Bible Commentaries
2 Thessalonians

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

A Commentary On

THE BOOK OF SECOND THESSALONIANS

By ALLEN BAILEY

Publisher Charles Allen Bailey

Editor

Executive Editor - Joe L. Norton, Ph.D.

Copyright © 1998
Contending for the Faith Publications
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All Rights Reserved

All scripture quotations,
unless otherwise indicated, are taken from
The King James Version, KJV

Introduction

The Apostle Paul writes this second epistle to the Thessalonians a short time after the first epistle, but it is almost impossible to pinpoint exactly where Paul is when he writes this letter. Speculations have lead scholars to think he is in Athens, Corinth, or Rome. It seems more probable he is in Corinth. Acts 17:1; Acts 17:4 tells of the beginning of the church at Thessalonica. The writer says:

...now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:...And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few (Acts 17:1; Acts 17:4).

After the Jews of Thessalonica learn of Paul’s preaching the gospel at Berea,they stir up the people to the point that Paul has to leave immediately (Acts 1:13-14). His departure leads him to Athens (Acts 1:15). From Athens he goes to Corinth (Acts 18:1). It is in Corinth that Silas and Timothy, having been left in Thessalonica (Acts 17:14), join Paul again. In 2 Thessalonians 1:1, Paul implies that Silas and Timothy are still with him. This second epistle bears the name of all three, that is, "Paul, and Silvanus (Silas) and Timotheus." Since they are still together, it seems probable they are still in Corinth. Supposing this letter were written from Corinth, it would have been written about A.D. 52 or 53.

Paul has a specific purpose in mind when writing this letter: he has heard of the confusion among the church members about the return of Christ. False teachers or possibly a forged letter in the name of Paul has led many to believe that Christ is returning very soon (2:2). Because of this belief, they stop working, feeling there is no need to work since everything is going to be destroyed anyway. All this idle time causes many problems, especially when they start expecting the working church members to feed them. In this letter Paul teaches abut the events that will come before the return of Christ. The events mentioned are "a falling away first" (2:3) and "the man of sin" being revealed (2:3). Paul also takes opportunity in this letter to teach them the course of action to be taken on those who walk disorderly (3:6).

WORKS CITED

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