2 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 2 THESSALONIANS 2:1 Disproving the False Claim about the Day of the Lord. Paul reassures the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord has not come. In 1 Thessalonians 5:1 he responded to a question from the community about the timing of the day of the Lord. He has now heard tha... [ Continue Reading ]
2 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 2 THESSALONIANS 2:2 The Thessalonians were SHAKEN and ALARMED by the false claim that the day of the Lord had already come. Paul did not know the source of the confusion, but he suggests a number of possibilities: A SPIRIT. An alleged prophetic word. A SPOKEN WORD. A teaching... [ Continue Reading ]
2 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 2 THESSALONIANS 2:3 Two events will come before the day of the Lord. Neither has happened yet. The FIRST event is THE REBELLION. In light of vv. 2 Thessalonians 2:9, Paul probably is describing a rebellion of all humanity against God. THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS IS REVEALED. The p... [ Continue Reading ]
2 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 2 THESSALONIANS 2:4 Paul draws on Daniel 11:36 when he writes that the lawless one OPPOSES AND EXALTS HIMSELF AGAINST EVERY SO-CALLED GOD OR OBJECT OF WORSHIP. The Antichrist will insist that he alone is God. His actions will be like those of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (see Danie... [ Continue Reading ]
2 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 2 THESSALONIANS 2:5 The man of lawlessness cannot be unveiled while WHAT IS RESTRAINING HIM NOW is at work. Paul refers also to HE WHO NOW RESTRAINS. Scholarly theories on the identity of this restrainer include the Roman Empire/emperor, the Holy Spirit, and the archangel Mic... [ Continue Reading ]
2 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 2 THESSALONIANS 2:8 THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH (compare Isaiah 11:4). Jesus will easily destroy the Antichrist. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 2 THESSALONIANS 2:9 THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING. Those who have not believed the gospel. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 2 THESSALONIANS 2:11 GOD SENDS THEM A STRONG DELUSION. As part of his righteous judgment, God lets unbelievers follow the Antichrist (BELIEVE WHAT IS FALSE). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 2 THESSALONIANS 2:13 BELOVED BY THE LORD.... GOD CHOSE YOU. See note on 1 Thess. 1:4. This may echo Deuteronomy 26:18, which refers to God’s choice of Israel. AS THE FIRSTFRUITS. Like the first harvested fruit or grain, the Thessalonians are set apart for God’s use (see Levit... [ Continue Reading ]
2 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 2 THESSALONIANS 2:14 THIS. That is, salvation (v. 2 Thessalonians 2:13). OBTAIN THE GLORY. See 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
2 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 2 THESSALONIANS 2:15 Paul encourages the Thessalonians to STAND FIRM AND HOLD TO THE TRADITIONS that were communicated to them BY OUR SPOKEN WORD during his ministry among them and by 1 Thessalonians 1:1 (OUR LETTER). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName [ Continue Reading ]