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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