tom hogsed

In his final words to the church at Thessalonica, Paul asks them to pray for him, Silas, and Timothy to be able to continue to quickly spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and that they would be “delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.” (3:1-2) Paul was writing from Corinth and experienced much opposition in his work to spread the gospel and he knew he would receive the needed strength through the prayers of God’s people. He reminded his readers (and himself) that God “is faithful” to protect from the onslaughts of Satan who desires to destroy the lives of people and prevent the spread of the gospel (3:4).

In the last few verses of 2 Thessalonians Paul writes about one more concern he has about the church – laziness. It seems as if some of the Thessalonians were failing to work and instead had become “busybodies” (people who get involved in the affairs of others). Paul challenged those people to “work in quietness and eat their own bread.” (3:12) If anyone continued to be lazy, Paul commanded that the mature Christians “withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly” meaning that they should not fellowship with them (3:6). “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (3:11) A believer in Jesus Christ was to be characterized as a hard worker and one who provided for the needs of his own family. There is no excuse for being lazy! The mature Christians had become very frustrated because they were having to support those who would not work and may have been threatening to stop helping anyone who was in need. For this reason Paul writes “do not grow weary in doing good.” (3:13) He did not want the Thessalonians to stop helping everyone in need just because a few were being lazy; instead, he urged them to keep giving.

In reference to all that he has written in this letter Paul writes “if anyone does not obey our word…note that person and do not keep company with him….Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” (3:14-15) Paul had addressed persecution, false teaching, and disorderly conduct and he expected the people to obey what he had written. Anyone who failed to do so should be disciplined with the purpose of repentance and restoration (3:15). Paul ends his letter asking that “the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (3:16)

Dear God, may I always obey Your word. Help me to change areas where I am disobeying so I might be effective in my witness to others.

Paul had done his best to explain future events to the Thessalonians so they would not be discouraged or lose heart about their current circumstances. The Thessalonians had witnessed many of their friends and family pass from this life and at the same time they were experiencing persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. On top of all this, false teachers were forging letters supposedly from Paul which were causing confusion in the foundational beliefs of the church. Circumstances of life had become so overwhelming for the church at Thessalonica and at times it seemed like too much to handle. Paul detected that they may feel like this so he writes the next few words to remind them of God’s special love for them: “we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation….” (2:13) Even though times were hard, God still loved them greatly and desired that they “stand fast and hold the traditions which you [they] were taught, whether by word or by epistle.” (2:15) Paul is specifically referring to the truths about the end times (2:1-12) and asks them not to be distracted by other teachings. The truth taught by Paul should have brought them hope in the midst of trials instead of sorrow. Sure, hardship and persecution may still come but believers had the assurance of Jesus’ soon return and eternal deliverance from suffering. Paul continues to write: “may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” (2:16-17) Like the Thessalonians, we may experience trials, temptations, and sorrow but God has provided hope in the future. Maybe you are despondent or suffering…remember there is hope!

Dear God, help me to remember that there is hope through You.

Paul continues to instruct his readers with the proper perspective of the end times. He spent the first couple verses of chapter 2 assuring them that Christ had not already returned, as some false teachers had been teaching. One of the key things concerning the end times was the rapture of the church and the revealing of the anti-christ; since neither one of these events had taken place, they could be confident of Christ’s return in the future. Paul spent several verses explaining the reality of the anti-christ during the 7-year tribulation period and that he would set himself up as God; however, midway through the seven years, his evil identity would finally be exposed. At this time, those who reject God will experience the full force of His fury as He pours out His wrath upon the earth for three and a half years. While God is sending judgment on the unsaved, Satan will be doing his best to deceive them into believing that the anti-christ is God. The coming of the anti-christ will be “according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception.” (2:9-10) Satan will be using the anti-christ as a pawn to carry out his evil, yet miraculous, deeds and deceive men into believing a lie. Ultimately, Satan’s goal is to cause people to accept the power and witness of the anti-christ as truth while ignoring salvation through Jesus Christ, which is the true gospel. Concerning this deceit Paul writes, “they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2:10) Because many will believe this lie, “God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2:11-12) Instead of rejecting their sin and receiving God’s forgiveness, many people will ignore God’s promise of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, and revel in their lifestyle of unrighteousness. This yet future time will be chaotic and cause much confusion on those who are living through this “hell on earth.” Again, Paul wanted to assure the Thessalonians that they were not nor would not experience this time of wrath. Those who have been gloriously saved through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross as well as His resurrection have no need to fear this judgment. Along with the Thessalonians, we also can rejoice in God’s grace and mercy on sinners who willingly humble themselves before God.

Dear God, thank You for the assurance that I do not have to experience this coming judgment. Thank You for providing salvation through Your only Son, Jesus Christ, that I might be saved from the wrath to come.

Paul moves on to another reason for writing the second letter to the Thessalonians – to correct wrong thinking about future things (end times). He writes “now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter…as though the day of Christ had come.” (2:1-2) Even in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica, it seems as if the believers were struggling with the timing of future events regarding Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Paul had instructed them that the Lord would return before God’s wrath was poured out on those who did not believe in Him; however, the Thessalonians feared they had missed the Lord’s return because they were now experiencing persecution. False teachers were also playing a part in the church doubting the timing of Christ’s return and someone may have even been forging letters from Paul with improper doctrine (see the phrase “as if from us”). For this reason Paul writes “let no one deceive you…for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.” (2:3) The “falling away” refers to the midway point of the tribulation period (7 years following the rapture of the church) when the anti-christ openly exposes his hatred for God and Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 tells us that the anti-christ “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (2:4) During the first three and a half years of the tribulation the anti-christ will appear to love God, but then he will reveal who he really is and demand the world to worship him. It is during these last three and a half years that God pours His wrath out upon the earth. The Thessalonians were worried that they were now in this time, but Paul assured them that the anti-christ had not been revealed and Christ had not returned. In verses 6-7 Paul reminds his readers that the supernatural power of God is restraining the anti-christ and when the time is right He will remove that restraint. God is in control of things which are clearly seen and those things which are not seen!

Dear God, I look forward to Your return for those who love You and until that time help me to remember that You are in control.

Opening his letter with a standard greeting to the church at Thessalonica (1:1-2), Paul really gets right in the reason for his writing this second letter. First, he commends them because their “faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.” (1:3) Even throughout the first letter to the Thessalonians it is very clear that they had been experiencing many “persecutions and tribulations” but had responded in a manner which brought maturity. In fact, Paul writes “that we ourselves boast of you among churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.” (1:4) Paul, Silas, and Timothy were very proud of the Thessalonians’ response to hardship. Instead of viewing their persecution as God’s judgment on them, Paul wanted them to understand that trials often bring maturity in the life of a believer (1:5). Besides, God will surely judge those who are troubling the Thessalonians and one day take revenge “on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1:6-10) Although they were experiencing trials, Paul assured them he would be praying for them…that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him.” (1:11-12) Every believer, like the Thessalonians, experiences trials and persecutions in life. Resolve to rely on God’s strength to make it through and seek to bring glory to Him.

Dear God, take the trials I am experiencing and receive the glory from my reaction to them.

2 Thessalonians is the second writing of Paul to the church at Thessalonica and only followed the first letter by a few months (AD51-52). Paul again writes from Corinth along with Silas and Timothy who were fellow laborers in planting the church at Thessalonica. Since Paul loved the Thessalonians and desired to see the church mature, he kept up to date about their spiritual health. It is possible that the person who delivered the first letter brought back news about the Thessalonians and their growing faith as well as their great love toward others (2 Thessalonians 1:3). However, Paul seemed to be concerned about three issues surrounding the church: persecution (1:3-12), false teaching (2:1-15), and disorderly conduct in the church (3:6-15). His goal in writing this second letter to the Thessalonians was to comfort the persecuted, instruct in truth, and warn the unruly.

Dear God, provide insight into the letter to the Thessalonians and may I change as a result of reading Your revealed truth.