2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

 

WHEN PERSECUTION INTENSIFIES​

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You received Paul's first letter. You were encouraged. You understood that Jesus is coming back. You learned that believers who've died will rise first. You know you'll be with the Lord for ever.

 

But now you have new problems. Bigger problems.

 

The persecution has intensified. You're suffering more than before. Some believers are saying the day of the Lord has already come. Others have stopped working, claiming Jesus will return any day so why bother? False teachers are spreading confusion. Someone even forged a letter claiming to be from Paul.

 

You're confused. Suffering. Wondering if you missed something. Wondering when this will end.

 

Paul writes again. Just months after his first letter. To clarify. To encourage. To correct.

 

Second Thessalonians is shorter, more urgent, more direct. Paul addresses three main issues: encouragement in persecution, clarification about the day of the Lord, and correction of those who've stopped working.

 

This letter reminds you that God is just, that Jesus will return in judgment, that certain events must happen first, and that you're called to stand firm and keep working whilst you wait.

 

If you're suffering persecution, if you're confused about end times teaching, if you're wondering when Jesus will return, read 2 Thessalonians. Paul will encourage you, clarify the confusion, and challenge you to stand firm.

 

A note before we begin:

Second Thessalonians is only three chapters, but it's packed with important teaching about suffering, the day of the Lord, and faithful living. This summary covers the major themes, but Paul's urgent tone and detailed teaching deserve your full attention. After this overview, open your Bible and read all three chapters of 2 Thessalonians yourself. Let Paul's words strengthen you to stand firm.

 

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Paul, Silas and Timothy write to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, amongst God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you're enduring.

 

Paul thanks God for them. Their faith is growing. Their love is increasing. Paul boasts about their perseverance and faith in persecution and trials.

 

All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you'll be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you're suffering. God is just: He'll pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels. He'll punish those who don't know God and don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They'll be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might on the day He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marvelled at amongst all those who've believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

 

Their suffering is evidence that God's judgment is right. They'll be counted worthy of God's kingdom. God is just. He'll pay back those who trouble them. He'll give relief to those who are troubled. When Jesus is revealed from heaven, He'll punish those who don't know God and don't obey the gospel. They'll face everlasting destruction, shut out from God's presence. But Jesus will be glorified in His people, marvelled at amongst all who believed.

 

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Paul prays constantly. That God would make them worthy of His calling. That He'd fulfil every desire for goodness and every deed prompted by faith. So Jesus would be glorified in them, and they in Him.

 

The Man of Lawlessness

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us, whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter, asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day won't come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

 

Some people are saying the day of the Lord has already come. Paul says don't be deceived. That day won't come until two things happen: the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed.

 

He'll oppose and will exalt himself over everything that's called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

 

The man of lawlessness will oppose God. Exalt himself above everything worshipped. Set himself up in God's temple. Proclaim himself to be God.

 

Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he's taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendour of His coming.

 

Paul told them this before. Something is holding back the man of lawlessness. When that restraint is removed, he'll be revealed. But the Lord Jesus will overthrow him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by the splendour of His coming.

 

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He'll use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they'll believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who've not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

 

The lawless one will come with Satan's power. Signs and wonders that serve the lie. Wickedness that deceives. People will believe him because they refused to love the truth. God will send them a powerful delusion. They'll believe the lie and be condemned because they didn't believe the truth but delighted in wickedness.

 

Stand Firm

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Paul thanks God for them. God chose them to be saved. Through the Spirit's work. Through belief in the truth. God called them to share in Christ's glory.

 

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

 

Stand firm. Hold fast to what Paul taught. Whether spoken or written.

 

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

 

Paul prays Jesus and the Father would encourage their hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.

 

Request for Prayer

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He'll strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

 

Paul asks for prayer. That the gospel would spread rapidly and be honoured. That they'd be delivered from wicked people. Not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful. He'll strengthen and protect them from the evil one.

 

We have confidence in the Lord that you're doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

 

Paul has confidence in the Lord about them. They're doing what he commands and will continue. He prays the Lord would direct their hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

 

Warning Against Idleness

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who's idle and disruptive and doesn't live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we wouldn't be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we don't have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.

 

Paul commands them: keep away from believers who are idle. Paul wasn't idle when he was with them. He worked night and day. He paid for his food. He didn't burden them. He did this to be a model for them to imitate.

 

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: the one who's unwilling to work shall not eat.

 

Clear rule: if you don't work, you don't eat.

 

We hear that some amongst you are idle and disruptive. They're not busy; they're busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

 

Some are idle and disruptive. Busybodies. Paul commands them: settle down and earn your food. And to everyone else: never tire of doing good.

 

Take special note of anyone who doesn't obey our instruction in this letter. Don't associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet don't regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

 

If someone doesn't obey this instruction, don't associate with them. So they'll feel ashamed. But don't treat them as an enemy. Warn them as a fellow believer.

 

Final Greetings

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

 

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.

 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

 

What This Means for You

Second Thessalonians addresses persecution, confusion about the day of the Lord, and idleness. Paul encourages suffering believers, clarifies that certain events must happen before Jesus returns, and commands idle believers to get to work.

 

Here's what 2 Thessalonians teaches you:

God is just. He'll pay back those who trouble you. He'll give relief to you who are troubled. When Jesus returns, He'll punish those who don't obey the gospel. They'll face everlasting destruction.

 

Jesus will be glorified in His people. Marvelled at amongst all who believed. That includes you.

 

The day of the Lord hasn't already come. Don't be deceived. Certain events must happen first. The rebellion. The man of lawlessness revealed. When he's revealed, Jesus will destroy him.

 

Stand firm. Hold fast to what you've been taught. Whether spoken or written.

 

The Lord is faithful. He'll strengthen you. Protect you from the evil one.

 

Don't be idle. Work. Earn your food. If you're unwilling to work, you shouldn't eat.

 

Never tire of doing good. Keep working. Keep serving. Keep living faithfully whilst you wait for Jesus.

 

If someone refuses to work, don't associate with them. Let them feel ashamed. But don't treat them as an enemy. Warn them.

 

Your Next Steps

Second Thessalonians challenges you to stand firm in persecution, not be deceived about Jesus' return, and keep working whilst you wait.

 

Are you standing firm? Persecution will come. Suffering will intensify. But God is just. He'll pay back those who trouble you. Stand firm. Hold fast.

 

Are you confused about end times teaching? Don't be deceived. The day of the Lord hasn't already come. Certain events must happen first. Don't be unsettled by false teaching.

 

Are you working? Or are you idle, claiming Jesus will return any day so why bother? If you're unwilling to work, you shouldn't eat. Settle down. Earn your food. Never tire of doing good.

 

Are you trusting God's faithfulness? The Lord is faithful. He'll strengthen you. Protect you from the evil one. Direct your heart into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

 

Read It Yourself

This summary covers 2 Thessalonians' major themes, but Paul's urgent tone and detailed teaching about the man of lawlessness deserve your full attention. Second Thessalonians is only three chapters. You can read it in ten minutes.

 

Don't just read about 2 Thessalonians. Read 2 Thessalonians. Open your Bible and read all three chapters. Let Paul's encouragement strengthen you in persecution. Let his clarification clear up confusion. Let his commands challenge you to faithful work.

 

Stand Firm and Keep Working

That's the message of 2 Thessalonians. Stand firm in persecution. Don't be deceived about Jesus' return. Keep working whilst you wait.

 

God is just. Jesus will return. He'll be glorified in His people. He'll punish those who reject the gospel.

 

Until then, stand firm. Hold fast. Work hard. Never tire of doing good.

 

The Lord is faithful. He'll strengthen you. Protect you. Direct your heart into His love and Christ's perseverance.

 

 

Scripture paraphrased and quoted from various translations for clarity.

© The Unknown Believer