Sunday, July 30, 2023

2 Thessalonians

 Second Letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians  

Title: The letter can be seen as the continuation of the 1st Thessalonians or a prequel to it. The decision will depend on interpretation of 2 Thes. 2:1-3. If the passage is a follow up on 1 Thes. 4 then this epistle is truly the second one. On the other hand, 2 Thes. 2:1-3ff. can be the first attempt to warn the believers at Thessalonica on the Day of the Lord concept and expectation of His arrival.                 

Date of writing: Finalization of the date of writing will depend on the decisions made concerning the order of the letter 1st vs 2nd (see “title”, and “date of writing” on the 1 Thessalonians).         

Structure:

a. 1:1-2, Greeting.

  b. 1:3-4, thanksgiving

    c. 1:5-12, Judgement of Christ

      d. 2:1-12, The man of Lawlessness

        e. 2:13-17, Stand Firm

      d’. 3:1-5, Prayer to be defended from the Evil one

    c’. 3:6-12, Practice of righteousness

  b’. 3:13-15, Warning of rebellious brothers  

a’. 3:16-18 final greeting

Main themes: Inevitable judgement that will be executed by Christ – cp. both Apostle’s and Nicene creeds.

Man of Lawlessness – very powerful, miracle performing person who will deceive the ones who rejected the truth.  

Standing firm in the faith/faithfulness by giving thanks (eucharist) in all circumstances (1:3; 2:13).

Importance of working (warning against idleness) for personal godliness, providing for the needs of the church, and support of commissioned brothers.     

Main Characters: Paul, Sylvanus, and Timothy (same names as 1 Thes.).          

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: Ministers of evil can/able to perform miraculous signs – just as the priests of the hard hearten pharaoh during the Exodus (Ex. 7:20-24; 8:1-7; 8:16-19). The evil one described in the epistle might correspond to the spirit of the antichrist (1 John 2:28; 4:3) and to beast of the earth who wears the number of the man (Rev. 13:11-18).   

Paul picks up the theme of Jesus’ second coming from his previous letter to the congregation (cp. 1 Thes. 4). The lawless one will be destroyed by the power of His mouth (breath here, and the sword in Rev. 1:16).

Good works should reflect the life of faithfulness (2:16-17, cp. Eph. 2:8-10; James 2:14-26).    

Lutheran teaching:

The very beginning of the letter (1:3) is used to discuss the benefits of the Sacraments (AC XIII:2), sanctification (LC II:57), and prayers for fulfillment of Ten Commandments (LC III:2).

2:3-4 The passage appears in the context of discussing the Church – its ruling, its ministries, role of Pope, and content of the prayers – in various confessional writings [Ap. VII and VIII (IV):4; XV (VIII):18; SA II IV:11; Tr. 39; LC III:47).    

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 833 – Listen, God is Calling

LSB 919 – Abide, O Dearest Jesus  

Relevancy of the Book: There are at least two important lessons readers can take away from the reading and studying of the epistle. First, the imminence of Christ’s coming. It might look like a delay to us, it is still the fact of human history that will come to fruition at God’s appointed times. Though we don’t need to waste the precious time of awaiting being the idle “busybodies”.

Second, the power of the Word of God is mightier than any tricks, miracles, or signs that the evil one can perform. Staying firm in the Word will help us to endure to times of temptations and tribulations being faithful to the only God: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.       

Memory verses:

3:10 – For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

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