Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:
* They are officially published under that name * They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author * They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
I like that Paul reminded the Thessalonians of the End Times. It’s important to know where we’re going once we die. We don’t just wallow in a grave, folks. There are two options: eternal death or eternal life. By God’s grace, I hope you choose the latter.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received for us.
-2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV
In flaming vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: When shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Paul focuses this Epistle to the Thessalonians on the importance of the Lord's second coming. It is the source of the community's hope and motive for a holy life. He also addressed their doubts amidst their persecutions and encouraged them to stand strong.
MY BIBLE CHALLENGE: In January 2015 I set myself the challenge to read the complete Bible within a year. I discovered that was an unrealistic challenge, and decided to pick up my Bible as and when I felt ready to read more of it. Here is a link to all the reviews in my Bible challenge so far:
Sidenote: The reason for such vague and short and "eh" words on each of these books, is because I wasn't challenging the study of the Bible when I read these. I was challenging myself to read the whole Bible in a year because I knew it would be discipline to keep at it daily. I do, however, plan to pick up a book and study what it is saying. Those will be longer reads and more notes.
So here is my review from my "Read the Bible in a Year" challenge. Usually just snippets of thoughts and random things I liked about the book itself. Nothing in-depth.
So here is my review of 2 Thessalonians!
Again, Paul the wise. I need to actually study these letters. I bet there is a lot I am missing.
One of the characteristics of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians is that every chapter in both books makes reference to some aspect of the return of Jesus Christ. Consequently these books are important for understanding future events. Power-packed chapters!
Following up on his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul wrote to give further clarification on the Day of the Lord and elucidate on how to live the Christian life in light of the coming return of Christ. Some of the Thessalonians had apparently believed that there was no point in working if Jesus was coming back soon, forcing others to provide for their needs; however, Paul opposes this belief and reminds them that they were called to stand firm and live useful lives. He expresses the need for them to make the most of whatever time was given them and work hard, whether Christ's return was to come in the near future or not, because the day of Christ's return is not known and could come at any time (Matthew 24:36).
And the same is true for us. We don't know how long (or how short) our time is here on this earth. We don't know if we will die tomorrow or be taken up to heaven 30 years from now. We just need to do what we can now, while we can. Thus, we are to keep laboring and "not grow weary of doing good" (Galatians 6:9), giving our utmost so that one day, as we sit in the Holy One's glorious presence, we will hear those beautiful words: "Well done, My good and faithful servant, My dearest child. Enter into the joy of My kingdom." That's the kind of life I want to live, and those are the words I want to hear one day when I get to heaven.
Paul continues to admonish the Thessalonians and to teach them about the end times. Some apparently believed that Jesus had already returned. Paul disabused them of this, saying before Jesus returns, a 'man of sin' would be revealed. This would be somewhat mysterious without the Book of Revelation which shows a worldwide leader called 'the Beast' who will demand to be worshiped by the whole world.
Spoiler alert: See Revelation 19 if you want to find out what happens to him and Who does him in.
These New Testament letters were read aloud in the church during the service. I can't imagine being a Christian at that time hearing these letters and how they would affect me. Then the letters would be sent to adjoining churches as well.
1:3-4 Paul was thankful for their faith, love, and steadfast endurance 1:11 worthy of His calling 2:3 "Let no one deceive you in any way" 2:10 Don't refuse to love the truth! 2:15 "STAND FIRM" 3:1 pray this 3:5 pray this 3:10 we must work 3:13 "do not grow weary in doing good"
-God will send strong delusions to those who do not believe. -If you don't work, you don't eat. -Don't be a busybody. Work quietly and eat your own bread. -As always, peace be to you.
In 2 Thessalonians, Paul discusses persecution, the return of Jesus, the need to remain hopeful and faithful, and idleness among believers. It reminds us that what we hope for shapes what we live for.
Again, I'm caught by seemingly superficial details in the writing of Paul's letters that actually hint at a much larger story.
"I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand, which is an authenticating mark in every letter; this is how I wrote."
An authenticating mark. Huh. Surely someone wouldn't have tried to pass themselves off as Paul just to preach their own beliefs to the churches . . . right?
Unfortunately, Paul suggests that there were predatory people who did just that, as he says early on in this letter, "We ask you, brothers and sisters, not to be easily upset or troubled [. . .] by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come."
This is one of those points I've always brushed over without really thinking about it, but one can imagine how hard it must have been--especially in a world where long-distance communication was such a sluggish enterprise--to prevent these types of situations from happening.
How many churches received forged letters full of false beliefs? How many people bought into the lies? Hopefully not many. But the fact that Paul mentions it in 2 Thessalonians makes me think it probably happened more than once.
Call it the ancient world's equivalent of an email phishing scam, I guess? "Hey guys, it's really me, Paul. Just click this link and enter your account info . . . OR YOU'RE GOING TO HELL!!! MWA HA HA HA!!!!"
Second Thessalonians is the fifty-third book in the Bible and the fourteenth in the New Testament. It was written by the Apostle Paul only a few months after the first letter. May of the themes in this letter are similar to the first, making it possible that Paul had received a second report about the church in which they had more questions and concerns about what was answered in the first letter.
Unlike the first letter, which was Purcell encouraging, this letter has some warning about false teachers along with the encouragement. Expounding more on the end times, he covers the topic of the “man of lawlessness” which would precede the coming of Christ. Their faith should still mature due to the hope of the return of Christ, despite what the false teachers stated.
This book has even more details about the end times. There is often debate over the topics discussed, but to keep it simple, hope in Christ’s return should fuel our maturity and increase our desire for godliness. This letter continues and deepens several points made in First Thessalonians, and they should be read together for a fuller picture. Once again, the discussions prompted from this book, as well as the first letter to the Thessalonians, are rich and varied and should be used for edification instead of rage and disagreement.
The version I read was actually 2 Thessalonians- The New Oxford Annotated Bible With The Apocrypha - College Edition - p. 2080 -2083.
Of the twenty-one Pauline Epistles, thirteen of these are attributed to Paul: of these six (the Deutero-Pauline Epistles) are thought by scholars not to have been written by Paul. The remaining eight (Catholic or Universal) Epistles are written by various authors. Paul's letters were all written to churches to address specific problems. The Epistles address what to believe and how to behave.
2:1 . . . .we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed either by spirit or by word or by letter , as though from us
Paul had opponents. Either they were writing other (false) letters, or this is a false (not authored by Paul) letter.
2:4 He opposes and exalts himself above even so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.
Perhaps the end times are upon us.
2:11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false,
Free will? I am supposed to overcome the delusion God has sent me?
3:10 . . . . Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.
Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians. I just love Paul, he never fail to surprise me, it doesn't matter how many times I read the Bible, I always find something I never saw before. Case in point: 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
I hang this scripture on my wall at work, as a constant reminder that I am a representative of Jesus in all that I do: 2 Thessalonians 1: 11-12: Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I found this work of immense interest and importance. The compilation of historical accounts, wisdom & proverbial insights, and thought provoking texts, along with descriptive and informative footnotes, are of great value. Explanations, including varying scholarly views depicting the material related in this book, are available for each of the 66 individual books of the Bible. This book is but one of the individual 66 books/letters which were written by forty different authors over at least 1500 years in three different languages on three different continents, which comprise the Bible. Read for life-related reasons and personal research. Overall, a great resource for the researcher, enthusiast, and devotee.
I had forgotten that this book contained info about the second coming and the antichrist. I also did not remember reading about the antichrist having powers for miracles, signs, and wonders.
In addition to those verses, important also are the ones about idleness and that “if a man will not work, he shall not eat” and how should that impact our missions - especially in our first world cities working with the homeless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a great and interesting book of the Bible that provided helpful warnings. 2 Thessalonians warned us that there will be someone who pretends to be God who isn’t really Him. It also helpfully warned us not to be lazy and to get work done. A lot can be taken from this short book. Because of this I give it 5/5 stars.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now may our lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 - Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.
The reading of God's Word is so remarkable that there is nothing that I can say to make it any better. Please, if you are a lost soul, turn to God! He can heal you and give you the greatest peace that you will ever know!
I highly recommend pairing The Bible Recap studies (free podcast/youtube) to your Bible reading. It's helped to bring a fresh perspective to these well-loved books.
Favourite verses (separated in different categories): Interesting verses 🥰 2 Thessalonians 1:11 NIV [11] With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV [4] [The man of lawlessness] will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Revelations I had while reading 🤯 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 NIV [6] God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you [7] and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. [8] He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NIV [9] The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, [10] and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. [11] For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie [12] and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NIV [9] The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, [10] and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. [11] For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie [12] and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Verses to apply to our lives 💁🏾♀️ 2 Thessalonians 2:3 NIV [3] Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 NIV [6] In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 NIV [13] And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
Cute verses 🩷 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 NIV [13] But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. [14] He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV [3] But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 NIV [5] May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV [16] Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
Bonus: funny, but serious verses 🤣 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 NIV [14] Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. [15] Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.