II Thessalonians

Author: the apostle Paul
Place of writing: the city of Corinth
Time of writing: 51 A.D.

Although the Thessalonian believers had been comforted by Paul’s first letter, in which he taught them about the day of Jesus’ return, there soon arose certain related teachings and practices within the church, which Paul did not at all approve of. When he heard of these false teachings and letters spuriously attributed to him (2:1-3), he wrote this second letter, to correct the misunderstandings about the return of the Lord which had developed among the believers, and to give them further comfort in the midst of persecution.

Paul begins by assuring the believers that Jesus will indeed return to give them rest and comfort, and that all who oppose them and do not know God will be punished with eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord. He then corrects a false teaching that had arisen, saying that the day of Jesus’ return had already arrived; and he tells the believers of the things which must happen before Jesus will return. He exhorts the believers to hold fast to the true teaching about Jesus, and to be thankful that God has chosen them for salvation, and then he corrects a false practice that had arisen because of the false teaching. Apparently, believers who thought that the day of Jesus’ return had arrived, had stopped working, and were becoming troublesome among the church. Paul tells them that they must work for their own livelihood, and not grow weary in doing good; and he warns them to avoid anyone who teaches something different.

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