2 Thessalonians 2 - Introduction

Outline:

I. The error confronting them: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

II. The coming apostasy and the Man of Sin: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9

III. Who will be deceived: 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

IV. Gratitude and exhortation to faithfulness: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

V. Paul's prayer for them: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

“It was not only persecutors who were disturbing the peace of the Thessalonian church; it was false teachers as well. In fact, the intellectual assault on Christianity is often fiercer than the physical” (Stott p. 156). It is interesting to note that the same error which confronted the Thessalonians, is also often repeated, even in our own times. “The most common fallacy is the attempt to set. time, and particularly to proclaim that the Lord is immediately to appear” (Erdman p. 88). Here we see the importance of teaching and preaching on topics that the members have already heard (2 Peter 1:12), for Paul had discussed this subject while he was with them (2 Thessalonians 2:5), yet. number of members still missed the point. Hendriksen notes, “Paul had written about the sudden character of Christ's coming and about the necessity of being prepared for it (1 Thessalonians 5:1). Apparently this message had been misinterpreted, as if ‘sudden' coming meant ‘immediate' coming” (p. 167).