Sermon Tone Analysis

Setting

Today we are in our 53rd book of the Bible, only 13 more to go.

Route 66

2 Thessalonians: Settle Down

I hope you have enjoyed this series and have been reading along.

When we’re finished, I hope you will an understanding of what the Bible is all about.

This summer, I hope to teach a class on Bible Study Methods to help you begin to really dig into the Bible yourselves.

As you may recall, Paul had a tendency for getting run out of town.

Part 53 – March 6, 2011

When he was run out of Philippi, he spent only three weeks in Thessalonica before fleeing the mob.

📷Paul had a tendency for getting run out of town.

When he was run out of Philippi, he spent only three weeks in Thessalonica before fleeing the mob.

He went to Berea [buh-REE-uh], was promptly forced out, and headed south to Athens.

Timothy went back to check on the Thessalonians while Paul, of his own will, went to Corinth.

He went to Berea [buh-REE-uh], was promptly forced out, and headed south to Athens.

Timothy went back to check on the Thessalonians while Paul, of his own will, went to Corinth.

📷You may recall the Corinthian marketplace, where Paul most likely set up his tent making shop.

Timothy returned here, with a positive report, and Paul wrote his first letter.

A few months later however, news comes that the Thessalonians are buying into a rather bizarre deception.

You may recall the Corinthian marketplace, where Paul most likely set up his tent making shop.

Timothy returned here, with a positive report, and Paul wrote his first letter.

A few months later however, news comes that the Thessalonians are buying into a rather bizarre deception.

📷We discussed the Thessalonian marketplace that was discovered in 1962.

Someone came to this ancient city (with a letter in Paul’s name), and convinced them that the reason they were suffering persecution was because Jesus had come back, and “the train had left the station without them” so to speak.

Someone came to this ancient city (with a letter in Paul’s name), and convinced them that the reason they were suffering persecution was because Jesus had come back, and “the train had left the station without them” so to speak.

Someone had come to the city with a letter in Paul’s name, and convinced them that the reason they were suffering persecution was because Jesus had come back, and “the train had left the station without them” so to speak.

📷So, Paul fires off a second letter to these young and vulnerable believers after only about six months since his first.

So, Paul fires off a second letter to these young and vulnerable believers after only about six months since his first.

Statistics

Author: Paul to the N.T. Church @ Thessalonica from Corinth Date: 53 A.D.

Key Verses: 2:15

Key Verses: 2:1-4

Key Words: coming of the Lord Jesus Christ - 11 times, the coming - 4 times, brethren - 17 times 3 chapters, 47 verses, 1042 words

Key Words: coming of the Lord Jesus Christ - 11 times, the coming - 4 times, brothers and sisters - 17 times

3 chapters, 47 verses, 1,042 words

Another Look at the Coming of Our Lord

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.

– NIV

To counter this false claim, Paul addresses it immediately in the letter.

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy, or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord, has come.”

And, to help them spot a future forgery, Paul draws attention to his signature at the end of this brief, three-chapter letter.

Christian Standard Bible.

(2017).

().

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.

– NIV

📷And, to help them spot a future forgery, Paul draws attention to his signature at the end of this brief, three-chapter letter.

“I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand, which is an authenticating mark in every letter; this is how I write.”

I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand, which is an authenticating mark in every letter; this is how I write.

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters.

This is how I write.

– NIV

But, why would someone do this to the Thessalonians?!

But, why would someone do this to the Thessalonians?!

I’m guessing that whoever did this was hawking overpriced tickets to an End-Times seminar, being held in the Mediterranean Room at the Thessalonian equivalent of a Holiday Inn!

I’m guessing that whoever did this was hawking overpriced tickets to an End-Times seminar, being held in the Mediterranean Room at the Thessalonian equivalent of a Holiday Inn! I’m also guessing this scam wasn’t limited to Thessalonica.

I’m also guessing this scam wasn’t limited to Thessalonica.

I would dare guess that maybe a trio of conmen named, Hymenaeus [HIGH-meh-NEE-uhs], Alexander, and Philetus [fih-LEE-tuhs].

📷I’m even guessing it was a trio of conmen named, Hymenaeus [HIGH-meh-NEE-uhs], Alexander, and Philetus [fih-LEE-tuhs].

In First Timothy (1:19), Paul warns of certain men who’ve rejected not only their faith, but their own conscience as well.

In First Timothy (1:19), Paul warns of certain men who’ve rejected not only their faith, but their own conscience as well.

heir own conscience as well.

Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

– NIV

“Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”

– NIV

And later (in chapter six), when he’s talking about unnamed teachers of false doctrine who have corrupt minds, he says …

And later (in chapter six), when he’s talking about unnamed teachers of false doctrine who have corrupt minds, he says, “they think that godliness is a means to financial gain.”

– NIV

… [they] think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

– NIV

And then, in Second Timothy (2:16-17), Paul talks about ungodly teachers, whose godless chatter will spread like gangrene.

And then, in Second Timothy (2:16-17), Paul talks about ungodly teachers, whose godless chatter will spread like gangrene.

Again, “Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus … They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.”

– NIV

Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus … They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

– NIV

The more things change, the more they stay the same!

Hmm … the more things change, the more they stay the same!

Like in his first letter, Paul praises their perseverance under persecution (1:4); but now he uses the subject to reassure them, that even those who don’t know Jesus will notice His return.

Like in his first letter, Paul praises their perseverance under persecution (1:4); but now he uses the subject to reassure them, that even those who don’t know Jesus will notice His return.

📷God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.

This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.

–7 NIV

“Since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us.

This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels.”

Christian Standard Bible.

(2017).

().

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.

This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.

– NIV

Thanks to the deception in Thessalonica, Paul’s second letter is a treasure trove of reassuring passages concerning the end times.

Thanks to the deception in Thessalonica, Paul’s second letter is a treasure trove of reassuring passages concerning the end times.

I don’t want to trace out the various Christian theories on the End Times.

But, I do want to look at three end Time Urges Paul warns the Thessalonians and, by extension, us to avoid:

I don’t want to trace out the various Christian theories on the End Times.

But, I do want to look at three end Time Urges Paul warns the Thessalonians and, by extension, us to avoid:

1.

The first urge to purge is this: Don’t be deceived

End Time Urges to Avoid

The first urge: Don’t be deceived

[Jesus said] … if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ!” or, “There he is!” do not believe it.

… For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

– , NIV