Reference: Thessalonians, Second Epistle To The
Hastings
THESSALONIANS, SECOND EPISTLE TO THE
1. Occasion and date.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
for many shall come in my name saying, I am the Christ, and shall deceive many.
and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will grow cold.
for there shall rise up false Christs, and false prophets, who shall shew great signs and prodigies, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
The former treatise, O Theophilus, I made concerning all that Jesus undertook both to do and to teach; till the day in which He was taken up, after He had by the holy Spirit given instructions to the apostles whom He had chosen: read more. to whom also He presented Himself alive, after He had suffered, by many certain proofs; being seen among them for forty days, and speaking of the things relating to the kingdom of God. And meeting them together He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said He, ye have heard from me;
And meeting them together He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said He, ye have heard from me; for John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall within a few days be baptized with the holy Spirit.
for John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall within a few days be baptized with the holy Spirit. Being therefore come together they asked Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?
Being therefore come together they asked Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father hath reserved in his own power.
And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father hath reserved in his own power. But ye shall receive power from the holy Spirit coming upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.
But ye shall receive power from the holy Spirit coming upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth. And having said these things, as they were looking upon Him, He was lifted up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
And having said these things, as they were looking upon Him, He was lifted up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they were looking stedfastly toward heaven, as He went up, behold two men in white stood by them;
And while they were looking stedfastly toward heaven, as He went up, behold two men in white stood by them; who said, Ye men of Galilee, why do ye stand gazing up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in the manner ye have seen Him going into heaven. read more. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath-day's journey.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all met together with one accord.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all met together with one accord. And suddenly there was a sound from heaven as of a strong rushing wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And suddenly there was a sound from heaven as of a strong rushing wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And suddenly there was a sound from heaven as of a strong rushing wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them divided tongues, as it were of fire, and it sat upon each of them:
And there appeared unto them divided tongues, as it were of fire, and it sat upon each of them: and they were all filled with the holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance. read more. Now there were at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this rumor was spread, the multitude came together and were astonished; for every one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were all amazed and wondered, saying to one another, Behold, are not all these, that are speaking, Galileans? and how do we every one hear them in our own native tongue? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those that dwell in Mesopotamia, and Judea, and Capadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed and in doubt, saying one to another, What can this mean? but others scoffing said, they are full of sweet wine. But Peter standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and listen to my words: for these men are not drunk, as ye suppose; for it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel, "And it shall come to pass in the last days (saith God) that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple together at the hour of prayer, which is the ninth hour. And a certain man who had been lame from his birth was carried along; whom they laid every day at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of those that were going into the temple: read more. who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked alms of them. But Peter, and John, looking earnestly at him said, Look on us. And he fixed his eyes upon them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, Silver and gold I have not; but what I have I give thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And taking him by the right hand, he raised him up: and immediately his feet and ancles were strengthened: and leaping up he stood firm, and walked; and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: and knew that it was he who sat to ask for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with astonishment and extasy at what had befallen him. And as the lame man that was healed had hold of Peter and John, all the people being astonished ran together to them to the porch called Solomon's porch.
And as the lame man that was healed had hold of Peter and John, all the people being astonished ran together to them to the porch called Solomon's porch. And Peter seeing this said to the people, Men of Israel, why marvel ye at this, or why look ye so earnestly on us, as if by our own power or piety we had made this man able to walk? read more. The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his son Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and denied before Pilate, when he determined to release Him. But ye refused the holy and righteous One, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you: and put to death the prince of life; whom God hath raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And through faith in his name, hath strengthened this man, whom ye see and know: his name, I say, and saith in Him, hath wrought this perfect cure before you all. And now, brethren, I know that ye did it through ignorance, as did also your rulers:
And now, brethren, I know that ye did it through ignorance, as did also your rulers: but thus hath God accomplished those things which He had foretold by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer.
For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among yourselves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.
Are ye ignorant, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law) that the law hath power over a man, only so long as it liveth? For a married woman is bound by the law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband die, she is discharged from the law of her husband. read more. Therefore while her husband is living, she shall be called an adulteress if she become another man's: but if her husband be dead, she is free from the law; so that she is not an adulteress, though she become another man's. And thus, my brethren, ye also are dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye might become another's, even his who is raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions while we were under the law operated in our bodies so as to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead by which we were bound, that we might serve God in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Now I exhort you, brethren, to mark those who cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them; for such people serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by a soothing address and good words deceive the hearts of the innocent. read more. For your obedience is come to the knowledge of all: and therefore I rejoice on your account; but yet I would have you wise to that which is good, and simple as to that which is evil. And the God of peace will soon bruise Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath a believer with an infidel?
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transformed into apostles of Christ. And no wonder: for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. read more. It is therefore no great thing, if his ministers also be transformed into ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Tell me, you that are so desirous to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? where it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by a servant, and one by a free-woman? read more. But he who was of the servant, was born according to the course of nature; whereas the son of the free-woman was by virtue of the promise. Which things are figurative; for these persons are emblems of the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, bringing forth children unto bondage, which is Hagar: for this name Hagar, a rock, is expressive of mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem above is represented by the free-woman, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice thou barren, that for a while didst not bear, break forth and cry aloud for joy, thou that didst not travail with child; for many more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath an husband." Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of the promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Cast out the servant and her son: for the son of the servant shall not inherit with the son of the free-woman." Now we, my brethren, are not children of the servant, but of the free-woman.
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; who are displeasing to God, and contrary to all men:
who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; who are displeasing to God, and contrary to all men: forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, thus going on to fill up their sins perpetually: but wrath is coming upon them to extremity.
forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, thus going on to fill up their sins perpetually: but wrath is coming upon them to extremity. But we, brethren, being separated from you for a season, in person not in heart, endeavoured the more earnestly to see you again with much desire.
Wherefore being able to contain no longer, we were content to be left alone at Athens,
But now Timothy being come back to us from you, and having brought us good tidings concerning your faith and love, and that ye have always a good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we indeed do to see you; by this we were comforted in you, my brethren, under all our affliction and distress, because of your faith: read more. for now we are revived, since you are stedfast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God concerning you, for all the joy wherewith we rejoice on your account before our God, night and day most ardently praying, that we may see your face, and perfect whatever is wanting in your faith? And may God himself even our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you: and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love to one another, and to all men, as we do towards you: that your hearts may be established unblameable in holiness, before God even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints.
and endeavour to be quiet, and mind your own affairs, and work with your own hands,
For this we tell you in the word of the Lord, that we who shall be living and remain to the coming of the Lord, shall not be before those that are asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with acclamation, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; read more. then we who are living and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we for ever be with the Lord.
then we who are living and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we for ever be with the Lord.
for ye yourselves know full well, that the day of the Lord cometh like a thief in the night. And when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
And admonish the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be of a patient spirit towards all.
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ;
seeing it is a righteous thing with God to render affliction to those that afflict you; and to you, who are in trouble, rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven,
and to you, who are in trouble, rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction, by the presence of the Lord and by his glorious power:
who shall be punished with everlasting destruction, by the presence of the Lord and by his glorious power: in that day, when He shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe; because our testimony among you was believed.
But as to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto Him,
But as to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto Him,
But as to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto Him, we beseech you, brethren, that ye be not soon moved from your steadiness of mind, or troubled, neither by Spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, that the day of Christ is at hand.
we beseech you, brethren, that ye be not soon moved from your steadiness of mind, or troubled, neither by Spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, that the day of Christ is at hand.
we beseech you, brethren, that ye be not soon moved from your steadiness of mind, or troubled, neither by Spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, that the day of Christ is at hand.
we beseech you, brethren, that ye be not soon moved from your steadiness of mind, or troubled, neither by Spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, that the day of Christ is at hand.
we beseech you, brethren, that ye be not soon moved from your steadiness of mind, or troubled, neither by Spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, that the day of Christ is at hand. Let not any one deceive you by any means; for it shall not come till there come an apostasy first, and the man of sin be revealed,
Let not any one deceive you by any means; for it shall not come till there come an apostasy first, and the man of sin be revealed,
Let not any one deceive you by any means; for it shall not come till there come an apostasy first, and the man of sin be revealed,
Let not any one deceive you by any means; for it shall not come till there come an apostasy first, and the man of sin be revealed,
Let not any one deceive you by any means; for it shall not come till there come an apostasy first, and the man of sin be revealed,
Let not any one deceive you by any means; for it shall not come till there come an apostasy first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or the object of worship; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or the object of worship; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or the object of worship; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or the object of worship; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or the object of worship; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or the object of worship; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Do ye not remember, that when I was with you, I told you these things?
Do ye not remember, that when I was with you, I told you these things? And ye know what now hindereth him from being revealed in his own time.
And ye know what now hindereth him from being revealed in his own time. For the mystery of iniquity is already working, only there is one that hindreth till he be taken out of the way.
For the mystery of iniquity is already working, only there is one that hindreth till he be taken out of the way.
For the mystery of iniquity is already working, only there is one that hindreth till he be taken out of the way.
For the mystery of iniquity is already working, only there is one that hindreth till he be taken out of the way.
For the mystery of iniquity is already working, only there is one that hindreth till he be taken out of the way.
For the mystery of iniquity is already working, only there is one that hindreth till he be taken out of the way.
For the mystery of iniquity is already working, only there is one that hindreth till he be taken out of the way.
For the mystery of iniquity is already working, only there is one that hindreth till he be taken out of the way. And then the wicked one shall be detected, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth, and abolish by the brightness of his coming:
And then the wicked one shall be detected, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth, and abolish by the brightness of his coming:
And then the wicked one shall be detected, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth, and abolish by the brightness of his coming:
And then the wicked one shall be detected, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth, and abolish by the brightness of his coming:
And then the wicked one shall be detected, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth, and abolish by the brightness of his coming: who comes, through the efficacy of Satan, with all kind of lying power, and signs,
who comes, through the efficacy of Satan, with all kind of lying power, and signs,
who comes, through the efficacy of Satan, with all kind of lying power, and signs,
who comes, through the efficacy of Satan, with all kind of lying power, and signs, and wonders, and with all iniquitous fraud, among those that shall perish; because they received not the love of the truth, by which they might be saved.
and wonders, and with all iniquitous fraud, among those that shall perish; because they received not the love of the truth, by which they might be saved.
and wonders, and with all iniquitous fraud, among those that shall perish; because they received not the love of the truth, by which they might be saved.
and wonders, and with all iniquitous fraud, among those that shall perish; because they received not the love of the truth, by which they might be saved. And for this cause God will send upon them the efficacy of error, so that they shall themselves believe the lie:
And for this cause God will send upon them the efficacy of error, so that they shall themselves believe the lie:
And for this cause God will send upon them the efficacy of error, so that they shall themselves believe the lie:
And for this cause God will send upon them the efficacy of error, so that they shall themselves believe the lie: that they may all be condemned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in iniquity.
that they may all be condemned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in iniquity.
that they may all be condemned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in iniquity.
that they may all be condemned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in iniquity.
Therefore, brethren, be steady, and hold fast the traditions, which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our letter.
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for all have not faith.
The salutation of me Paul by my own hand, which is the token in every epistle; for so I write,
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that an antichrist will come, there are even now many antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time.
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that an antichrist will come, there are even now many antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time.
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that an antichrist will come, there are even now many antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time.
Who is a liar, if not he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, that denieth the Father as well as the Son;
Who is a liar, if not he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, that denieth the Father as well as the Son;
and every spirit that doth not confess Jesus Christ, who is come in the flesh, is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, which ye have heard was coming, and is already in the world.
And I saw another beast ascending out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb; but he spake like a dragon. And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his presence; and makes the earth, and those that dwell in it, to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. read more. And he doth great wonders, so that even maketh fire to come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men; and deceiveth those that dwell on the earth, by the signs which it was given him to do in the presence of the beast, telling the inhabitants of the earth to make an image to the beast, that had received the wound of the sword, and yet lived. And he was permitted to give life to the image of the beast, that it might both speak, and cause all those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. And he maketh all, both small and great, rich and poor, free-men and slaves, to receive a mark on their right hand, or on their foreheads: and that no one might buy or sell, but he that hath the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom required; and let him, that hath understanding, compute the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred sixty six.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, who had wrought signs before him, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were slain with the sword of Him that sitteth upon the horse, the sword that cometh out of his mouth: and all the fowls of heaven were satiated with their flesh.
And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Smith
Thessalo'nians, Second Epistle to the,
appears to have been written from Corinth not very long after the first, for Silvanus and Timotheus were still with St. Paul.
In the former letter we saw chiefly the outpouring of strong personal affection, occasioned by the renewal of the apostle's intercourse with the Thessalonians, and the doctrinal and hortatory portions are there subordinate. In the Second Epistle, on the other hand, his leading motive seems to have been the desire of correcting errors in the church of Thessalonica. We notice two points especially which call for his rebuke:-- First, it seems that the anxious expectation of the Lord's advent. Instead of subsiding, had gained ground since the writing of the First Epistle. Second, the apostle had also a personal ground of complaint. His authority was not denied by any, but it was tampered with, and an unauthorized use was made of his name. It will be seen that the teaching of the Second Epistle is corrective of or rather supplemental to that of the first, and therefore presupposes it. This epistle, in the range of subject as well as in style and general character closely resembles the first; and the remarks made on that epistle apply for the most part equally well to this. The structure is somewhat similar the main body of the epistle being divided into two parts in the same way, and each part closing with a prayer. ch.
The epistle ends with a special direction and benediction. ch.
The external evidence in favor of the Second Epistle is somewhat more definite than that which can be brought in favor of the first. The internal character of the epistle too, as in the former case, bears the strongest testimony to its Pauline origin. Its genuineness, in fact, was never questioned until the beginning of the present century.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
to these indeed we are an odor of death to death; to those an odor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not like many who adulterate the word of God: but as with sincerity, but as from God, and in the sight of God, we speak concerning Christ.
Though when it turneth unto the Lord, the veil is taken off: now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. read more. But we all with unveiled face beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are transformed according to the same image from glory to glory, as proceeding from the Spirit of the Lord.