Apparently only shortly after writing his first letter to the thessalonians, paul had to write again to correct a false report that he had said the day of the lord had already come. Internally, the vocabulary, style, and doctrinal content support the claims in 2 thessalonians 1. The book of 2 thessalonians was likely written in ad 5152. Because of its similarity to 1 thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letterperhaps about six months. Since the subject matter of the second letter has a number of thematic.
The church in thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the day of the lord. The same three, paul, silvanus, and timothy sent the letter. They thought it had come already so they stopped with their work. Who wrote the book of 2 thessalonians in the bible. Headings throughout the following book of 2 thessalonians. Second thessalonians is the ninth of pauls letters. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international bible. A preferred manuscript reading of 2 thessalonians 2. Modern biblical scholarship is divided on whether the epistle was written by. Nine of these book are letters to local churches like the one in thessalonica.
Summary two letters that paul wrote to the church in thessalonica are. And hope is exactly what we lack today, one of the great roots of this gradual slip into increased selfcenteredness. Paul certainly wrote 1 thessalonians, but does not appear to be the author of 2 thessalonians, which was written to deal with the embarrassment resulting from pauls belief that jesus would return in his own lifetime, yet died disa. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece. Paul wrote 2 thessalonians from corinth in ad 51 within months of writing the first letter. This summary of the book of 2 thessalonians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview. The headings and subheadings make up an outline of the book. The day of the lord is a concept with a rich old testament background, and was mentioned in pauls previous letter to the thessalonians 1 thessalonians 5. Shortly after writing 1 thessalonians, the apostle paul received a report 2 thess. This would place the writing of the epistle during pauls extended stay at corinth on his second missionary journey cf. Paul was still in corinth and unable to leave his work there. Practical instructions and encouragement 1 thessalonians 4.
Timothy and silassilvanus who were the apostles companions on his second missionary journey 51 to 54 ac were with him now. In his second epistle to the thessalonians, paul wrote words of counsel and clarification to members of the church who misunderstood. Pauls known characteristics are apparent in the letter 3. Now may our lord jesus christ himself, and our god and father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written by the end of ad 52 however, some scholars believe. The theological argument i have decided, you may be glad to learn, that this will be my last post giving the reasons that scholars widely consider 2 thessalonians not to be written by paul, even though it claims to be written by paul. Thankfulness for their reception of the word despite persecution 2. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international.
Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living. The situation in the church seems to have been much the same. In the greek new testament, 2 thessalonians is listed as to the thessalonians. D 51 or 52, paul addresses some misconceptions from his letter in i thessalonians. The author lets them know that they continue to be an example for other churches. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a. One of its striking occurrences is in the orthodox apostolic constitutions, a book of ecclesiastical instructions, ostensibly written in the name of jesus apostles, which warns its readers to avoid books falsely written in the name of jesus apostles vi, 16. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in. It says not to be troubled by a previous letter written as if by paul, whi.
This summary of the book of 2 thessalonians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 2 thessalonians. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the lord, and from the glory of his power. They are included in the body of the text so the reader can see them as he reads the book without having to page over to a. There is some probability, as benson has remarked, that the epistle was written before the troubles came upon him at corinth, under the administration of gallio, acts 18. The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, silas, and timothy. Second epistle to the thessalonians read the bible online. Over a quarter of 1 thessalonians and nearly half of 2 thessalonians deal with problems and issues regarding the parousia or coming of christ from heaven. Paul, and silvanus, and timotheus, unto the church of the thessalonians in god our father and the. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of first thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork.
The book of 2 timothy was written in approximately a. Summary of the book of 2 thessalonians story of the bible. Second thessalonians does not have nearly as widespread acceptance as does 1 thessalonians. The first letter 1 thessalonians was written to a community of believers who had been christians for only a short period of time, probably no more than a few months.
Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians story of the. Second thessalonians was undoubtedly written to deal with the embarrassment resulting from pauls belief that jesus would return in his own lifetime, yet died disappointed. It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a coauthor. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle of the new testament of the christian bible. Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our lord jesus christ, in the sight of god and our father. It had already been the recipient of an earlier letter first thessalonians.
However, such arguments have not convinced current interpreters. One cannot help thinking of 2 thessalonians, which cautions against letters falsely. Second thessalonians appears to have been written just a few months, possibly a year, after first thessalonians. Paul wrote this letter to reemphasize the coming return of jesus christ. This summary of the book of 2 thessalonians provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 2 thessalonians. The thessalonian letters present the first literary evidence for the use of parousia. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of god 1 thessalonians 4.
However, from the parallel arrangement in 2 thessalonians 2. The external attestation to the authenticity of 2 thessalonians is even stronger than that for 1 thessalonians. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international bible society. The day of the lord was a phrase from the hebrew prophets to describe gods key victory over every opponent, when his faithful ones would be rewarded. Thanksgiving for the conversion and zeal of the thessalonians 1.
Imprisoned in rome yet again, the apostle paul felt lonely and abandoned. If paul were the author, the books would have had to be written just a few months apart. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international. Pauls second letter to the thessalonians is a follow up to the first. Summary of the book of 2 thessalonians story of the. As in 1 thessalonians, the author thanks god that the thessalonian christians continue to grow in faith and love, in spite of the difficulties and suffering they are going through.
He saw the need to do a follow up letter to correct false doctrines about the day of the lord as some had thought it had already occurred. The letter is more focused on problems in the church and may reflect the receipt of later news from the thessalonians. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica. Watch our overview video on 2 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. After the pastoral epistles and ephesians, in fact, 2 thessalonians is the most doubted book in the corpus paulinum. It appears to have been written shortly after 1 thessalonians, in response to certain reports that had come to the apostle regarding the thessalonians progress 3. In particular, it is suggested that the development in pauls thinking as reflected in 2 thessalonians reveals that his theological formulations developed in response to situations in his fledgling communities. As you read the words of 2 thessalonians, allow them to rekindle your hope and fan into flame your desire to live in godhonoring, industrious ways. Interesting facts about 2 thessalonians bible charts. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living ministries. Pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians has been questioned more often than that of 1 thessalonians, in spite of the fact that it. Early church writers are agreed on the matter, with testimonies beginning as early as a.
Modern biblical scholarship is divided on whether the epistle was written by paul. Summary of the book of 2 thessalonians bible survey. Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians story of the bible. The second epistle to the thessalonians begins with almost the same wording as the first epistle. Both 1 thessalonians and 2 thessalonians are traditionally believed to have been written by paul in athens. This may well be true of 1 thessalonians, but most new testament scholars say that 2. It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in the city of thessalonica compare 1. Paul knew that hope in christ would encourage perseverance in godly living. The implications of including 2 thessalonians among the authentic pauline writings are then examined. The church in thessalonica still had some misconceptions about. Book of 2 thessalonians, explained scripture by scripture.
The book of 2 nd thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. The book of 2 thessalonians was written shortly after the book of 1 thessalonians, probably within a few months. A majority still hold to pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of leaving. Now may the god of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our lord jesus christ comes again. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a jewish synagogue on three successive sabbath days. Though only three chapters in length, almost of the book repeats what. The time of this writing was surely a few months after the first epistle, while paul was still in corinth with silas and timothy 1. In acts, luke recorded that paul preached for three sabbath days to the jews in the. The apostle paul identified himself twice as the author of this letter 1. Paul needed to address the three troubles the church in thessalonica faced.
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