2 Thessalonians
A follow-up letter steadying a church confused about the day of the Lord.
Overview
2 Thessalonians follows up quickly. Some in the church had become convinced that the day of the Lord had already come, and some had stopped working to wait for it. Paul steadies them: certain things must happen first, and meanwhile they should keep working quietly and doing good. "If any would not work, neither should he eat."
Book facts
- Author
- Paul (traditionally)Attributed to Paul, with Silas and Timothy; some scholars question it.
- Date written
- c. AD 51Shortly after 1 Thessalonians.
- Original language
- GreekFirmer in tone than the first letter.
- Setting
- To the church in ThessalonicaCorrecting confusion about Christ's return.
How it came to be
2 Thessalonians is attributed to Paul, with Silas and Timothy. It corrects a misunderstanding that the day of the Lord had already arrived.
Some scholars question Paul's authorship; traditionally it is a genuine follow-up letter.
The whole book, chapter by chapter
| Chapter | What this chapter covers |
|---|---|
Steadying the church — the day of the Lord and the call to work, chapters 1–3 | |
| Chapter 1The coming judgment | Comfort in persecution, and the coming judgment when Christ is revealed. |
| Chapter 2The man of sin | The day will not come until the "man of sin" is revealed. |
| Chapter 3The idle warned | A warning to the idle: "if any would not work, neither should he eat." |
All 3 chapters. Start reading →
Worth knowing
The apostle to whom the letter is attributed.
Written to the church in Thessalonica.
Some of the best-known verses in 2 Thessalonians — tap the verse to read it.
- The man of sin revealed2 Thessalonians 2:3
- "If any would not work, neither should he eat"2 Thessalonians 3:10
- "Be not weary in well doing"2 Thessalonians 3:13