• We left off last week with Paul talking about the Day of the Lord in the body of his letter found in Chapter 2.
• Chapter 3:1-15 is considered part of the body of the letter as well.

 
2 THESSALONIANS 3
PRAY FOR US

• This 1st paragraph almost makes it seem like Paul got interrupted in the writing of this letter.
• He put down his pen and then came back to the letter.
• He got a running start for the 2nd issue he needed to deal with… rebellious idlers.

1 In addition, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.
 
WARNING AGAINST IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR

• 1) Paul warned the church in Thessalonica when he was present and the church was starting.
• This was 51 AD on Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey (his current journey) when he was in Thessalonica for at least 3 weeks.
• In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul says, “For when we were with you, we also were repeatedly commanding this to you: ‘If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.’
• So the first warning goes all the [way back] to the foundation of the church.[1]
• 2) Paul warned them again in his 1st letter
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 - to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.[2]
• 3) Now Paul warns the Church for the 3rd time in this 2nd letter.

6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle and does not live according to the tradition received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you; 8 we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. 10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” 11 For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies. 12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves. 13 But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good.
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet don’t consider him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

• There are a group of people in the Thessalonian church that Paul uses the word atakt-, which is the Greek word, to describe.
• He uses that Greek root three times.
• He uses it in verse 6 and verse 7 and 11.

 
Primary Meaning

• And the challenge is there are two different meanings to that particular Greek root word.
• The primary meaning of that word has to do with people who are disorderly or unruly.
• So it refers to—in the context of military officers—to soldiers who do not obey their commands, to officers who neglect their duties, or [to] an army that’s in disarray.
• And in a nonmilitary context, the word is used to describe people who don’t follow the rules of proper conduct in the ancient gymnasium or sons who don’t help out their parents financially or apprentices who miss work or fail to live up to the requirements of their contract.
• So when you look at all the different contexts in which this word is often used, you end up with the meaning of, again, disorderly or unruly or insubordinate.

 
Secondary Meaning

• But there is a secondary meaning to this Greek root, a more narrow meaning where it talks about those who are disorderly specifically with regard to work.
• And a good couple of English words that nicely capture that are those who are “idle,” those who are “lazy.”
• And that translation is supported by the context of our paragraph.
• For instance, this would explain why Paul appeals to his example of one of self-sufficient work (verses 7–9).
• It would also explain why Paul appeals to his teaching about self-sufficient work (verse 10).

 
Combined Meaning

• A combined meaning of these two ideas together, is the translation “rebellious idlers.”
• On the one hand, some in the church were clearly not working, and [were] taking advantage of the love and generosity of fellow members—they were idle.
• On the other hand, this is the third time that Paul has addressed the matter; in other words, the idlers have refused to obey Paul on this matter [or] his appointed church leaders, and so they are also rebellious.
• ‘rebellious idlers’—those who were not merely lazy but who compounded their sin by rebelliously refusing to obey the command of both their congregational leaders and even Paul himself.”

 
1. The first paragraph is found in verse 6, and that is the opening command, “avoid the idlers.”
2. The second paragraph is verses 7–9, and that’s the example of Paul, especially his example of self-sufficient work.
3. The third paragraph is verse 10, and that’s the teaching of Paul, again, on the importance of self-sufficient work.
4. The fourth paragraph is verses 11–12, and that’s applying Paul’s example in teaching to the Thessalonian situation.
5. And then the fifth and final paragraph is verses 13–15, and that can be titled “Closing Commands,” which echo the opening command, and that is, again, “avoid the idlers.”[3]
 
Discipline

• The Thessalonians lived in a strongly communal culture and also a place where honor and shame were powerful forces controlling social behavior.
• So shunning, or ostracizing, a fellow church member in that kind of social context would have actually been very effective.[4]
• The context of discipline:
• In Japan, if you dishonored your family it was acceptable to commit suicide.
• When I was a kid in school… I got swats.
• The context of discipline in our American society changes with the culture.
• How would the Church deal with “rebellious idlers” today?
• How would you deal with “rebellious idlers” today?
• What is the purpose of church discipline?
• To separate bad leaven from good leaven.
• Leaven spreads.

 

• Imitate Paul
• He holds up God; he holds up Christ; he holds up the churches of Judaea; and he holds up his coworkers Timothy, Epaphroditus, and Titus.
• Seneca was a very famous Roman philosopher and statesman, and he said this: He said, “A model of conduct will help you more than the written word. You must go to the scene of action, first, because men put more faith in their eyes than in their ears, and second, because the way is long if one follows precepts, but short and helpful if one follows examples.”
• And other ancient writers say similar things. So when we hear Paul’s language of imitation, we must realize that he’s actually following a rather common practice or idea of his day.
• Paul—and there is good evidence of this—did not belong, originally, to the lower class; he comes from a powerful, rich, Jewish family.
• We can see that in his ability to be trained at the feet of Gamaliel—the Harvard School of Judaism.
• We can see it in the fact that he has Roman citizenship.
• Yet Paul, even though he comes from that upper class background, deliberately works. Why? Because he wants to put himself at the social level of most of his converts in order to enhance the gospel.
• That’s part of his strategy in 1 Cor 9: to “become all things to all people.”

 

• Now, be careful to hear exactly what Paul says in his teaching that he quotes.
• He doesn’t say “if anyone does not work.” No, he says “if anyone is not willing to work.”
• I hope you hear the difference. Paul is not talking about church members who [are unemployed] due to illness or injury or old age.
• No, he’s talking about those who are capable of working, but they nevertheless rebelliously refuse to do so.
• So, for those who are unable to work, actually, Paul is quite gracious.
• He says, in verse 13—we’ll get there in just a little bit—that the church must not be discouraged in doing good, so they should keep on showing love to members of their church who are struggling and unable to work.
• They want to, but for various reasons they are not able to.

 

• Paul begins with an “if” clause; the technical word is a conditional clause.
• Paul is assuming the truth of what he is “ifing.”
• In another words, Paul is actually assuming that there will in fact be some in the church who do not obey his commands in this letter.
• And those whom he’s assuming are not going to listen to him are the rebellious idlers.[5]

 
FINAL GREETINGS
16 May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 17 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand, which is an authenticating mark in every letter; this is how I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.[6]

• Paul took the letter from his secretary and wrote the personal ending (greeting) with his own hand.
• “Auto-graphed”
• Paul is giving his authority to this written letter.
• Emphasis on Jesus.
• Emphasis on peace.
• May His peace be your peace.
• Grace in salvation and grace in God’s ability to do your life.

 
I’m sure, out of a common conviction that the same Holy Spirit that inspired Paul to write to the Thessalonians so many years ago has indeed been at work in our hearts and lives as we’ve interpreted those letters [and] as the message of the gospel has become [more clearly] known to us.[7]
​
[1] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (1 Th 4:11–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[4] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[5] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Th 3:1–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

• We left off last week with Paul finishing the “thanksgiving” section of his 2nd letter in Chapter 1.
• You have to understand the context of the letter.

2 Thessalonians 1
5 It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, 6 since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you 7 and to give relief (rest) to you who are afflicted, along with us.

• There is major religious persecution happening to the very young Church in Thessalonica.
• It causes a lot of questions about faith, teachings and leadership.
• Paul talking about God’s judgment and wrath doesn’t seem like much comfort in the “thanksgiving” paragraph.
• But there is one statement that brings comfort: “righteous/just judgment of God”
• Persecution is relative… so is the understanding of “vindication”.
• Paul is saying, “relax”… rest in Jesus.

11 In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling, and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good and your work produced by faith, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.[1]

• Paul is taking words of comfort from Isaiah 66:
• 5 You who tremble at his word,

hear the word of the Lord:
“Your brothers who hate and exclude you
for my name’s sake have said,
‘Let the Lord be glorified
so that we can see your joy!’
But they will be put to shame.”[2]
 
THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS
2 THESSALONIANS 2

• William Neil said this: This passage is “probably the most obscure and difficult passage in the whole of the Pauline correspondence.”
• Michael Holmes more recently said that this passage is “by common consent one of the most obscure in the Pauline corpus.”
• Paul’s purpose in this passage is to provide his readers not with a prediction of what will happen in terms of a blueprint for the future but, instead, comfort, meeting their very real pastoral need.[3]
• This next passage is just a glimpse of what Paul had taught the Church at Thessalonica, which we don’t have the privilege of knowing all that was taught.
• This apocalyptic paragraph is not conclusive.
• We would look to Revelation as the bigger picture of end times.
• This paragraph just brings confusion to us.
• Things which are mentioned just once or twice in the Scripture, we have a tendency to whisper.
• Things that are constantly repeated we have a tendency to shout… identity in Jesus.

Crisis (serious problem)
1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a 1) prophecy or by a 2) message or by a 3) letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come.

• None of the things that Paul had said were supposed to happen when Jesus comes again had happened.
• They should have said to themselves, “Where are the dead who have been resurrected? [1 Thess 4:13, 16]
• Where is the cry of command, the voice of the archangel, or the trumpet call of God? [1 Thess 4:16]
• Where is the sudden destruction that was supposed to come upon the pagan neighbors [1 Thess 5:3]?”
• Don’t underestimate how irrational fear is and how contagious fear is.
• We can see that easily in the classic fable of “Chicken Little.” I hope you know the story.
• An acorn falls on Henny Penny’s head, and she runs around saying, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling.”
• So yes, fear is irrational, but it’s also contagious.
• “Thus, even though the claim ‘the day of the Lord has come’ may have seemed obviously false, it nevertheless has caused the young church of Thessalonica to be greatly alarmed, fearful of whether they will avoid the wrath connected with that day of judgment and instead experience salvation.”[4]
• What caused the confusion?
• Compare verse 2 with verse 15
• 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote.
• Prophecy/utterance was omitted.
• At the very end of the first letter (5:21–22) he talks about treating the Spirit and spiritual utterances.
• There he seems to be aware of a danger threatening the church—about them being misled by a false prophecy.
• In fact, he exhorts them in the first letter not to naively accept every spiritual utterance but [instead]—I’m quoting now from 5:21 and 22 of the first letter—he says [they] have to “test all things,” “hold fast to the good,” [and] “hold yourselves away from every kind of evil prophecy.”[5]

 
Correction
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God. (speaking of future)
5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? 6 And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, (speaking of present) 8 and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie, 10 and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. (speaking of future) 11 For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, 12 so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness. (speaking of present)

• Chapter breaks weren’t added until the twelfth century ad, and verse divisions weren’t added until the sixteenth century ad, so we shouldn’t be influenced unduly by those editorial features.[6]
• •  The apostasy in verse 3--is this a political or religious apostasy? And does it involve Christians or non-Christians?
• •  The man of lawlessness in verses 3–4 and again in 8–9—who is this evil figure who is not Satan himself but, in my alternate title, “Satan’s superman”?
• •  The temple of God in verse 4—does this refer to the temple in Jerusalem or the church? And if it does refer to the temple in Jerusalem, should we take this reference literally or metaphorically?
• •  The restraining thing in verse 6 and the restraining person in verse 7—to what and to whom does this refer? And which of the (are you ready?) seven or more proposed answers is the most likely one?
• •  There are two comings [or] “parousias” in verse 8. One is the coming of Jesus that is mentioned many times in the New Testament, but the other is the coming of the man of lawlessness. And how does the one coming of Satan’s superman relate to the coming of Jesus Christ?
• •  The powerful delusion of verse 11 that God sends—is this the cause of those who have rejected the truth of the gospel, or is it the consequence of those who have rejected the gospel?
• But this is the important point: Don’t let the exegetical difficulties of this second paragraph blind you to the fact that Paul’s primary point is actually very, very clear.
• The claim that the Day of the Lord has already come is obviously false.
• This was written in 52 AD approximately.
• 18 years before 70 AD and definitely before our current time!
• Why? Because there are several important events that have to happen first.
• Therefore, there’s no reason for the Thessalonians to panic about such a false and obviously wrong prophecy.[7]

 
STAND FIRM
Comfort
13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen (elected) you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Paul never explains the meaning of “chosen/election”.
• This is why we have division among the saints.
• 1) Did God choose some to be saved and others to be condemned to hell?
• 2) Did God choose the believers because they chose Him out of their free will and He knew their choice in His foreknowledge?
• We can argue that all day… but one just seems like an evil God.
• Paul wants them to think of themselves as the first crop of, well, Christians; the first crop of Jesus followers.
• And they’re only the first. There’s a larger harvest that is surely going to come; they are only firstfruits for salvation.[8]

Command
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote.

• To say it differently, the opening problem [is that] the church was ready for the return of the Lord but not steady for that day.
• And what did they do? They panicked over a false prophetic claim that the Day of the Lord had come.
• So now the solution, here in paragraph four, is they have to stand firm and hold fast[9]

Closing Prayer
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.[10]

• in this paragraph, he creates a sharp contrast, a sharp contrast between the doom facing unbelievers and what the Jesus followers will experience.
• And Paul ends the passage with this very positive note that God has chosen them; God has elected them.
• God has ensured that the Day of the Lord will be, for them, not a day of judgment but will be a day of salvation.
• So, whenever Paul talks about the end times, it’s never to predict but always to pastor, to provide his readers with comfort.
• And what that means is important for Christian pastors and teachers and believers today because if any of us would use now Paul’s end-time passages to predict and not to pastor, [turning] the apostle’s words into some kind of blueprint for predicting the future, that kind of person is guilty of misusing and even abusing the Word of God and preventing others from hearing the wonderful comfort that God brings to us about things yet to come.[11]

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Th 1:5-7, 11–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Is 66:5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[4] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[5] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[6] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[7] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[8] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[9] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Th 2:1–17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

• We left off last week with Paul sending his 1st letter to the Church at Thessalonica… signed, sealed & delivered in 51 AD.
• Paul is in Corinth and we pick back up at Acts 18:1-3 (review from 05/31)

Acts 18
1 After this, he left Athens and went to Corinth,

• Corinth was approximately fifty miles from Athens and almost due west. (Show map)
• Corinth, with its 200,000 people, would not be the easiest city in which to start a church, and yet that’s where Paul went after leaving Athens.
• Corinth’s reputation for wickedness was known all over the Roman Empire. (Rom. 1:18–32 was written in Corinth!)
• Thanks to its location, the city was a center for both trade and travel. Money and vice, along with strange philosophies and new religions, came to Corinth and found a home there.
• Corinth was one of the two most important cities Paul visited. The other was Ephesus.

2 where he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them, 3 and since they were of the same occupation, tentmakers by trade, he stayed with them and worked.

• Jewish rabbis did not accept money from their students but earned their way by practicing a trade.
• Priscilla and Aquila are Jews who have been expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius.
• They, like Paul, are tentmakers. Because the Isthmian games are being held in Corinth at this time, there is a great need for temporary shelter. Thus the three tentmakers get plenty of business.
• Every pastor and missionary thanks God for people like Aquila and Priscilla, people with hands, hearts, and homes dedicated to the work of the Lord.
• Paul lived and worked with Aquila and Priscilla, but on the Sabbath days witnessed boldly in the synagogue.

4 He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.

• After all, that was why he had come to Corinth. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia (Acts 17:14–15; 18:5), they brought financial aid (2 Cor. 11:9), and this enabled Paul to devote his full time to the preaching of the Gospel.[1]

5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself to preaching the word and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. 6 When they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

• “Blaspheme” - to speak against someone in such a way as to harm or injure his or her reputation (occurring in relation to persons as well as to divine beings)[2]
• Ezekiel 3:18-19 - 18 If I say to the wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him—you don’t speak out to warn him about his wicked way in order to save his life—that wicked person will die for his iniquity. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. 19 But if you warn a wicked person and he does not turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself.[3]
• Whenever God is blessing a ministry, you can expect increased opposition as well as increased opportunities.[4]

7 So he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.

• A Roman citizen named Gaius Titius Justus is brought to Christ as well.
• Gaius is a well-to-do God-fearer with a large home that is located next door to the synagogue.
• The home holds about 50-60 people. Gaius opens up his home for Paul to minister in and for the believers to gather.
• Next door to the synagogue is indication they he had not completely given up on the Jews.

8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, along with his whole household. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.

• Crispus (the synagogue ruler) and his household are also converted and baptized along with some others. (Paul only baptizes Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas. They, along with Priscilla and Aquila, baptize the other converts.)
• As is his custom when he plants a church, Paul grounds the Corinthians on nothing but Christ and His cross.
• He declares to them that they are called into the fellowship of God’s Son, and he brings them into that very experience.
• He also tells them stories of the perseverance of other churches, including the church in Thessalonica.
• The Body of Jesus Christ is now present in Corinth, expressing God’s nature in the city.
• While a number of the believers are of high standing, most are uneducated and poor. (This is true for all the churches that Paul plants.)

9 The Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.”

• It is just like our Lord to speak to us when we need Him the most.
• His tender “Fear not!” can calm the storm in our hearts regardless of the circumstances around us.
• This is the way He assured Abraham (Gen. 15:1), Isaac (Gen. 26:24), and Jacob (Gen. 46:3), as well as Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20:15–17), Daniel (Dan. 10:12, 19), Mary (Luke 1:30), and Peter (Luke 5:10).
• The next time you feel alone and defeated, meditate on Hebrews 13:5 and Isaiah 41:10 and 43:1–7, and claim by faith the presence of the Lord. He is with you![5]
• Isaiah 43:1-7 - 1 Now this is what the Lord says--

the one who created you, Jacob,
and the one who formed you, Israel--
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are mine.

• When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you
and the rivers will not overwhelm you,
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be scorched
and the flame will not burn you.

• For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior.
I have given Egypt as a ransom for you,
Cush and Seba in your place.

• Because you are precious in my sight

and honored, and I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you
and nations instead of your life.

• Do not fear, for I am with you;

I will bring your descendants from the east,
and gather you from the west.

• I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’

and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’
Bring my sons from far away,
and my daughters from the ends of the earth--

• everyone who bears my name

and is created for my glory.
I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.”[6]
11 He stayed there a year and a half, teaching the word of God among them. [7]

• As a token of thanksgiving to God for His promise of protection, Paul lets his hair grow long as part of a voluntary Nazarite vow.
• Spring 52
• While Paul is laboring in Corinth, he gets word that the Thessalonican believers misunderstood what he wrote about the Lord’s second coming in his first letter.
• The church mistakenly believes that the Day of the Lord’s wrath is at hand.
• As a result, many are disturbed in spirit.
• Some quit their jobs in anticipation of the Lord’s coming and are living off the other believers who work for a living.
• Having too much time on their hands, these individuals are acting as “busybodies” in the lives of others.
• It travels back to Paul via their Neighborhood Facebook group.

 
PAUL WRITES 2 THESSALONIANS
Year: A.D. 52
From: Corinth
To: The church in Thessalonica (which is about 10 months old)
Provocation: Paul comforts the church in its affliction and assures the believers that God will bring vengeance on those who do the afflicting.

• He corrects their misunderstanding about the Day of the Lord and Christ’s return, and clarifies what he taught concerning it when he was first with them.
• He ends the letter by correcting those brothers who have quit their jobs and instructs the church to not associate with them as long as they are living undisciplined lives.
• Paul ends by encouraging the whole church to not become weary in well-doing.
• 2 Thessalonians is the Cliff Notes of 1 Thessalonians:
• 4 themes: 1) Paul’s integrity 2) Persecution 3) Proper moral conduct 4) Coming of the Lord

 
2 THESSALONIANS
GREETING
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy:

• Paul says who the letter is from first to show authority.
• If it was to royalty/king then their name would most likely be mentioned first.

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• “Our” is inclusive of Paul’s audience saying they believe in the same God.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Grace first, peace second
• Peace – “Shalom”

 
THANKSGIVING
3 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, since your faith is flourishing and the love each one of you has for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches—about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring.

• That was the commendation.

5 It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, 6 since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, 8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength 10 on that day when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed.

• That was the comfort… even though it covers judgment

11 In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling, and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good and your work produced by faith, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.[8]

• That was the challenge… keep walking in the Spirit.
• Paul expresses his pastoral role to the Church.
• “Brothers and sisters”
• Encouraging them in their faith.
• Discipling them in their faith. Explaining things.
• We pray for you.
• Paul exhorts the Church
• Your faith is flourishing and you are encouraging one another.
• To do good works that are produced by faith.
• Paul mentions this as an encouragement but also a desire for them to continue.
• Affirming their positive strengths.
• Paul foreshadows his letter

V 5-10 – deal with the judgment of God

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 475). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 433). New York: United Bible Societies.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Eze 3:18–19). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 475). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 476). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Is 43:1–7). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Ac 18:1–11). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Th). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.