The man of sin exalts himself above all that is called God thus claiming total sovereignty. a. He poses as God, yet opposes God. He is antichrist by definition. b. He sits as God in the temple of God. c. Premillenialists erroneously teach that Christ will come to a rebuilt Jewish temple. d. Beware of a future christ on this earth in the temple of God! 11. Satan s program for the man of sin, called the mystery of iniquity, is already at work. a. This agrees with 1JO 2:18, which says: Even now are there many antichrists. b. A mystery is a secret or hidden thing. i. This explains the use of secret orders and conspiracies in Satan s program. ii. Conspire - To combine privily for an evil or unlawful purpose; to agree together to do something criminal, illegal, or reprehensible, (esp. to commit treason or murder, excite sedition etc.); to plot. iii. There is a conspiracy against God's religion (EZE 22:25-31). 1. What was happening in Ezekiel s time continues today (2PE 2:1). 2. This conspiracy involves ministers of religion, political leaders, and the people. 3. This conspiracy begins with the prophets, the teachers of religion. 4. First the souls are devoured, then the treasures. 5. In this conspiracy the distinctions between truth and error, right and wrong are blurred. 6. The false teaching leads to oppression. 7. A conspiracy carries within it the seeds of its own destruction. iv. God has told us Satan s secret! v. This mystery of iniquity rivals the mystery of godliness (1TI 3:16). c. Satan has worked throughout history to bring in his program of worldwide deception under his man of sin. 12. A person is withholding or letting the revelation of the man of sin. When he is taken out of the way, the man of sin will be revealed. a. Let To hinder, prevent, obstruct, stand in the way of (a person, thing, action, etc.). b. The Holy Spirit is the He that shall be taken out of the way. 2 nd Thessalonians Page 5 of 11

6 i. ISA 59:19 When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. ii. The Holy Spirit empowered the Jews under the leadership of Zerubbabel to build the temple of God so that all opposition was leveled before them (ZEC 4:6-9). iii. The Holy Spirit has empowered the worldwide witness of the gospel, which has obstructed Satan s program of worldwide deception (ACT 1:8; 19:20; REV 20:1-3). iv. This restraint will be removed shortly before the end (REV 20:7-9). 13. The man of sin is also called that Wicked. a. The Greek word translated Wicked is anomos and means lawless. It is also translated without law, lawless, and unlawful. b. He acknowledges and submits no law above himself. c. It is prophesied of this one that he will think to change times and laws (DAN 7:25). 14. The antichrist regime will be ushered in by deception accompanied with signs and wonders. a. Therefore, do not be taken in by the miraculous. Examine the doctrine! b. Observe that all deceivableness is at work in that which is not right. c. These who will not be saved temporally from the antichrist are also not eternally saved. d. Those deceived will be those who do not receive the love the truth. i. Receiving certain tenets of the truth will not save you unless you receive the love of the truth. ii. Beware of receiving truth only so far as it serves your self-interest (JOH 5:41-47). iii. Beware of ever holding in contempt any truth as this sets you up to be deceived. 15. By comparison it may be seen that this man of sin is the beast of REV When men do not receive the love of the truth, God sends them strong delusion. a. Delusion 1. The action of befooling, mocking, or cheating a person in his expectations; the fact of being so cheated or mocked. 2. The action of befooling with false impressions or beliefs; the fact or condition of being cheated and led to believe what is false. b. This mechanism is described in PSA 81:11-12; PRO 1: c. If one wants to believe a lie, God will accommodate him by giving him up to it. 2 nd Thessalonians Page 6 of 11

7 17. Behind their unbelief is a pleasure in unrighteousness. People enjoy the lie and what it allows them. 18. Is it not obvious from this that truth is our most important defense against any antichrist present or future? 19. God has chosen His beloved to two things: a. Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit. i. Sanctify To make holy or treat as holy. ii. In regeneration the Holy Spirit cleanses and renews the inward man thus making him holy (JOH 3:3-7; TIT 3:4-5; EPH 5:25-26; 4:24). iii. In the resurrection at the last day the Holy Spirit will also make the body holy (ROM 8:11; 1TH 5:23). iv. This answers God s purpose in electing His people and sending His Son to save them (EPH 1:4; MAT 1:21). b. Belief of the truth (ISA 43:10; TIT 1:1). i. This is placed second since faith is the effect of salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit (1JO 5:1). ii. Without this salvation, the gospel that calls men to the belief of the truth is foolishness (1CO 1:18; 2:14). 20. In believing the truth there is an obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. a. The true believer in the gospel will be baptized and added to the church in which one finds the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints (EPH 1:18). b. Believers rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1PE 1:8). 21. In view of the danger of apostasy, Paul exhorts these believers to stand fast and hold the traditions, which they had been taught. a. Fast adv. In a fast (firm) manner, so as not to be moved or shaken; lit. and fig.; firmly, fixedly. Often with stand. b. This is a call to stedfastness (1CO 15:58; COL 2:5-7). i. stedfast - Fixed or secure in position. Of a person, esp. a soldier in battle: Maintaining his ground. Of persons: Unshaken, immovable in faith, resolution, friendship, etc. Also said of belief, purpose, or affection. ii. Ruth is an example of stedfastness (RUT 1:14-18). iii. This resists the devil (1PE 5:8-9). c. Tradition ad. L. traditio, onem delivery, surrender, handing down, a saying handed down, instruction or doctrine delivered. d. HEB 10:23-25 connects holding fast the profession of our faith with church fellowship and attendance and that in view of the day approaching. 2 nd Thessalonians Page 7 of 11

8 e. Thus, it follows that continuing in the faith we will continue with a Bible believing church, which connects with what is taught in 1JO 2: Console - To comfort in mental distress or depression; to alleviate the sorrow of (any one); to free from the sense of misery. 23. Ours is a good hope, which contrasts with the expectation of the wicked (JOB 8:13; 27:8; PRO 11:7; MAT 7:21-23). 24. Comfort To strengthen (morally or spiritually); to encourage, hearten, inspirit, incite. 25. God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord administer this comfort through the Holy Spirit (JOH 14:15-23). 26. Stablish - To place or set (a material thing) firmly in position; to station (a person) in a place (PSA 93:1). To render stable in faith, virtue, etc. 27. We should be firmly fixed in the practice of saying and doing everything that is good. 28. Comfort and establishment are joined together. a. The more strengthened and encouraged we are the more established we are (ROM 1:11-12). b. If we are wavering in our minds we will be deficient in comfort (JAM 1:5-8). c. What is it that lies at the bottom of all our uneasiness, but our unsteadiness in religion? Matthew Henry Chapter 3 1. We are to pray for the swift, unhindered going forth of the word of the Lord. a. Course The action of running or moving onward. Faculty or opportunity of running, moving, flowing, passing current, etc. b. The Greek word translated free course is trecho and means to run or walk hastily (lit. or fig.). Everywhere else it occurs it is translated run. 2. Consider what Paul said of the Thessalonian Church in order to know how the word of the Lord was glorified with them (1TH 1:3-10; 2:1, 13-14; 2TH 1:3-4). 3. Men without faith are wicked and cannot be reasoned with, as Paul had done with the Thessalonian converts (ACT 17:1-3). 4. God will stablish those who stand fast, as Paul admonished them. a. Note the order: i. Paul commands them to stand fast, which is to be stablished. ii. Paul prays that God will stablish them. iii. God is faithful to stablish them. 2 nd Thessalonians Page 8 of 11

9 b. If we would have God stablish us, we must be ourselves firmly committed (JAM 1:6-7). 5. Loving God and waiting for Christ sum up the Christian life (1TH 1:9-10). a. Considering how prone our hearts are to go astray in loving other things, we need God to direct our hearts into His love (PSA 119:10, 35-37). b. Not patiently waiting for Christ leads to failure in serving God (MAT 24:44-51). 6. Some in this church were walking disorderly. a. Disorderly Not according to order or rule; in a lawless or unruly way. b. The Greek word translated disorderly is ataktōs and derives from the word ataktŏs, which is rendered unruly in 1TH 5:14. c. The particular example of disorderliness was not working at all. d. Even an exemplary church such as Thessalonica was has its problem members. 7. Paul handed down the tradition of working for one s bread both by example and by commandment. 8. Labour Exertion of the faculties of the body or mind, esp. when painful or compulsory; bodily or mental toil. 9. Travail Bodily or mental labour or toil, especially of a painful or oppressive nature; exertion; trouble; hardship; suffering. 10. Chargeable Burdensome (as a tax or payment); costly, expensive. Cp. 1TH 2: The example is to work hard night and day. We are not put here to play! Cp. PRO 21: Busybody - An officious or meddlesome person; one who is improperly busy in other people's affairs. a. Officious - 1. Doing or ready to do kind offices; eager to serve or please; attentive, obliging, kind. 3. Unduly forward in proffering services or taking business upon oneself; doing, or prone to do, more than is asked or required; interfering with what is not one's concern; meddlesome. b. Meddlesome - Given to meddling or interfering. c. Meddle - To mix, mingle; to combine, blend, intersperse; To concern or busy oneself. Now always expressive of disapprobation, to concern oneself or take part interferingly. 13. We are to work with quietness. We cannot get a job done if we are talking all the time. 14. We are not to become tired, discontented, depressed, and bored with working. 2 nd Thessalonians Page 9 of 11

10 a. Weary - 1. Having the feeling of loss of strength, languor, and need for rest, produced by continued exertion (physical or mental), endurance of severe pain, or wakefulness; tired, fatigued. 2. Discontented at the continuance or continued recurrence of something, and desiring its cessation; having one's patience, tolerance, zeal, or energy exhausted; 'sick and tired' of something. 3. Depressed and dispirited through trouble, anxiety, disappointment, etc.; sick at heart. b. Boredom - The state of being wearied. 15. We must have no company with one from whom we have withdrawn. a. Company - Companionship, fellowship, society. i. Companion - One who associates with or accompanies another; a mate; a fellow. ii. Fellowship - Partnership; membership of a society; participation, sharing (in an action, condition, etc.); something in common, community of interest, sentiment, nature, etc. iii. Society - Association with one's fellow men, esp., in a friendly or intimate manner; companionship or fellowship. b. He is no longer considered part of the church fellowship. c. He has no voice in church matters and no place at the fellowship of the Lord's table (1CO 10:16-21). d. The reason for not keeping company is to induce shame. Our behaviour toward an excluded member should not make them feel all right about what they have done! 16. Admonish - To put (a person) in mind of duties; to counsel against wrong practices; to give authoritative or warning advice; to exhort, to warn. 17. This benediction of peace is given in the context of a discussion of hard work and church discipline, without which, there can be no true peace. 18. Paul wishes God to bestow peace upon them be all means. a. By all means In every possible way. b. Following are means or ways whereby the Lord bestows peace. i. Faith (ROM 15:13). ii. Prayer (PHI 4:6-7). iii. Obedience (PRO 3:1-2). iv. Living in peace (2CO 11:13). c. This is a suitable blessing to a persecuted and afflicted church (JOB 34:29). d. When a church has the Lord, His law, and a teacher, then they have the resources for peace (2CH 15:1-7). 19. The salutation in his own hand was his token in every one of his epistles. 2 nd Thessalonians Page 10 of 11

11 a. This would distinguish this genuine epistle from the counterfeits. b. Salute To accost or address with words expressive of good wishes, respect, or homage, esp. with some customary formula of that import; to greet in words. c. Paul s customary formula with which he expressed his good wishes was this benediction of grace, which is found at the conclusion of all his epistles. 2 nd Thessalonians Page 11 of 11