2 Thessalonians 2:2

that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled Lit., to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind (R. V.): more freely rendered: we beseech you … not to lose your balance of mind under any sudden shock; or keeping nearer to the Greek, not to be shaken out of your wits.

"Quickly" points, as probably in Galatians 1:6, to the speedy effectof the disturbing cause. Starting declarations were made about the Second Advent; the Thessalonians must take care that they are not carried away by them. Let them resist the first impression of these sensational announcements, and put them to the test of cool judgement and enquiry, as men who "prove all things" (1 Thessalonians 5:21); they will find out how baseless they really are.

nor yet, he continues, be kept in alarm. The former clause describes the overthrow of one's mental equilibrium; this deprecates a continued agitation, a nervous, fluttered condition of mind. The word occurs in the like connection in Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7: "When ye shall hear of wars, &c., be not troubled" i.e. alarmed, discomposed. From the words that follow it is evident that various attempts were made to disturb the Church upon this subject; and while some would be startled at once out of their self-possession, others, less excitable, would still by the recurrence of the rumours be kept in perturbation.

neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us There is a contrast in the Greek between the two states of mind just referred to (shaken, nor yet troubled), but not between the various means by which they were produced; for the latter were used not as alternatives, but in combination. Hence the R. V. renders: either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us.

The import of the phrase "by spirit" is apparent from 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (see notes). Gifts of prophecywere possessed by various members of the Church, and men professing to speak "through Spirit" i.e. under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and by a supernatural influence were declaring, "The Day of the Lord is come!"

"Word" stands in contrast with "spirit," just as "word of wisdom" and "of knowledge" with "prophecy," and "doctrine" with "revelation," in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11; 1 Corinthians 14:26. It denotes the ordinary expression of rational thought and judgement, in distinction from the ecstatic or prophetic utterances of supernaturally inspired persons.

"As from us" strictly, as through (or by) us; the preposition is the same that has been used thrice already in the clause. But this phrase appears to qualify epistlealone, not spiritor word; for these latter modes of communication belonged to others besides the Apostle. It was by letterthat his authorisation was claimed for the rumour in question. "As through us" signifies as though on our authority; comp. "through the Lord Jesus," 1 Thessalonians 4:2. Was this opinion ascribed to the Apostle from misinterpretation of his previous letter, or of some other letter to the Thessalonians not preserved for us? or on the, authority of a pretended, or even forged Epistle? It is impossible to answer with certainty. His reference is vague, perhaps intentionally so. He surmised that his authority was being abused in this way, but possibly had no precise information on the point. If some members of the Church had not had the former Epistle communicated to them, as when writing 1 Thessalonians 5:27 he feared might happen, it may easily have been misrepresented, or misquoted, to the effect indicated. On the other hand, the fact that at the close of this Epistle (ch. 2 Thessalonians 3:17) he guards his readers against imposture, suggests to us that actual deceit was attempted; comp. the words of the next verse, "Let no one cheatyou." The authors of the false announcement must at least have hinted at the existence of another letter in their favour, if they wished to persuade those well acquainted with our First Epistle; for 1 Thessalonians lends no countenance to their views. A hint of this kind, brought to the Apostle's knowledge, would put him at once upon his guard.

as that the day of Christ is at hand Both reading and rendering are at fault here. As thatis equal to supposing that: the agitation which the Apostle deprecates being such as this belief would naturally create. Day of Christshould be day of the Lord, as in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 (see note), and elsewhere (of Christ, however, in Philippians 1:10; Philippians 2:16). And the verb means more than is at hand, rather, is now present(R. V.), is upon us; under the same verb (in its participle) "things present" are contrasted with "things to come" in Romans 8:38, and 1 Corinthians 3:22.

This enthusiastic Church, full of the thought of Christ's heavenly kingdom, was ready to believe what it wished, and lent too credulous an ear to those who in such a time of spiritual tension and exaltation were sure to be found crying out, "Lo here!" or "Lo there!" Against this class of agitators the Lord warned His people. When He does return. He will have no need of heralds or forerunners; "For as the lightning shines out, flashing from the one side of heaven unto the other, so will the Son of Man be in His day" (Matthew 24:27; Luke 17:14).