2 Thessalonians Chapter 2

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) 17 Verses

What is 2 Thessalonians 2 about?

Correction on the Day of the Lord — the man of lawlessness has not yet come, but Christ's return is certain and near. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him;
2to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;
3let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,
4he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.
5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.
7For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only [there is] one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.
8And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming;
9[even he], whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:
12that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.
16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
17comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Now we beseech you, brethren, &c.] The apostle having finished his first design in this epistle, which was to encourage the saints to patience under sufferings, proceeds to another view he had in writing it, and that is, to set the doctrine of Christ's coming, as to the time of it, in its proper light; and this is occasioned by what he had said concerning it in the former epistle, which was either misunderstood or misrepresented; and as he addresses the saints with a very affectionate appellation as his “brethren”, so by way of entreaty “beseeching”, and yet in a very solemn manner: by the coming of our Lord…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“CORRECTION OF THEIR ERROR AS TO CHRIST'S IMMEDIATE COMING. THE APOSTASY THAT MUST PRECEDE IT. EXHORTATION TO STEADFASTNESS, INTRODUCED WITH THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR ELECTION BY GOD. (2Th. 2:1-17) Now--rather, "But"; marking the transition from his prayers for them to entreaties to them. we beseech you--or "entreat you." He uses affectionate entreaty, rather than stern reproof, to win them over to the right view. by--rather, "with respect to"; as the Greek for "of" (Co2 1:8). our gathering together unto him--the consummating or final gathering together of the saints to Him at His coming, as announced, Mat 24:31; Th1…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ - The phrase “by the coming,” is not here, as our translators seem to have supposed, a form of solemn adjuration. It is not common, if it ever occurs, in the Scriptures, to make a solemn adjuration in view of an event, and the connection here demands that we give to the phrase a different sense. It means, respecting his coming; and the idea of Paul is: “In regard to that great event of which I spoke to you in my former epistle - the coming of the Saviour - I beseech you not to be troubled, as if it were soon to happen. As his views had been…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Our gathering together to him - In the clouds. 2 Thessalonians 2:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“2:1-12 False teaching about the day of the Lord had disturbed the Thessalonian church (2:1-2). Paul reminds them (2:5) that two events will precede that day: a great apostasy and the unveiling of the man of lawlessness (2:3-12). Christ will destroy this man when he returns (2:3, 8), and those who have been deceived will also be judged (2:9-12). 2:1 At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1:7-10; 1 Thes 2:19; 3:13; 4:15–5:2; 5:23), all of his people will be gathered to meet him. This will occur at the resurrection and rapture of the church (1 Thes 4:13-18).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“we: Rom 12:1 by the: Th1 4:14-16 and by: Gen 49:10; Mat 24:31, Mat 25:32; Mar 13:27; Eph 1:10; Th1 3:13, Th1 4:17; Ti2 4:1 2 Thessalonians 2:2”
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