Live For The Day

Introduction

v1-3 the day of the Lord - what, when, how. The day of judgment, whichi can also be a time of deliverance for the people of God. THe metaphor “coming like a thief in the night” does not mean that Jesus is like a thief, but to highlights its suddenness and unexpectedness.

The conception of the false cry of peace, while not strictly apocalyptic, goes back to the OT prophets, where it is associated with the false prophets who proclaim a time of peace when the destructive force of divine judgment is about to be unleashed on them and their society (Je. 6:14f.; Ezk. 13:10–16). The same idea is present here. Paul declares that when people speak of a time of peace and security as though everything were fine, “then sudden destruction comes upon them,” and he adds in emphatic fashion that “they will not escape” from it.

Background: 2 Thess 2:1-12

stressing that his readers must always be prepared for the coming of their Lord, and preparation is based on the decision we make on the choices in life.

A) Christian Vigilance - Self-responsibilty

Believe: Away from Darkness to Light (v4-5)

The phrase “in darkness” can have two possible senses here. (1) It may mean that those spoken of in the previous verse are distant from and even opposed to God. The use of language regarding light to symbolize God and darkness to symbolize alienation from and opposition to God goes back to the OT (cf. Job 22:9–11; Pss. 27:1; 74:20; 82:5; 112:4; Is. 2:5; 9:2; 60:19f.; Pr. 4:18f.). It also played a significant role at Qumran (cf. 1QS 3:13–4:26; 1QM). Paul himself uses the imagery of light and darkness in a similar fashion on several occasions (cf. Rom. 13:12; 2 Cor. 4:6; 6:14; 11:14; Col. 1:12f.). (2) Paul may be using the phrase “in darkness” figuratively of ignorance (cf. Rom. 1:21; 2:19; 1 Cor. 4:5). This understanding would go well with the following result clause ἵνα ἡ ἡμέρα ὑμᾶς ὡς κλέπτης καταλάβῃ (“so that the day [of the Lord] does not overtake you as a thief”). Understood in this way v. 4 emphasizes that Christians differ from outsiders in that they are aware of the imminence of the day of the Lord, while the day will overtake those who are ignorant about its coming like a thief. On the other hand, the light and darkness antithesis of v. 5 suggests that Paul has in mind darkness as that which is alien and opposed to God. If we accept this interpretation the second possibility mentioned above is implicit in any case since those who live in the darkness of their pagan ways also live in ignorance of the coming day of judgment.

The reason why the Thessalonians are not in darkness and therefore unprepared for the coming time of judgment is given in v. 5: πάντες γὰρ ὑμεῖς υἱοὶ φωτός ἐστε καὶ υἱοὶ ἡμέρας (“for you are all children [literally: sons] of the light and children [literally: sons] of the day”). They have come out of darkness, out of their pagan past (1:9f.), and have entered into what Paul elsewhere calls the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4). For this reason he applies to them the designation “children of light.”

Believe in the parousia.

Beware: Be alert and self-controlled (v6-7)

Participate in vigilance.

B) Christian Existence-outward responsibility

Bear: Put on faith, love and hope (v8-10)

C) Christian Community Living - inward responsibility

Build: Encourage one another and build each other up (v11)

Conclusion