ST. PAUL'S SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS

Introduction:

a. Date and background. 

By way of introduction to 2 Thess. readers are referred to the introduction to Sabidius' translation of 1 Thess., published in this blog on 19th November 2020. Paul's second epistle to the Thessalonians was probably written at Corinth in the spring or summer of 51 A.D. after Timothy and Silas had returned from Thessalonica after their delivery of the first epistle. Though much shorter than the first epistle it is so similar to it in  structure and content that some have considered it a forgery. 

b. Outline.

1. Introduction (Chapter 1).

   a. Salutation (vv. 1-2).

   b. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians' faith, love and perseverance (vv. 3-10).

   c. Intercession for their spiritual progress (vv. 11-12).

2. Instruction (Chapter 2).

  a. Prophecy regarding the Parousia (i.e. the day of the Lord's Coming) (vv. 1-12).

  b. Thanksgiving for their election and calling (vv. 13-15).

  c. Prayer for their service (vv. 16-17).

3. Injunctions (Chapter 3)

  a. Call to prayer (vv. 1-3)

  b. Warning against disorderly conduct and idleness (vv. 4-15).

  c. Conclusion and benediction (vv. 16-18).

c. Purpose.

As circumstances in the congregation at Thessalonica have remained much as they were when the first letter was written, Paul's reasons for writing are very similar to those which caused him to write that first letter. He encourages believers to remain steadfast during persecution and to  work for a living. Paul is also particularly concerned to correct believers' possible misunderstanding about the circumstances of the Day of the Lord's return Chapter 2. vv. 1-10)                

d. Theme. 

Like 1 Thess. this second epistle is much concerned with echatalogy and apocalyptic thinking. The exact identity of the 'man of lawlessness', "ὁ ἄνθροπος τῆς ἀνομίας" (see Ch. 2. v. 3)  and the force that is restraining him are uncertain, but these references, obscure as they are, are an undoubted precursor to the Antichrist of Chapter 23 of the Book of Revelations. At the time of writing 2 Thess. Paul could not have meant Nero, but, if he was in Rome in 64 at the time of the persecution of the Christians, Paul may well have been thinking in those terms. 

At the end of this translation, Sabidius has followed his usual practice, in relation to his translation of Paul's letters, of providing a list of quotations. In each case, he has provided the words firstly in the original Greek, then a version in Latin according to the "Vulgate", and then the translation according to the Authorised Version of the Bible.

CHAPTER 1. 

Salutation (vv. 1-2).

(1) Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the congregation of the Thessalonians in (union) with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2) Grace and peace (be) to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and encouragement. The Last Judgment (vv. 3-12).

(3) We are bound at all times to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing wonderfully, and the love of each and everyone of you for one another is increasing abundantly, (4) so that we ourselves boast of you in the congregations of God on account of your perseverance and faith amid all your persecutions and the afflictions which you endure, (5) (and this is) evidence of the righteous judgment of God (leading) to you being deemed worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are indeed suffering. 

(6) Since (it is) just for God to return affliction to those (who are) afflicting you (7) and (give) relief to you the afflicted (ones) together with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus, (when he comes) from heaven with his mighty angels (8) in flaming fire, bringing punishment upon those who do not know God and who do not hearken to the good news of our Lord Jesus, (9) they will pay the penalty of eternal exclusion from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might (10) on that day when he comes to be glorified among his holy ones and to be regarded with wonder among all those who have believed, because our witness was believed by you.   

(11) For this, indeed, we pray for you, that your God may deem you worthy of his calling, and fulfil, by his power, your every wish for goodness and work of faith, (12) so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

CHAPTER 2. 

The coming of the Lord and the prelude to it: the man of lawlessness (vv. 1-12).

(1) Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together with him, we ask you (2) not to become quickly unsettled in your mind, nor to be aroused either by a prophecy, or by a message, or by a letter, as though (it were) from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 

(3) Let no one deceive you in any way; because (it will not happen) unless the apostasy should come first and the man of lawlessness should be revealed, the son of perdition, (4) the one who sets himself up in opposition and elevates himself over everyone who is said (to be) a god or an object of reverence, so that he resides in the temple of God, proclaiming that he is a god. (5) Don't you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these (things)?

(6) So you know what is now holding (him) back, in order that he may be revealed at his appointed time; (7) for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; (but) only until the one who is now restraining (things) can be taken from their midst. (8) Then, indeed, will the lawless one be revealed, (he) whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his coming, (9) (even he) whose coming is in accordance with the workings of Satan with all power and signs and portents of a lie, (10) and with every deception of wickedness for those who are perishing because they did not accept the the love of the truth that they might be saved; (11) so for this reason God sends them the power of delusion so they believe what is false, (12) in order that (those) who do not believe the truth, but delight in wrongdoing, may all be condemned.   

Exhortation to stand firm (vv. 13-17).

(13) But we are bound to thank God always for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through the sanctification of the spirit and your faith in the truth, (14) to which he called you through our gospel in order to acquire the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (15) So then, brothers, stand fast and maintain the traditions which you were taught, whether by word (of mouth) or by a letter of ours. (16) Now, may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave (us) eternal comfort and good hope through grace, (17) comfort your hearts and confirm (you) in every good deed and word. 

CHAPTER 3.

Pray for us (vv. 1-5).

(1) Finally, pray for us, brothers, that the word of the Lord may keep moving rapidly and be glorified, just as (it was) with you, (2) and that we may be delivered from evil and vicious men, for not everyone has the faith. (3) But the Lord is faithful and he will strengthen you and preserve you from the evil (one). (4) We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. (5) And may the Lord direct your hearts towards the love of God and towards the perseverance of Christ. 

Warning against idleness and disorderly conduct (vv. 6-15).

(6) Now, we command you, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that you keep away from every brother who behaves in a disorderly manner and not in accordance with the tradition which you learned from us. (7) For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, in that we did not behave in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat bread as a free gift from anyone, (8) but in labour and toil we worked night and day, so as not to impose a burden upon anyone of you; (9) not that we do not the right, but in order to give ourselves as an example to you, so that you might imitate us. (10) For, even when we were with you, we instructed you as follows: "If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat." (11) For we hear that there are some walking around among you in a disorderly fashion, not working at all, but interfering. (12) Now, we command such persons, and exhort (them) in (the name of) the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and eat their own bread.  

(13) But you, brothers, do not be afraid of doing the right thing. (14) But if anyone does not obey our word in this letter, mark that (man), (and) do not associate with him, so that he may feel ashamed; (15) yet, do not consider (him) as an enemy, but admonish (him) as a brother.  

Final greetings and benediction (vv. 16-18).

(16) Now, may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all (times) and in every way. (May) the Lord (be) with you all. 

(17) (This is) Paul's greeting in my own hand, which is my signature in every letter; this is how I write. 

(18) (May) the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (be) with you all, (Amen).

APPENDIX: QUOTATIONS FROM ST. PAUL'S SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS

Listed below are  quotations taken from the above text. In each case, the words are given in the original Greek, followed by a translation from the Latin Vulgate, and the English of the traditional Authorised Version of the Bible. Where the wording of the latter may be somewhat opaque, the reader  can of course consult the translation above for an alternative, and hopefully more readable, version.

1) iii. 10:

εἴ τις οὐ θέλει ἐργάζεσθαι μηδὲ ἐσθιέτω.

si quis non vult operari nec manducet.

if any would not work, neither should he eat.

2) iii. 13:

μὴ ἐνκακησήτε καλοποιοῦντες.

nolite deficere benefacientes.

be not weary in well doing.