Page 42 - Pauline Epistles Student Textbook

Occasion
Paul’s receipt of reports concerning different issues appears to have occasioned the penning of the
epistle (2 Thess. 3:11). Initially, their progressive growth into Christlikeness could also have
occasioned the writing of the epistle so that they can be thanked for their upholding of the truth
amidst much persecutions and trials they were facing (2 Thess. 1:3-12). Secondly, in that report, it
appears that deceitful information concerning the coming of the Lord was evidently in circulation in
the church and confusing the believers. The thrust of that false information, whether it was
circulated orally, non-vocal, or by prophecy, was about the day of the Lord. It stated that the Day of
the Lord had already come. That too occasioned the writing of the letter in order to refute this false
idea (2 Thess. 2:1-12). Lastly, there were some brothers and sisters in the church at Thessalonica
st
who were idle. Based on the previous section, we deduced that an idle as per context of both 1 and
nd
2 Thessalonians appears to mean laziness especially toward work. It could also mean disruptive. In
the first epistle, it was reported as not a big issue. But the fact that it is appearing again in the 2
nd
epistle, suggest that some brothers and sisters continued to be idles and disrupters (2 Thess. 3:6-15).

Purpose
Based on 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12, Paul wanted to commend the church for its progressive growth
amidst much persecutions and trials. Further, Paul wanted to correct false teaching and comfort the
believers at Thessalonica concerning the Day of the Lord (2 Thess. 2:1-12). Lastly, Paul wanted to
make available some prescriptions as antidotes to idleness and disruption (2 Thess. 3:1-15).

Overview of 2 Thessalonians

8.4. Let’s Practice this Lesson…

1. Grounded on the study of this section, who authored the 2 epistles to the
nd
Thessalonians; when was it written and where?

2. Explain rationales that prompted Paul to pen down the epistle?

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