The Strand Study Bible

II THESSALONIANS

Author: Paul Theme: The DAY OF THE LORD

About the Author: Paul, whose name means “little,” was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin (Phil 3:5), and a native of Tarsus, a city of Cilicia (Acts 21:39 & 22:3). Also called Saul, Paul inherited the rights of Roman citizenship (Acts 22:28) because his father was a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). At the age of perhaps thirteen (Acts 26:4-5), Paul was sent to Jerusalem and there became a student of orthodox Judaism under Gamaliel, a teacher of the law (Acts 22:3). Paul is first mentioned in Acts 7:58 where we find him consenting to the death of Stephen. His fanatical devotion to Judaism and his extreme hatred for Christianity made him the acknowledged leader of the Christian persecution. The spread of Christianity forced Paul to travel far and wide for his victims. Armed with authority from the High Priest, Paul journeyed toward Damascus where he had heard there were many Christians. It was while he was approaching that city that his wonderful conversion took place (c. AD 37 - Acts 9:3-6). For the next thirty years (from c. AD 37 to 67), until his death, Paul would go on three missionary journeys and face two Roman imprisonments. He would write thirteen epistles (fourteen, if you count Hebrews) and become known as the preacher to the Gentiles. About the Book: Once again, Paul praised the Thessalonians for their example in steadfastness and, again, tried to comfort them concerning the return of Christ. It appears that sometime after Paul’s departure from Thessalonica, a false teaching had begun to be circulated amongst the Thessalonica Christians concerning the sequence of events surrounding the return of Jesus Christ. Since many of themwere presently suffering harsh persecution, they thought “ that DAY ” (the coming Great Tribulation; the DAY OF THE LORD ) had already come. Paul assured them that “ that DAY ” would not come “until” two events take place (II Thess 2:1-3). Paul assured them that they were not going through the Great Tribulation at the moment (I Thess 5:1-9 and II Thess 2:1-3). II Thessalonians was written from Corinth c. AD 52, during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (Acts 18:10). Helpful Background: Paul first visited Thessalonica while on his Second Missionary Journey around AD 52 (Acts 17:1-10). Paul and Silas immediately after being released from a Philippian jail, arrived in Thessalonica. Again, Jewish opposition and persecution met the Apostle and his stay at Thessalonica was cut short (around three weeks - Acts 17:2). Forced to flee once again, Paul traveled to Berea and then on to Athens. From Athens, Paul sent Timothy and Silas back to Thessalonica to help the newly troubled church (I Thess 3:12). Paul then traveled alone to Corinth (Acts 18:1). When Timothy and Silas returned from Thessalonica (Acts 18:5 and I Thess 3:6-7), their report on the Thessalonian church prompted Paul to write I Thessalonians . No doubt, Timothy and Erastus delivered the epistle (Acts 19:22). II Thessalonians was written approximately three months after I Thessalonians . Notes of Interest: 1. There are no OT quotations or characters found in II Thessalonians . 2. Prophecies are referred to 15 times in II Thessalonians . 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 10 of those 15 times. 4. There is 1 inset map used in the book of II Thessalonians . It is numbered chronologically (#47). Outline of II Thessalonians :

1. Paul encourages the persecuted Thessalonians (II Thess 1) 2. Paul comforts the misguided Thessalonians (II Thess 2) 3. Paul covets their prayers (II Thess 3) II Thessalonians 1 Greetings from Paul to the the persecuted Thessalonians Date Written - c. AD 52

tions that ye endure: 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the 6 KINGDOM OF GOD , for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; The promise of Wrath when CHRIST returns at Armageddon (Fulfilled - Rev 19:11-21) 7 And to you who are troubled 7 rest with us, when the 8 LORD JESUS shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty 9 angels, P 8 8 In flaming fire taking 10 vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the 11 gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: P

1. Acts 17:1 & I Thess 1:1 2. Joel 2:13 3. I Thess 3:5,10 4. I Thess 2:19 & 3:4-9 5. Acts 17:5 6. Psa 22:28 7. Heb 3:11 8. Fulfilled - Rev 19:11-21 (Christ’s Second Coming) 9. Rev 19:14 & Deut 33:2 10. Fulfilled - Rev 14:14-20 & 19:17-21 (Armageddon) 11. I Cor 15:1-4 & Psa 16:10 & Job 19:25

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the 1 Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your 3 faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith 5 in all your persecutions and tribula-

2014