Introduction

2 Thessalonians appears to have been written shortly after 1 Thessalonians. They are still being persecuted (Ch. 1), and they are still thinking about Jesus’ return and are afraid that he has already come but that they missed it (Ch. 2).

It is possible that this confusion and fright came from someone having sent a false letter in Paul’s name (2:2, 3:17). Paul explains to them that they don’t need to be afraid that this has already happened because first, the rebellion must occur, and the man of lawlessness will be revealed (2:3). We might wish that he explained more about this, but the point is, in any case, no one should have to wonder whether Jesus has returned or not.

In chapter 3, he warns against laziness and idleness. They will continue with a normal life until Jesus returns.

Structure

Ch. 1   Their endurance in persecutions (Opening)

Ch. 2   Jesus’ return has not happened

Ch. 3   Warnings against laziness

Background

• Written around the year 50 AD, shortly after 1 Thess.
• They are still persecuted (1:4-7)
• They wondered if Jesus’ return had already happened. Possibly because of a false Pauline letter (2:2, 3:17).
• Some do not follow Paul’s example and his teachings about how they should live, and they are going astray (3:6-15).

Themes in the opening (Ch. 1)

• They show perseverance and faith in the face of persecution (vv. 3-4, 11) à 2:13-17, 3:2-3
• God’s righteous judgment (vv. 5-7) à 2:12
• Jesus’ return (vv. 8-10) à 2:1-12
• A lifestyle worthy of their calling (vv. 11-12) à 3:6-15

1:8 – “those who do not know God” AND “those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus”?

A. Sounds like two groups (most translations)

Most literal translation since the definite article is repeated (“those who”)

➡ All who do not know God will be judged, not only those who know about him but who are still disobedient.

B. Sounds like one group (NIV)

Parallelism like in Jer 10:25: “Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name.”

Is it possible to know God but still disobey the gospel? In the Bible, “knowing God” means more than knowing about Him (e.g., John 17:3).

Destruction (1:9)

In verse 9, “everlasting destruction” is defined as an eternity “shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might”. Does this mean eternal torment or annihilation? The same word for “destruction” is used in:

• 1 Thess 5:3: “While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
• 1 Tim 6:9: “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”
• 1 Cor 5:5: “hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.”

Before the Second Coming (2:3-4)

This is some of the “basic training” that he gave them when he was with them (vv. 5-6):

1. The apostasy/rebellion must come

• Matthew 24:10-13 speaks of both apostasy and rebellion. Most likely, Paul gets it from Jesus since it is known and general. (Also 2 Tim 3:1-9)
• The parallel in Mark 13:22 mentions false teachers who will lead astray (1 Tim 4:1-3, 2 Tim 4:3-4)
• Rebellion against God or a worldly rebellion?

2. The man of lawlessness must be revealed

• Maybe the same figure as the Antichrist, although the name is not used.

Antichrist candidates

Emperor Nero, Emperor Titus, Muhammad, Vandal Genseric, Frederick Barbarossa, Pope Paul VI, Pope John XII, The Papacy, Luther (666), Napoleon, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Gorbachev, Henry Kissinger, Pope John Paul II, Kurt Waldheim, Willy Brandt, Prince Bernard, Moammar Gaddafi, Karl Von Hapsburg, Pat Robertson, King Juan Carlos of Spain, Anwar Sadat, Obama, Trump, etc.

Dan 11:36 about Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164):

“The king shall do as he pleases. He will exalt himself and exalt himself above every god, and against the God of gods he will speak terrible words. He shall prosper until the wrath is finished.”

“what is holding him back”	“the one who now holds it back”	the lawless one	Explanation
Roman Empire	The Emperor	Antichrist	Traditional interpretation (approx. 200 AD) Vague language so the authorities won’t understand
Law and order (Romans 13:1-7)	A head of state	Antichrist	An “extension” of (1) because the Roman Empire fell without the Lawless One and Jesus coming
The “stable” Roman Empire under Emperor Claudius	Emperor Claudius (41-54)	Emperor Nero (54-68)	Caligula (37-41) tried to erect a statue of himself in the temple in Jerusalem because the Jews did not recognize his divinity, but he was killed before it was carried out. A thought that it could happen again. Claudius can “mean” the one who closes/limits (Latin: claudo).
World Mission (Matthew 24:14)	Michael (Dan. 12:1)	Antichrist (Matthew 24:15)	Connected to the final rebellion in Rev. 20:1-9.
The mission to Roman Empire (Matthew 24:14)	Michael (Dan 12:1) or another.	Titus (Matthew 24:15)	Based on Matt 24. Titus destroyed the temple in AD 70.
The mission to Roman Empire (Matthew 24:14)	Michael (Dan 12:1) or another.	Imperial power (Nero/Titus/ Vesp ./ Domitian ++?) (Matthew 24:15)	Based on Matt 24. Titus destroyed the temple in 70 AD, but did not act “lawlessly” like Nero. Some sources say Vespasian performed at least one miracle. Domitian is described as the “beast” in Revelation.

Signs that Paul is drawing from Matthew 24

2 Thessalonians 2	Matthew 24
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him (v. 1)	And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (v. 31)
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way (v. 3)	Watch out that no one deceives you. (v. 4)
for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs (v. 3)	At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other (v. 10)
and the man of lawlessness is revealed (v. 3)	Because of the increase of wickedness (v. 12)
He will 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… For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion… (vv. 9-10)	For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (v. 24)

This explains why he assumes familiar material among the Thessalonians (vv. 5-6).

Summary of interpretations

1. Paul still quotes from Matthew 24 (interpretation 5 and 6):

The rebellion is the Jewish War (66-70) and the Lawless One is General Titus (5) or the imperial power (6) who defiled the temple and destroyed it in the year 70.

• The emperors in general took the place of God and had no respect for God’s sanctuary, but Nero and Domitian in particular proclaimed themselves to be gods. The imperial power of Domitian is described with the power of Satan (Rev. 13:2) and great signs to deceive the nations (Rev. 13:13-14).

Now this has happened (5), or it has begun (6), and Jesus can come like a thief at any time.

Problem for (5): It sounds like the Lawless One lives until Jesus comes again.

• Either: Matt 24:29 sounds like Jesus will come right after AD 70, but no one will know the time.
• Or: God struck Titus with sickness so that he died, and he will be destroyed when Jesus returns. (6: Nero committed suicide, Vespasian died of infection/fever, Domitian was assassinated).

1. Paul continues to quote from Matthew 24:

A. The Jewish War and Titus/Imperial Power

B. The abomination that causes desolation (Matthew 24:15) is still future—there will be an apostasy/rebellion and the Antichrist will arise.

1. The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt (so that 2:4 can happen)
2. It is not the literal temple that is meant, but the congregation.

2. Paul does not quote from Matthew 24, but has new information:

• Only the Thessalonians knew what he meant and it cannot be vital for us to know exactly what it is, as it is not clearer.

Anyway: When Paul is going to answer what happens before Jesus’ return, he only states these two events (rebellion/apostasy + the lawless one). If it is still future (possibly if it is apocalyptic symbolism), these are the only two events we need to pay attention to.

2:10-12

1. Who is deceived by the lawless one?
2. What is the reason they are being deceived?
3. Why does God send a delusion?

3:1-5

v. 1-2: He asks for:

• that the word of the Lord must spread rapidly and be honored
• that they must be delivered from wicked and evil people

“for not everyone have faith” (pistis ) → false siblings?

v. 3: “But the Lord is faithful (pistos)”:

• A contrast to people who cannot be trusted. The Lord will always give strength and keep from evil. (2 Tim 4:16-18)

3:6-15

• General disdain for craftsmanship among the aristocracy of the Roman Empire.
• Had they stopped working because Jesus was returning soon? Did any of them depend on support from others?
• “does not live according to the teaching”: Military term for those who don’t follow orders or don’t behave properly.

Paul and Silas were examples of the opposite lifestyle:

• paid for the food they received
• worked hard day and night not to be a burden

Timeless truth: “Idleness is the root of all evil.” Work is a good thing that God instituted. When we work, we honor and serve God.

What does 2 Thessalonians tell us?

1. We are called to live holy lives for God’s glory and joy, even in opposition and persecution. What might this look like in your life?
2. Don’t be intimidated by end-time speculation and calculations. Jesus’ return is our great and glorious hope (1:5, 7, 10; 2:1, 14, 16), not something scary that we should fear. How do we live our lives in light of Jesus’ return?
3. Work is a good thing with which we can honor God no matter what our work is. What does this mean for you?

Sources

GK Beale: 1 – 2 Thessalonians (IVPNTC)

Ernest Best: The First and Second Epistle to the Thessalonians

F.F. Bruce: 1 and 2 Thessalonians (Word Biblical Commentary)

I. Howard Marshall: 1 and 2 Thessalonians

Allan McNicol: Jesus’ Directions for the Future: A Source and Redaction History Study of the Use of the Eschatological Traditions in Paul and in the

Synoptic Account of Jesus’ Last Eschatological Discourse

Charles A. Wanamaker: The Epistles to the Thessalonians (NIGTC)

Ben Witherington: 1 and 2 Thessalonians. A Social-Rhetorical commentary