II Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

II Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

I.                   II Thessalonians 2:13-15

a.       V. 13

                                                              i.      The “we” makes a sharp distinction between believers and the lawless ones described in the previous verses

                                                            ii.      Echoes of II Thessalonians 1:3

                                                          iii.      Cf. Deuteronomy 33:12

1.      Paul was a Benjaminite (Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5)

                                                          iv.      For the love of Christ for followers, cf. Romans 8:35; II Corinthians 5:14; Galatians 2:20

                                                            v.      Trinitarian formula

1.      Chosen and called by God, loved by the Lord, saved through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit

                                                          vi.      “First-fruits” in Thessalonica

1.      Some who are persecuting them would one day be their brothers and sisters in Christ

b.      V. 14

                                                              i.      Echoes I Thessalonians 1:5; 5:9

                                                            ii.      For a connection between the call of God and the preaching of the gospel cf. Romans 10:14; Galatians 1:6

                                                          iii.      The obtaining of “the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ” is also mentioned in Romans 8:17, 29f.; I Corinthians 15:43; II Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:21; and I Thessalonians 2:12

1.      According to Romans 3:23, we lost the glory of God due to our sin

c.       V. 15

                                                              i.      “stand firm”, a reference back to v. 2

                                                            ii.      Standing firm is connected to holding firm to tradition (written and oral)

II.                II Thessalonians 2:16-17

a.       V. 16

                                                              i.      Differences and similarities to I Thessalonians 3:11-13

                                                            ii.      Prayer is directed to both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet a singular verb is used

                                                          iii.      “who loved us”

1.      Cf. Romans 5:8

                                                          iv.      “For Paul, God and Christ together are the source of spiritual blessing.” – I.H. Marshall

                                                            v.      “by grace”

1.      “These gifts reflect the character of the giver rather than the merits of the recipients.” – Ben Witherington, III

b.      V. 17

                                                              i.      Paul’s wish is that the inward encouragement they receive be reflected in their outward behavior

1.      Cf. II Corinthians 9:8; Colossians 3:17

                                                            ii.      “They have been given a good hope but they are not to let their minds linger on this and neglect their ordinary and everyday duties; a good hope ought to work itself out in a good life.” – Ernst Best

                                                          iii.      Paul doesn’t just say, “I’ll pray for you”, but he gets specificà we can learn from this

III.             II Thessalonians 3:1-5

a.       V. 1

                                                              i.      Paul asks for their prayers, having just prayed for them

1.      “for us”- Paul, Silas, and Timothy

2.      Cf. I Thessalonians 5:25

                                                            ii.      Paul desires prayer for two things:

1.      That the “word of God” may spread swiftly

a.       Cf. Psalm 147:15

2.      That the word of God would be honored

b.      V. 2

                                                              i.      Paul prays for their deliverance after he prays for the success of the gospel

1.      Cf. II Corinthians 1:8-11

                                                            ii.      Paul was tried before the proconsul Gallio in Corinith in late 51 or early 52 A.D.

                                                          iii.      Their wickedness is a result of a lack of something…namely faith

1.      Cf.  Romans 10:16

c.       V. 3

                                                              i.      Christ is placed in juxtaposition to the wicked unfaithful

                                                            ii.      In the “Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew, Jesus prays similarly. 

1.      Cf. Matthew 6:13

                                                          iii.       “He will not only place you in a firm position, but also maintain you there against assaults from without.” – Joseph B. Lightfoot

d.      V. 4

                                                              i.      He is commending the obedient, and indirectly exhorting the disobedient

                                                            ii.      By use of “command”, he gently invokes his apostolic authority

                                                          iii.      For Paul correct behavior is at least as important as correct beliefs

                                                          iv.      Paul usually commands when dealing with issues of ethics, or church practice

e.       V. 5

                                                              i.      For God directing hearts cf. I Chronicles 29:18 and Proverbs 21:2

                                                            ii.      For “love of God” cf. Romans 5:5

                                                          iii.       “Christ’s perseverance”- a prayer that Christ will endow them with the kind of perseverance he displayed in a life destined for the cross

1.      Cf. Romans 15:4f.