2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2 is the second chapter of the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle. Traditionally, it is believed to be written for the church in Thessalonica by Apostle Paul, likely in Corinth shortly after the first epistle (which was written in about 50-51 CE[1]),[2] although there were debatable charges that it is the work of a secondary imitator after Paul's death (in 70s to 100 CE).[3] This chapter contains the body of the letters, dealing with 'the End and the Man of Lawlessness' and encouragement to persevere.[4]

2 Thessalonians 2
Fragments showing First Epistle to the Thessalonians 5:8–10 on Papyrus 30, from the third century.
BookSecond Epistle to the Thessalonians
CategoryPauline epistles
Christian Bible partNew Testament
Order in the Christian part14

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 17 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

The End and the Man of Lawlessnes (2:1—12)

Verses 1–2
1Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.[5]
  • "Not to be soon shaken in mind" (KJV: "That ye be not soon shaken in mind"; Vulgate Latin version: "from your mind or sense"; the Arabic version: "from the solidity of sense"[6]): , so They should not become like 'a wave of the sea, tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine', or shifted away from what they had embraced as articles of faith into their minds and become their sense and judgment, as well as the hope or fundamental article of the Gospel; especially about Christ's second coming, that they should not be easily swayed away from it (Galatians 1:6).[6]
  • "Troubled": or thrown into surprise and consternation, although the second coming of Christ will not be as terrible to the believers as to sinners, yet it has the sense of awfulness, solemness, and full of concern, so if not told beforehand it might be shocking.[6]
  • "By spirit": by prophetic pretensions to a revelation from the Spirit, giving a fix time of Christ's coming, which should not be listened nor paid attention to, because this second coming will be 'as a thief in the night'.[6]
  • "By word": by arguments or reason using probability or enticing words of wisdom using astronomical or arithmetical calculations, or by pretensions as if a word or tradition of Christ or his apostles was received "viva voce" (by word of mouth) from any of them.[6]
  • "By letter, as if from us": The forging of apostles' letter and counterfeiting their writings began very early, as spurious epistles of the Apostle Paul were spread out, which obliged him to take a method to ensure his genuine letters (2 Thessalonians 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:18).[6] Also, his former epistle contains some things concerning Christ's coming, which could be either misrepresented, or not understood, that it may be interpreted as if the coming would happen while he and others were still alive and on the spot.[6] Therefore, Paul would not want them to pay attention to any enthusiastic spirits, or to any plausible reasoning of men, or oral traditions or to any epistles in his name, or in the name of any of the apostles.[6]
  • "As though the day of Christ had come": "had come" (NKJV) or "is at hand" (KJV) or "is at this instant just now coming on", as if it would be within a certain year, in a certain month, and on a certain day.[6] The Alexandrian version, and some others, including the Vulgate Latin version, read, "the day of the Lord"; the Syriac and Ethiopian versions read, "the day of our Lord".[6] Paul would not want them to be tempted to disbelieve or be indifferent about the second coming, because if it did not come true, the people might be persuaded to conclude that there was nothing true in the Christian doctrine.[6] Moreover, the notion of a speedy coming of Christ may cause the disorderly and idle persons among them to be in laziness and negligence.[6] Therefore, in this and the next verse, Paul dissuades them from absorbing such a tenet.[6] Even though Christ's coming is sometimes said to be drawing nigh, or to be quickly, yet not at that instant, because such expressions are used with respect to God, for whom 1000 years are as 1 day, and 1 day as 1000 years; and because the times of Gospel or the Messiah, are the last days until the second coming of Christ, mainly used to keep up the faith and expectation of the saints.[6]

Encouragement to Persevere (2:13–17)

This second thanksgiving is for the establishment of the church by God as a privileged group in the world, to obtain the exalted honor (Greek: doxa) of Jesus Christ.[7]

See also

References
  1. Esler 2007a, p. 1199.
  2. Best, E. (1972), A Commentary on the First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians, Black's New Testament Commentaries (London: Adam £ Charles Black). p. 59; apud Esler 2007, p. 1213. Quote: 'to meet a new situation in respect of eschatology and a deteriorating situation in respect of idleness', although 'we do not know from where Paul received his information'.
  3. Esler 2007b, pp. 1213–1214.
  4. Esler 2007b, pp. 1213, 1216–1217.
  5. 2 Thessalonians 2:1–2 NKJV
  6. John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible – 2 Thessalonians 2:2
  7. Esler 2007b, p. 1217.

Sources
  • Esler, Philip F. (2007a). "71. 1 Thessalonians". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.). The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 1199. ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  • Esler, Philip F. (2007b). "72. 2 Thessalonians". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.). The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 1213–1220. ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019.


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