2 Thessalonians 1-3

An interesting historical commentary on 2 Thessalonians can be found here.  Conservative scholars date the book in the 50s AD, written most likely in Corinth shortly after the writing of 1 Thessalonians.  Along with Galatians they are two of the oldest books in the New Testament.


1:2   Grace and peace. It's there every time.
1:4   Paul doesn't elaborate on the "persecutions and trials," but it is speculated that the troubles mentioned in Acts 17:5-8 & 13 continued in Paul's absence.
1:5-10   Echoes what Paul had written in 1 Thess. 5:1-3.
1:8   We usually think of the word "believe" in place of the one used here: "obey."  The Greek word is ὑπακούουσιν (hypakouousin: hi-pah-KOO-oo-seen), which literally means "to hear under."  The "under" is the hypo- prefix, which you find in words like hypodermic (under the skin).  "Obey" is an okay translation, but the implication is more one of "comply with," "submit yourself to the truth of," or "listen attentively and act accordingly."  The key idea is that of submission and surrender to an authority that is above you.  Military respect for a superior's command would convey the same idea.  John Wesley writes that this refers to the Jews of that day, or more generally those who have heard the Gospel and rejected it.
1:11-12   We purpose, we act in faith, and then God fulfills.  We are not responsible for the outcomes associated with our obedience.  We obey and God does the rest, with the end result that Christ is glorified through us (and we in Him!).
2:1-12   The Man of Lawlessness.  Also associated with the Son of Perdition, the Beast, and the Antichrist.  If this passage seems confusing, don't despair.  Scholars have argued over what (and who) it means for, oh, about twenty centuries or so.  If you take a look at Wesley's notes he was convinced it was the Pope.  I kid you not.  For more background take a look at Daniel 7-8.
2:2   I discovered that some scholars have speculated that there may have been a literal "letter supposed to have come from us," a forgery orchestrated by the Thessalonian agitators we mentioned in 1:4.  Apparently they were taking advantage of some confusion over 1 Thess. 5:1-4 and the timing of Christ's return.  Paul takes care to say that for unbelievers, that day will come suddenly and unexpectedly, but those who believe should note the signs which are precursors to His coming and so not be caught unawares.
2:3   "The rebellion"  The NIV is rather needlessly obscure here.  Rebellion against what?  What Paul is talking about is the great falling away from the true faith that will occur in the last days, referred to by Christ Himself in Matthew 24:9-14.  Paul again refers to this teaching in 1 Tim. 4:1.
2:7   "the one who now holds it back"  The Left Behind (dispensationalist) view of the Rapture holds that this means the Holy Spirit, but there are other interpretations.  It gets complicated.
2:9   These counterfeits are predicted by Jesus in Matt. 24:11 and Mark 13:22.
2:10-12   The phrase "refused to love the truth" implies those who know the truth but have rejected it.  Here we come to an interesting dilemma.  The Scripture says that "God sends that a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie...and will be condemned."  Doesn't it say elsewhere that God doesn't want  "anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9)?  Well, yes it does.  And of course, both are true.  We're not going to easily explain the tension between God's sovereignty and man's free will, but if we can keep in mind that it is a "both/and" proposition rather than an "either/or" one we'll be okay.  God's condemnation and rejection are on those who "refuse to love the truth" and "have delighted in wickedness."  These are people who know that what they are doing is wrong (Rom. 1:18-21, 1 Tim. 4:1-2), yet they refuse to repent and, ultimately, they are unable to repent.  In effect, God says "Fine. If this is what you want, so be it.  I'll even give you a hand."  There does come an end to His patience.
2:13   God chose us; we did not choose Him (Matt. 11:27; John 6:44-45, 13:18a, 15:16).  Christian doctrine states -- and this holds true whether you are a Calvinist or an Arminian -- that God must seek us before we can seek Him.  "For it is by grace you have been saved..." (Eph. 2:8)  Rather than be troubled over some of the seemingly negative implications of this (i.e. I had no choice in the matter, etc.), I think the proper way to view it, and view God, with deep humility and gratitude for His tremendous love and mercy.
2:15   Stand firm.  Jesus says it, Paul says it, Peter says it...maybe it's important.
2:16-3:5   A lot of good words used here: encouragement, hope, strengthen, delivered, faithful, protect, confidence, perseverance
3:6-10   There is a lesson here about abdicating your rights when there is something much larger at stake.  I don't think any of us would think it appropriate to expect Dave and Kyle to minister to us for free.  Yet that is what Paul and Silas and Timothy did among the Thessalonians so they would understand there are more important things than "getting what you've earned."  And it gives a lot of weight to their teaching when they tell them "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
3:11  In other words, they aren't working, but instead are busy with things that aren't really their business.