About 2 Thessalonians
This is the shortest of all the letters Paul wrote. It has only three chapters.
Like 1 Thessalonians, this letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. The writers of this letter used the same style as 1 Thessalonians and other letters that Paul wrote. This shows that Paul was the main author. Silas and Timothy are included in the greeting (2 Thessalonians 1:1). In many verses, see see "we write." That shows that all three of them agreed. The handwriting was not Paul’s since he wrote just the final greeting and prayer (2 Thessalonians 3:17). It seems that Paul dictated the letter, maybe to Timothy or Silas.
Time of the Writing
Paul, Silas, and Timothy wrote this letter soon after the first letter. They had received further news about the Thessalonians while they were still in Corinth.
These two letters to the Thessalonians may be the earliest of the letters from Paul. Paul and his friends wrote them about 20 years after Jesus died and rose again. Paul was in Corinth for about 18 months. So, the date of the second letter must have been near the end of that period.
Purposes of 2 Thessalonians
Paul and his friends received news from Thessalonica after that church had received the first letter. This news showed that the Thessalonians still needed someone to teach them about some subjects. They had not understood some of what was in the first letter. So, the purpose of the second letter was to make things clear to them.
--- 1. Paul and his friends write to give them strength and to encourage them. They must expect persecution because they trust in the Lord Jesus. But God has a purpose in allowing them to suffer and he will reward them (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
--- 2. The Thessalonians seem to have some strange ideas about the return of Christ. Some said that the Lord had already come. But this is not right (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2). Some thought that the Lord would come at any moment. The return of the Lord will be sudden. But, there are things that must happen before He comes (2 Thessalonians 2:3 12).
--- 3. Some of the Thessalonian Christians were lazy. They had given up their work. It could be that they expected the Lord to come very soon. They depended on their friends to keep them and feed them. Paul had mentioned this subject in the first letter (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Now he tells them what they should do to those who refuse to work (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13).
The Plan of 2 Thessalonians
Chapter 1
Greetings from Paul, Silas, and Timothy 1:1-2
Thanking God for the Thessalonians 1:3-4
The judgment of God and salvation of Christians 1:5-10
Prayer for the Thessalonians 1:11-12
Chapter 2
The Lord has not come yet 2:1-2
The wicked man must come first 2:3-12
Thanks to God for the Thessalonians 2:13-15
Prayer for them 2:16-17
Chapter 3
A request for prayer 3:1-2
Confidence in God for them 3:3-5
About those who are lazy 3:6-13
Paul warns them to obey 3:14-15
A prayer for peace 3:16
Signature and final prayer 3:17-18
Notice the four prayers in this book are in each chapter: 1:11-12, 2:16-27, 3.5; 3:16
--- Paul corrects the misconception about the Day of the Lord.
--- Paul teaches about the Second Coming of Christ. It is mentioned 318 times in the New Testament, more than any other doctrine. The major concept is covered in Chapters 1 and 2 of this book.
--- Paul teaches that certain events must take place before Christ returns.
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