2 Thessalonians Bible Class

Intro:

Paul is going to touch on many of the same themes in 2 Thessalonians that he had touched on in 1 Thessalonians, including:

The fact that he was proud of the congregation at Thessalonica, essentially, because he boasted about their patience and faith despite all of the trials they were facing — They were growing exceedingly in the faith, Paul says, and their love abounded toward one another.

The fact that the Second Coming of Christ WILL occur.

Upon Christ’s Second Coming, the wicked will be punished.

And he warns the Thessalonians to continue faithfully, and continue working.

In this next epistle, Paul is going to focus on the Second Coming of Christ, not so much from the Christian perspective on that day, but from the perspective of the punishment that evildoers will receive.

And he is going to talk about the deception that was imminent that would draw many people away from the truth.

Paul is also going to talk about withdrawing fellowship from unfaithful Christians.

Even in a great congregation like Thessalonica, this still would have been necessary from time to time when members walked disorderly.

Paul wrote this epistle from Corinth in AD 53, a few months after he wrote the first epistle.

2 Thes. 2:1-2 gets to the crux of Paul’s reason for writing 2 Thessalonians:

2 Thessalonians 2:1–2 NKJV

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 if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

Evidently, false teachers were saying that Christ’s second coming had already come or was about to come very imminently (using false prophecy supposedly “by spirit” or just making things up “by word” or even misrepresenting what Paul had said “by letter”).

Paul appeals to the Thessalonians to keep calm, to have courage, and to keep working for the Lord.

Chapter 1:

V. 1-2 - These two verses are almost identical to verse one of 1 Thessalonians - Just Paul’s introduction to them.

VS. 3-4 - Paul was thankful for the great example of the congregation.

They were growing exceedingly in the faith and their love for one another was clear.

All of this in the midst of tremendous pressure from persecution (which we talked about in 1 Thessalonians), yet the congregation was known for patience and faith in their persecutions.

When persecution ratchets up, will our faith increase or decrease?

Will we be known for patience in our tribulations?

You get the impression here and also in 2 Cor. 8-9 (where he talks about the Macedonians’ giving) that Paul was extremely proud of the congregation at Thessalonica.

It is a great thing to work with a great congregation!

V. 5 - In other words, this is just saying that God is going to right all the wrongs that had been brought against them when He judges the world on the last day.

They have been mistreated and misrepresented by their persecutors, but …

They needed to keep in mind that this was evidence that they must be in the right, and the persecutors will receive just punishment for their actions on the day of judgment.

2 Tim. 3:12 - All who live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL suffer persecution.

V. 6 - Verses 6 and following to the end of the chapter are a N.T. example of IMPRECATORY LANGUAGE.

We don’t see quite as much of it in the N.T., but the Psalms are filled with this type of Scripture.

What is imprecatory language? It’s calling on the righteous judgment of God to punish the wicked.

I think for a lot of us this type of language may be uncomfortable for us, because we certainly want to be loving, and we desire for all men to be saved (just like God does - 1 Tim. 2:4).

But on the other hand we have to understand that God’s omni-benevolence (His total righteousness) demands that He punish evildoers, lest He would cease to be good.

Thus, really, it is imperative that the wicked be punished, and we should be on board with the fact that God is going to do so.

I want to read verses 6-12, and then I want to camp out in the Psalms for a while and spend some time looking at imprecatory language, because we need to understand that God is going to punish those who are totally given over to wickedness/those who refuse to repent and obey God.

In understanding that, hopefully it will give us a better sense of urgency to tell people about the Gospel.

2 Cor. 5:11 says …

2 Corinthians 5:11 NKJV

Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

(Read Psalms …) 37,

V. 7 -

V. 8 -

V. 9 -

V. 10 -

V. 11 -

V. 12 -

Chapter 2:

Matt. 24:10-12 see pg 545 in know your bible

Chapter 3:

a

Conclusion: