Introduction
On Paul's second missionary journey he crossed into Macedonia, and after the Philippian mission he made for Thessalonica. This was the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia. Acts 17 records the events of the mission. After three weeks he was rejected by the local Jews and so he continued his mission with the Gentiles. We are not sure how long this went for, but in the end he left Thessalonica after a riot.
Paul went on to Athens and then Corinth. Silas and Timothy then came to Paul and reported to him about the state of the newly founded churches. This prompted Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. He sought to correct a few matters and defend himself from slander. It was most likely only a few weeks later when he wrote his second letter, probably during the year AD 52. In the first letter he had told his readers that Christ would come soon. Most likely this caused some confusion and now some of the church members believed that Christ's coming was virtually upon them. His second letter therefore deals mainly with the issue of the second coming. It also deals with the issue of idleness. Speculation on the second coming had led some to give up their work and wait for the end.
Date of the Epistle
When Paul left Thessalonica he travelled to Athens and was soon joined by Timothy. He then travelled to Corinth and was again joined by Timothy soon after arriving, Act.18:5. Paul stayed in Corinth some eighteen months and it was during this stay that he wrote his first and second letters to the Thessalonian believers, most likely during 52AD. Clearly Paul's letters to the Thessalonians are the earliest epistles we possess.
It is unclear when his second letter was written, but there is every indication that it followed closely after his first letter, possibly only a matter of weeks. Some of the problems he sought to address in the first letter remained and so he took a second shot at them after hearing that all was not well in Thessalonica.
Purpose of the letter
In his first letter he defends his personal integrity, but obviously there is no longer any need to do so by the time he writes his second letter. Obviously Paul's standing in the church is no longer under question. There are though, two particular problems that still remain in the church. Some of the Thessalonians still believed that the "day of the Lord" had already come, and as a practical response to this belief had given up their jobs and were now "idlers".
Paul sets out to explain that the Lord Jesus has not yet had his second manifestation, and this is clearly evident because the "Man of Lawlessness" is not yet revealed. This "Man" must come before the "Lord" comes.
These wild speculations concerning the second coming led some church members to give up their work and become "meddlesome idlers". Paul urges his readers to get back to work for the good of the Christian community.
Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians serves to deal with these two topics.
Structure
i] Greeting. 1:1-2
ii] Prayer. 1:3-12
iii] The Second Coming. 2:1-12
The Day of the Lord is yet to come, v1-2
The great rebellion of the Man of Lawlessness, v3-12
iv] A word of encouragement. 2:13-17
v] God's faithfulness. 3:1-5
vi] The discipline of work. 3:6-15
v] conclusion. 3:16-18
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