The Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians

• Who Wrote: The Apostle Paul
• Where Written: Corinth
• When Written: c. 51 C.E.

CHAPTER 1

Greeting

1 Paul and Silvanus[1] and Timothy,

To the congregation[2] of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

² Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Growing Faith of the Thessalonians

³ We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, just as it is fitting, because your faith is growing exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you is increasing toward one another; ⁴ therefore, we ourselves boast about you in the congregations of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring.

Christ’s Judgment on the Disobedient

⁵ This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering. ⁶ Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷ and to you who are being afflicted, rest with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels ⁸ in a flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ These ones will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, from before the Lord[3] and from the glory of his strength, ¹⁰ when he comes to be glorified in his holy ones on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed. 

Prayer for the Congregation

¹¹ To this end also we pray for you always, that our God may count you worthy of his calling and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, ¹² so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER 2

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Now we request you, brothers, with regard to the coming[4] of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, ² that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a word or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. ³ Let no one deceive[5] you in any way, for it will not come unless the apostasy[6] comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, showing himself as being God. ⁵ Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? ⁶ And now you know the thing restraining him, so that in his time he will be revealed. ⁷ For the mystery[7] of lawlessness is already at work; but only until the one who is right now acting as a restraint is out of the way. ⁸ Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth, and wipe out by the appearance[8] of his coming,[9] ⁹ namely, the one whose coming[10] is in accordance with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, ¹⁰ and with every unrighteous deception[11] for those who are perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ For this reason God is sending upon them a powerful delusion[12] so that they will believe the lie, ¹² in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits for salvation, through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. ¹⁴ To this he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions which you were taught, whether by spoken word or by letter from us.[13]

¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, ¹⁷ comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

CHAPTER 3

Pray for Us

3 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly[14] and be glorified, just as it was with you, ² and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful, and he will[15] strengthen you and guard you from the wicked one. ⁴ And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we are commanding. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Disorderly Behavior

⁶ Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who is walking disorderly[16] and not according to the tradition[17] which you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we did not behave disorderly among you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil[18] and labor we worked night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you; ⁹ not that we do not have authority, but in order to offer ourselves as an example, so that you may imitate us. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some are walking disorderly among you, not working at all, but being busybodies. ¹² Now such persons we order and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ that, working with quietness, they eat their own bread.

¹³ But as for you, brothers, do not be discouraged while doing good. ¹⁴ If anyone does not obey our word in this letter, take note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ And do not consider him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother.

Final Greetings

¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

¹⁷ The greeting is by my hand, Paul’s,[19] which is a sign in every letter; this is the way I write. ¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

[1] Or Silas

[2] Gr (ἐκκλησία ekklēsia) “assembly;” “congregation, i.e., of Christians”

[3] Lit from before the face of the Lord

[4] Presence; Coming: (παρουσία parousia) The Greek word which is rendered as “presence” is derived from para, meaning “with,” and ousia, meaning “being.” It denotes both an “arrival” and a consequent “presence with.” Depending on the context, it can mean “presence,” “arrival,” “appearance,” or “coming.” In some contexts, this word is describing the presence of Jesus Christ in the last days, i.e., from his ascension in 33 C.E. up unto his second coming, with the emphasis being on his second coming, the end of the age of Satan’s reign of terror over the earth. We do not know the day nor the hours of this second coming. (Matt 24:36) It covers a marked period of time with the focus on the end of that period. – Matt. 24:3, 27, 37, 39; 1 Cor. 15:23; 16:17; 2 Cor. 7:6-7; 10:10; Php 1:26; 2:12; 1 Thess. 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:2.

[5] Or seduce

[6] Apostasy: (ἀποστασία apostasia) The term literally means “to stand away from” and is used to refer to ones who ‘stand away from the truth.’ It is abandonment, a rebellion, an apostasy, a refusal to accept or acknowledge true worship. In Scripture, this is used primarily concerning the one who rises up in defiance of the only true God and his people, working in opposition to the truth.–Ac 21:21; 2 Thess. 2:3.

[7] Mystery; Secret: (μυστήριον mustērion) A sacred divine mystery or secret doctrine that lies with God alone, which is withheld from both the angelic body and humans, until the time he determines that it is to be revealed, and to those to whom he chooses to make it known.–Mark 4:11; Rom. 11:25; 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:1; 4:1; 13:2; 14:2; 15:51; Eph. 1:9; 6:19; Col. 1:26; 2:2; 2 Thess. 2:7; 1 Tim. 3:9; Rev. 17:5.

[8] Appearing: (ἐπιφάνεια epiphaneia) It literally means “a shining forth,” which was used to refer to a divine being becoming visible to humans. Epiphaneia is used in the NT to refer to Jesus first coming to the earth and his second coming as well.–2 Thess. 2:8; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 1:10; 4:1, 8.

[9] Presence; Coming: (παρουσία parousia) The Greek word which is rendered as “presence” is derived from para, meaning “with,” and ousia, meaning “being.” It denotes both an “arrival” and a consequent “presence with.” Depending on the context, it can mean “presence,” “arrival,” “appearance,” or “coming.” In some contexts, this word is describing the presence of Jesus Christ in the last days, i.e., from his ascension in 33 C.E. up unto his second coming, with the emphasis being on his second coming, the end of the age of Satan’s reign of terror over the earth. We do not know the day nor the hours of this second coming. (Matt 24:36) It covers a marked period of time with the focus on the end of that period. – Matt. 24:3, 27, 37, 39; 1 Cor. 15:23; 16:17; 2 Cor. 7:6-7; 10:10; Php 1:26; 2:12; 1 Thess. 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:2.

[10] See note on 2:8.

[11] Lit seduction

[12] Or a deluding influence; Lit an operation of deceit

[13] Lit letter of us

[14] Lit may be running

[15] Lit who will

[16] That is, keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life

[17] Or instruction

[18] Or hardship; struggle

[19] Lit the greeting by my hand of Paul