Eschatology 2 Thessalonians

Published on: Author: bdhenin@uoregon.edu 18 Comments

One of the largest issues in the study of the New Testament is authorship of the writings. For some of the Gospels and teachings, we know who the authors were. Some are anonymous, and others are pseudonymous, meaning that they were written by someone pretending to be someone else. An example of this is 2 Thessalonians, which is written by an author claiming to be Paul. Though historians can’t say definitively whether the letter was written by Paul or not,  you can compare the letter to others written by him and draw your own conclusions. One of the largest differences between 2 Thessalonians and other letters that were supposedly written by Paul are the ideas mentioned in the letters on the end times, or eschatology. In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 the author urges the members of the church in Thessalonica to be ready and prepare so they are not alarmed when Jesus returns, but reminds them that he will not come without warning. “Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed” (2 Thess 2:3). This is in opposition to in many of his prior letters to both Thessalonians and other cities.

1 Thessalonians has many similar themes as 2 Thessalonians, so similar in fact that people have questioned why Paul would write almost the same letter twice. But one difference, as I mentioned before, is that the author of 2 Thessalonians tells them that they will have a warning before the eschaton and 1 Thessalonians says it could come at any time. In the first letter Paul says “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say “There is peace and security”, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!” (1 Thess 5:2-3). In this passage, Paul is saying that there will be no warning when Jesus will come. Paul’s thoughts about the end times coming suddenly are evident in other letters as well. In 1 Corinthians he tells readers “I think that, in view of the impending crisis, it is well for you to remain as you are”  (1 Cor 7:26). Paul recognizes that there is an impending crisis which could come at any time, but does not think that they need to prepare for it in any way. In Romans, he writes “the night is far gone, the day is near” (Rom 13:12). Paul again recognizes that the new age is near, but implies that it is too late to do anything. It is pretty easy to conclude that either 2 Thessalonians was written by a different author than the rest of the letters, or that something happened to make the author change his mind and teachings about the eschatology.

18 Responses to Eschatology 2 Thessalonians Comments (RSS) Comments (RSS)

  1. In First Thessalonians, Paul is referring to the Rapture of the church which will come without warning. Jesus does not “come back to earth” here. 2nd Thessalonians is referring to the 2nd coming of Jesus during end times, of which there is much warning, as the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ goes into great detail about. Don’t discount the authorship of the letter based solely upon your misinterpretation of two totally different events.

  2. The term ‘rebellion’ referred to in 2 These 2 : 3 is NOT a translation from the greek but an interpretation of the translator(s) of this particular Bible version of the greek word apostasy used there. ‘Apostasy’ literally means ‘departure’ and CONTEXT must determine what type of departure, i.e. of the faith, or a possible the physical departure of the Believing Church indwell By The Holy Spirit is intended. A careful reading of 2 ( as well as ) 1 Thessalonians shows that in the Thessalonians epistles the Holy Spirit through Paul is NOT discussion the departure OF THE FAITH referred to elsewhere by Paul ( 1 Timothy 4:1) but that rather in 2 Thessalonians Paul is encouraging and restating The Hope of The Believers that they ( we) will be meeting The Lord in the air upon Our Lord’s Return to earth to set up His Kingdom. The air ( around the earth) is presently satans domain but this will change when we are our caught up to be united with our Lord there and receive our bodily change and be and rule with Him forever. Praise His Name.

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