Revised by Matthew L. Skinner, 04/23
Idleness
Idle behavior is condemned, not because inactivity is contrary to the gospel, but because it needlessly disrupts the life and work of the persecuted community of faith (3:10-15). Evangelists who do not support themselves financially do not conform to the pattern of the apostles’ ministry (3:6-9) and thus may bring disrepute upon the gospel.
Jesus’ second coming
The letter does not mention Jesus’ death or resurrection but focuses on what he is yet to do when he will be “revealed from heaven” (1:7), vindicating believers and destroying evil. The description of Christ’s return (1:5-2:12) acknowledges the reality of evil, reaffirms God’s justice, and asserts Christ’s supremacy over forces of lawlessness that will be annihilated merely by “the breath of his mouth” (2:8).
Persecution, vengeance, and eternal destruction
Assurances of retribution upon persecutors expand to encompass the destruction of those who do not know God or obey the gospel (1:6-10). In other books PaulThe Apostle Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was the author of several New Testament letters and the founder of many Christian communities. More speaks of Christ’s return in terms of how it will benefit believers; 2 Thessalonians describes the event as bringing about the destruction of enemies, to declare that God will prove to be just, despite the proliferation of lawlessness in the world. These themes are not present in other letters that scholars are confident Paul wrote.
End-times enthusiasm
Second Thessalonians warns its audience against living with an enthusiastic apocalyptic fervor. Somehow people had given themselves over to the idea that “the day of the LordThe Day of the Lord, in prophetic writing, is the day of judgment when God will intervene directly in world affairs. As described in Zephaniah, for instance, God will sweep everything away. In Matthew’s gospel God is described as gathering the elect on the day… More has already come” (2:2), meaning possibly that people were living as though they were in the final days of the current age. Evidently this led to irresponsible behavior by some (3:6-15), which could have damaged the church’s reputation among its neighbors and contributed to hardship in the community’s internal relationships. Ardent hopes and foolish speculation about JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God’s saving act for humanity. More returning very soon, or according to a discernible timetable, occasionally captivate some Christians, usually leading to damaging consequences. The phenomenon appears to have been around for some time, at least since the writing of 2 Thessalonians.
