2 Thessalonians

Overview

Who

Written by Paul, writing with Silvanus (Silas) and Timotheus (Timothy) (1:1). Paul signs the letter in his own hand as the mark of his letters (3:17).

Written to "The church of the Thessalonians" (1:1), believers in Thessalonica whom Paul had taught in person (2:5, 3:10). Acts 17:1-9 tells how the church began: some Jews and "of the devout Greeks a great multitude" believed, and opponents stirred up the city against Paul and Silas.

When

Traditional view: About AD 50-51, from Corinth, a few months after 1 Thessalonians, while Silas and Timothy were with Paul there (Acts 18:1-11).

Scholarly view: Some scholars hold that a follower wrote it in Paul's name later in the first century, pointing to differences from 1 Thessalonians about the Lord's coming. Many others accept that Paul wrote it soon after 1 Thessalonians.

Where

Written to Thessalonica, a city of Macedonia in northern Greece (Acts 17:1), where Paul had founded the church on his second missionary journey.

Written from The letter does not say. The traditional view is Corinth, where Silas and Timothy rejoined Paul (Acts 18:5), since both names appear in the greeting (1:1).

Why

To encourage believers suffering persecution with the promise of God's righteous judgment when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven (1:4-10); to correct the claim that "the day of Christ is at hand," which had shaken them (2:1-12); and to command idle members to work quietly and earn their own bread (3:6-12).

The church was enduring "persecutions and tribulations" (1:4). Someone was teaching that the day of the Lord had already come, perhaps by a spirit, a word, or a letter falsely claiming to be from Paul (2:2). Some members had stopped working and become busybodies (3:11). Paul had already taught them about these things when he was with them (2:5, 3:10).

Outline

1. 1:1-2 Greeting
2. 1:3-12 Thanks for their faith, and God's righteous judgment
3. 2:1-12 The day of Christ, the falling away, and the man of sin
4. 2:13-17 Chosen to salvation: stand fast
5. 3:1-5 Pray for us; the Lord is faithful
6. 3:6-15 Warning against idleness
7. 3:16-18 Closing blessing and Paul's signature

Key themes

• God is just: he will repay those who trouble his people and give rest to the afflicted when the Lord Jesus is revealed (1:6-7).
• The day of Christ has not yet come; a falling away and the revealing of the man of sin come first (2:2-3).
• God chose believers to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2:13).
• Hold fast the teaching received from the apostles, by word or letter (2:15, 3:6).
• Believers are to work quietly and eat their own bread, following Paul's example (3:7-12).

From the letter's own text, compared with Acts 17-18 and 1 Thessalonians; dating views summarized from standard introductions.