At a Glance
2 Thessalonians at a Glance
Second Thessalonians is shorter and sharper than the first letter. A few months after Paul wrote to comfort the Thessalonians, new troubles had come, and he wrote again to steady them.
- Author. Paul, with Silvanus and Timothy (2 Thessalonians 1:1). Paul signed with his own hand, the token in every epistle, because a letter had been forged in his name (2 Thessalonians 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:2).
- Date. About AD 51, from Corinth, a few months after 1 Thessalonians.
- Written To. The same young church at Thessalonica.
- Setting. The persecution had grown (2 Thessalonians 1:4). A report, said to come by spirit, word, or letter from Paul, claimed that the day of Christ was already here (2 Thessalonians 2:2). And some members had stopped working (2 Thessalonians 3:11).
- Key Verse. stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
- Key Word or Theme. Steadfast hope. Believers stand fast in the truth and keep working while they wait.
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Further reading
For Deeper Study
- First and Second ThessaloniansAmazon Charles C. RyrieA short, clear commentary in the Everyman's Bible Commentary series from a dispensational, pretribulational scholar.
- The Thessalonian EpistlesAmazon John F. WalvoordA fuller commentary from a leading dispensational teacher, strong on prophecy and the Rapture.
- Be ReadyAmazon Warren W. WiersbeA warm, practical study of both Thessalonian letters, by a premillennial Bible teacher.
- Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.
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The Bible is sixty-six books written by about forty men over some fifteen hundred years, yet it tells one story of God's redemption from creation to the new earth, and its center is Jesus Christ.
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