Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2ND THESSALONIANS

1. Paul was the writer

2. To the Church of the Thessalonians

3. To correct a mistaken notion that the Day of the Lord had not come--that a specific course of events must first happen--that a development of such a course had already begun, and that not till the course of prophesied events happened would either the coming of Christ or the Day of the Lord take place.

4. The Date of the letter is about A.D. 52-54, only a short time after the former letter, both of which were written from Corinth.

5. The occasion of the epistle was not only to correct an erroneous concept that Paul thought or taught Jesus might then come any day, but also to give more specific revelation of the coming and work of the Anti-Christ, the man of sin, an immediate forerunner of Jesus Christ whom the Jewish world is to receive, for a season,

1) "Grace unto you" (charis humin) "Grace (be) to or toward you all"; Paul’s affection for friends and brethren reflects itself in wishing them well, in praying that the best from God may be upon them.

2) "And peace, from God our Father" (kai eirene apo theou patros) "and peace from God (the) Father"; good things may bring one joy, only if peace and comfort of mind and soul be present. Paul thus calls down these blessings of God upon the brethren he loved and cared for in Thessalonica, James 1:17.

3) "And the Lord Jesus Christ" (kai kuriou lesou Christou) "and (from) the Lord Jesus Christ"; Grace brings one to and sustains one in salvation; and Jesus continually lives to intercede to the Father for anything daily lacking in the life of the Christian, Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2. Yet the Christian is also taught to pray daily for daily needs for himself and others, always, Matthew 6:1-34; Luke 18:1; James 5:15-17.

1) "We are bound to thank God" (eucharistein opheilomen to theo) "We ought to give thanks to God", that is "are obligated" by grace, mercy, and love from God, to give thanks to God. They had affirmed this in their previous letter, yet desired to restate and reassure the brethren, 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3.

2) "Always for you brethren" (pantote peri humon adelphoi) "always concerning you all, brethren"; meaning repeatedly, again and again, day by day, 1 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Thessalonians 3:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13.

3) "As it is meet" (kathos aksion estin) "just as it is meet or -proper , in the sense of ethically becoming. True love is unselfish and rejoices at the success of others, the blessings friends and brethren receive 1 Corinthians 13:5-6.

4) "Because that your faith groweth exceedingly" (hoti huperauksanei he pistis humon) "Because the faith of you all grows exceedingly"; their faith was extended in testimony, holy living, and Divine service, to influence and help others, 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 2 Peter 3:18.

5) "And the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth" (kai pleonazei he agape henos hekastou panton humon eis allelous) "and the love of each of you increases one toward another", let it abound or increase more and more; for all this Paul and his missionary helpers were thankful and rejoiced in the Lord, 3 John 1:2; 3 John 1:4; Hebrews 13:1.

1) "So that we ourselves glory in you" (hoste autous hemas humin egkauchasthai) "So that we (ourselves) boast in you all"; Paul often reported, with holy pride, on the faithfulness of New Testament Churches and brethren. 2 Corinthians 7:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:19.

2) "In the churches of God" (in tois ekklesiais tou theou) "in the churches of (belonging to) God”; as 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. Institutionally, the Lord has but one church-body, assembly, but locally He has many, Ephesians 4:4; Ephesians 1:22-23.

3) "For your patience and faith" (huper tes hupomones humon kai pisteos) "For your endurance and faith", exercised in hope and love, 1 Thessalonians 1:3. Faith is a spiritual gift from God to believers, while patience is a fruit of the Spirit in believers, 1 Corinthians 13:13; Romans 15:3-4; James 1:3-5.

4) "In all your persecutions" (en pasin tois diogmois humon) "in all your persecutions", which they endured, as others had before them, 1 Thessalonians 2:14; Acts 5:40-42; Matthew 5:11-12. Paul rejoiced that persecutions had strengthened, not stunted, the spiritual growth of these brethren.

5) "And tribulations that ye endure" (kai lais thlipsesin hais anechesthe) "And the afflictions which you all endure or undergo"; Paul and his missionary helpers watched with pride the resolute faith of these brethren who were running well for the Master, Hebrews 12:1-2.

Comfort in Persecution V. 5-12

1) "Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God" (endeigma tes dikaias kriseos tou theou) "a plain token of the just judgment of God"; one that the world can recognize. Their heroic courage and fortitude, under persecution, was a pre-reflection of victory at the final judgment. Philippians 1:28-29; 1 Peter 4:12-13.

2) "That ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God" (eis to kataksiotherai humas tes Basileias tou theou) "so that you all may be accounted (as) worthy of the kingdom of God"; Luke 21:34-36; Acts 14:22; Romans 8:17-18; 2 Peter 1:9-11. Such a worthy position was Paul’s desire for the Thessalonians and himself, 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Philippians 3:13-14; 1 Timothy 5:18.

3) "For which ye also suffer" (huper hes kai paschete) on behalf of which also ye suffer"; True saints of God, (church saints) of this age, are candidates for suffering for the Master’s sake; this was our Lord’s announcement to them, with His blessings in the Sermon on the Mount, at the beginning of His ministry, and in the Gethsemane Garden of prayer, near the end of His ministry, Matthew 5:10-12; 1 Thessalonians 2:14, indicates that church saints suffered on three continents, in the first century, to carry on the work and worship and service of our Lord - in Judea, Asia, and Europe, with an overlap into Cyprus and Alexandria Egypt, in North Africa.

1) "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God" (eiper dikaion para theo) "Since a just thing it is with God", or a righteous thing. God’s actions are always righteous and just because they are fruits or products of His holy nature, Revelation 6:10.

2) "To recompense" (antapodounai) "to repay, or to pay back, to recompense", Divine retribution, punishment for wrong, is an attribute of the holiness of God. Without it He would not be God, 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Hebrews 10:30-31; Romans 2:5-9.

3) "Tribulation to them that trouble you" (tois thlibousin humas thlipsin) "affliction to the ones (Gentiles) afflicting you"; vengeance belongs to the Lord -- He will repay; as Israel was the "apple of God’s eye", in old Testament Days, so is the church the "apple of our Lord’s eye" in this age, His bride, espoused, for whom He shall soon return, Deuteronomy 32:10; Zechariah 2:8; Psalms 17:8-9; 2 Corinthians 11:1-2; Acts 1:10-11; Revelation 19:5-9. Judgment shall be upon those who reject and persecute her; Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; This is the assuring comfort conveyed to the Thessalonians in this letter. This is said to be the only passage in which Paul seemed to welcome God’s vengeance on the enemies of the Church of Jesus Christ.

1) "And to you who are troubled" (kai humin tois thlibamenois) "and to those being afflicted"; with, or experiencing persecution, as all that live godly must, 2 Timothy 3:11-12. Though afflictions of believers are many, God delivers them out of them all, Psalms 34:19.

2) "Rest with us" (anesin meth’ hemon) "rest with us"; this rest is in the better I if e, now experienced by the believer through peace with God, even in pain and trouble, yet to be fully experienced in the coming of the Lord, Hebrews 4:9; Revelation 14:13.

3) "When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven" (en te apoklupsei tou kuriou lesou ap’ ouranou) “at the revelation (unveiling), of the Lord Jesus from heaven"; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 10:36-37.

4) "With his mighty angels" (met’ angelon dunameos autou) "with his angels of mighty power, of both Michael and Gabriel’s hosts"; the first aspect of His revelation is for the resurrection of the righteous dead and rapture of His church, into the air, with Him; while the latter aspect is His revelation with the saints, and a myriad of angels to execute judgment, as described in the following verses, Deuteronomy 33:2; Judges 1:15; Daniel 7:10; Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 25:31-46.

1) "In flaming fire" (en puri phlogos) "In a fire of flame", tongue-lapping, forked flames, of physical judgment on the earth, encircled by a flame of fire, certain judgment upon the religious and irreligious ungodly, Matthew 13:40-42.

2) "Taking vengeance on them that know not God", (didontos ekdikesin tois me eidosin theon) "doling out full vengeance (retribution, repayment) to those not knowing God"; whom to know is eternal life, John 17:3; 2 Timothy 1:12. To unbelievers inciting and engaging in persecution and derision of children of God.

3) "And that obey not the gospel" (kai tois me hupakouousin to euangellio) "and to those not obeying the gospel"; this righteous judgment vengeance is to be upon every unbeliever who has gone on all his life, disobeying the call of the gospel to salvation, resisting the Holy Spirit, and prayers and pleas, of believers, Proverbs 29:1; Hebrews 4:7; Revelation 22:17.

4) "Of our Lord Jesus Christ" (tou kuriou hemon lesou) "of our Lord Jesus"; to believe that Christ lived, died, and rose again for one’s sins, personally, is obeying the gospel, Romans 10:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Contrary to the erroneous views of’ some, baptism is never called or referred to as "obeying the gospel". It is a proper response of a believer who has been saved, received a good conscience, to identify himself as a disciple committing himself publicly to follow Christ, Romans 6:4-5; 1 Peter 3:21.

1) "Who shall be punished" (oitines diken tisousin) "who will pay (the) penalty"; for enmity, rebellion, and disobedience to offered redemption, mercy, and grace from God, 2 Corinthians 11:15; 2 Peter 3:7.

2) "With everlasting destruction" (olethron aiomion)

eternal destruction"; it will take eternity to pay it. There will no "bailing out", no release, no escape, after death, and after the judgment. This eternity of punishment cannot be explained away, Matthew 25:41; Matthew 25:46; Philippians 3:19.

3) "From the face of the Lord" (apo prospou tou kuriou) "from the (f ace- presence), any extended mercy, of the Lord", in the sense of removed from any possible union or fellowship with the Lord, Luke 16:26; Isaiah 2:19; Revelation 6:15-17; Revelation 14:10-11; Revelation 20:11; Revelation 20:15.

4) "And from the glory of his power" (kai apo tes dokses tes ischuos autou) "and from the glory of his strength", -the sphere where His strength or power manifests itself in splendor and eternal bliss of the saved, abandoned forever from any hope of relief or help, in release from the regions of the cries and wailing and woes of the damned forever, Revelation 21:27; Luke 16:26; Luke 16:31; Hebrews 9:26-27.

1) "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints" (hotan elthe endoksasthenai en tois hagiois autou) "whenever he comes (of his own accord, will, or on his own behalf) to be glorified in his saints (church saints)", Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 3:21. The church "ye" that was sent into all the world to preach the gospel is to be the main center of God’s glory, at the coming of Jesus, 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20; Matthew 28:18-20; John 17:10; John 17:12.

2) "And to be admired in all them that believe" (kai thaumasthenai en pasin tois pisteusasin) "and to be (marveled at) or admired in all who have believed"; all resurrected believers, not church saints, shall also be objects of admiration in Christ at the marriage or marriage reception of the Lamb, Revelation 19:7-10; 1 Corinthians 3:8.

3) "Because our testimony among you was believed" (hoti epistethe to marturion hemon eph’ humas) "because our testimony was believed among you", the “church saints" in Thessalonica, 2 Thessalonians 1:1. The testimony of Paul and his missionary companions concerned the "whole counsel of God", the word, not merely the gospel, Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:3-5.

1) "Wherefore also we pray always for you" (eis ho kai proseuchometha pantote peri humon) "For which (reason) indeed we pray always concerning you all"; we pray because you will one day meet the Lord and be judged, 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Paul continually prayed for churches and spiritual maturity of her members, 1 Thessalonians 2:13-14.

2) "That our God may count you worthy of this calling" (hina humas aksiose tes kleseos ho theos) "In order that God may deem you all worthy of this calling"; a calling to moral and ethical excellence, after the pattern of Christ, as Paul followed Him, Matthew 4:19; Matthew 8:34; 1 Corinthians 11:1-2; Ephesians 5:1; Philippians 3:17.

3) "And fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness

(kai plerose pase eudokian agathosenes) "and may fulfill or complete every good pleasure of (his) goodness"; See 2 Thessalonians 1:5. Moral and ethical growth and strengthening of character, under persecution and trial, prepares one to be glorified together with the Master, and to fulfill His good pleasure, meriting His welcome words "well done", 1 Peter 1:5; 1 Peter 1:10-11; Hebrews 12:2; Matthew 25:21.

4) "And the work of faith with power" (kai ergon pisteos de dunamei) "and (the) work of faith in (with) dynamic power", powerfully. This prayer of Paul was that all members of the church of Thessalonica might so live that when the good man who left His house returns, each servant may be an object of His glory, before the Father, Mark 13:33-35; 1 Timothy 3:14; 2 Corinthians 11:1-3.

1) "That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you" (hopos endoksasthe) "So as may be glorified", or made to appear glorious (to onoma tou kuriou hemon lesou en humin) "the name of our Lord Jesus among you all", or in you all, the Church at Thessalonica. Though Christ may be glorified in every believer, the highest degree of glory one may give to Him is in or through devoted services in His Church, Ephesians 3:21; 1 Peter 1:7-13.

2) "And ye in him" (kai humeis en auto) "and you all in him", as bridegroom of the wedding, John 3:29-30; Revelation 19:7-9.

3) "According to the grace of our God" (kata ten charin tou theou hemon) "according to or based on the grace of our God"; provided for the redemption of all and strength for every believer, Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 2:11; 2 Peter 3:18.

4) "And the Lord Jesus Christ" (kai Kuriou lesou Christou) "and (the grace of) (the) Lord Jesus Christ"; Grace and truth were unveiled or manifest to all men in the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, John 1-17; John 8:32; John 14:6. Man’s capacity to give glory to God by Christ Jesus through His church is because of God’s initiative love and grace, John 3:16; Romans 3:24; Hebrews 4:16.