Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Review of Chapter 1

They were an encouragement to Paul, Timothy and Silvanus and others.

As we review what we’ve covered so far in this book - remember that the Thessalonian’s were an encouragement to Paul and the others with him.

Unlike the tones presented in some of Paul’s other epistles such as his letter to the church at Corinth…Paul is writing to encourage and instruct these believers that he was so quickly called away from and who have been such an encouragement to him.

In the first chapter of this letter, Paul offered a broader perspective on the challenges that were facing the Thessalonians.

He encouraged them to see that their tenacious and intrepid fidelity to God and love for one another was an inspiration to Silvanus, Timothy, and himself (1:1–3)

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring

Indeed, it brought encouragement to other churches (1:4)

Paul wants them to be encouraged in the persecution they were suffering

Paul also explained that they could live in the sure hope that God would ultimately afflict the afflictors and relieve the afflicted when the Lord Jesus returns in glory (1:5–10)

He wants them to hold fast

Paul rounded out chapter one with a wish-prayer that the Thessalonians hold fast to their calling to endure for the glory of Jesus and by the grace of God (1:11–12)

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his 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.

11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his 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.

2 Thessalonians is incredibly relevant for our lives today

Likewise for us today…in a world where persecution for true christianity is on the rise…in a country that moves further and further from the law of God and obedience to the truth of His word.

In a time when the church is rocked by persecution without and heresies within…this book is a deep trough of encouragement from which we can drink.

Overview of Chapter 2

Stay the course

In chapter 1 Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to persevere through the persecution they were suffering under - to hold fast.

In Chapter 2 Paul is going to encourage them to stay the course as false reports and teachings crop up from within their camp.

Interpretive Challenges

I used to always hate it when a commander would catch me in the hall and say that he wanted me to come to his office the next morning when I reported to work.

What did he want?

What had I done?

What was going to happen?

Waiting is difficult.

Even though we know we are to be anxious for nothing but devoted to prayer…it’s tough.

It was tough for the Thessalonians.

Yet, even though the exact details of God’s plan for the end of times was a mystery to them and remains so to us today…Paul wanted them to stay the course.

It’s like flying a PAR

In the weather…can’t see the horizon clearly but your instruments tell you where the field is and how far from the runway you are.

You don’t know within your own aircraft how high you are or what course you are to fly to make a safe landing.

But you have a voice…a word…from someone that has the big picture…someone that is in control.

He guides you to final.

He tells you when to start descending.

He tells you the course to fly.

All you need to hear is On Course…On Glidepath…all the way down.

In the second chapter, Paul engages more specifically with the matter of “the coming of our Lord Messiah Jesus” and his concern that the Thessalonians not have their walk with Jesus thrown off balance in light of what seems like recent events, circumstances, or information.

In 2:1–12, Paul engages in what appears to be his primary concern in this letter.

So, in chapter 2 Paul is going to encourage the Thessalonians that even though they are in the weather they are still on course as long as they turn their squelch up and tune out the distracting false commands of others and follow the one true Controller - follow His word alone in order to be guided to the runway and a safe landing.

There are many details in this chapter that have caught the attention of readers throughout the centuries—what is the “apostasy”?

Who is the “Man of Sin”?

What is the “mystery of lawlessness”?

Who or what is “the restrainer”?

We don’t yet know what we don’t know.

Eschatology is best seen clearly through a rear view mirror.

Still, we don’t want to lose sight of the forest for the trees.

Paul’s Purpose

Paul is not so much putting forth an eschatological calendar of events to track but instead his purpose appears to be three fold.

To put at ease the minds of the Thessalonians believers who have been thrown off balance by false teachings being spread in the church.

That no matter what “trees” lie ahead…the beauty of the forest is in the fact that Jesus will prevail and His people be vindicated.

To encourage believers that no matter what lay ahead we are to:

“stand firm and hold firmly to the traditions you were taught.”

Stay the course.”

We still look through a mirror dimly even as the early church did.

There are just some things we will not know for sure until after the Lord returns and then we probably won’t care.

They - like us - wanted to know what to expect…what was going to happen.

I used to always hate it when a commander would catch me in the hall and say that he wanted me to come to his office the next morning when I reported to work.

What did he want?

What had I done?

What was going to happen?

Waiting is difficult.

Even though we know we are to be anxious for nothing but devoted to prayer…it’s tough.

It was tough for the Thessalonians.

Yet, even though the exact details of God’s plan for the end of times was a mystery to them and remains so to us today…Paul wanted them to stay the course.

It’s like flying a PAR

In the weather…can’t see the horizon clearly but your instruments tell you where the field is and how far from the runway you are.

You don’t know within your own aircraft how high you are or what course you are to fly to make a safe landing.

But you have a voice…a word…from someone that has the big picture…someone that is in control.

He guides you to final.

He tells you when to start descending.

He tells you the course to fly.

All you need to hear is On Course…On Glidepath…all the way down.

So, in chapter 2 Paul is going to encourage the Thessalonians that even though they are in the weather they are still on course as long as they turn their squelch up and tune out the distracting false commands of others and follow the one true Controller - follow His word alone in order to be guided to the runway and a safe landing.

Paul is not so much putting forth an eschatological calendar of events to track but instead his purpose appears to be three fold.

To put at ease the minds of the Thessalonians believers who have been thrown off balance by false teachings being spread in the church.

That no matter what “trees” lie ahead…the beauty of the forest is in the fact that Jesus will prevail and His people be vindicated.

To encourage believers that no matter what lay ahead we are to:

“stand firm and hold firmly to the traditions you were taught.”

Stay the course.”

“stand firm and hold firmly to the traditions you were taught.”

Stay the course.”

Gupta, N. K. (2016).

1-2 Thessalonians: A New Covenant Commentary.

(M.

F. Bird & C. Keener, Eds.) (p.

131).

Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.

Gupta, N. K. (2016).

1-2 Thessalonians: A New Covenant Commentary.

(M.

F. Bird & C. Keener, Eds.) (p.

131).

Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.

Encouraging Perseverance

Now, we ask you, my dear brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Messiah Jesus and our gathering together with him, 2 that your mind not be easily unsettled or alarmed, whether it be through a spirit, an audible message, or through a letter (as if written by us), leading you to believe that the Day of the Lord has come.

The Thessalonians had become unsettled

Not only were they being persecuted from without…false teachings were being spread within the church that was causing anxiousness and unrest.

The language Paul uses of being “stirred up,” as Ernest Best notes, “suggests the sudden onslaught of a storm that is quickly past but leaves its effects on insecure buildings.”