Second Epistle to the Thessalonians
The Second Epistle to the
Thessalonians, also known as the Second Letter to the
Thessalonians. It is traditionally attributed to Paul,
because it begins, "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy,
unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ;" (2 Thess. 1:1) and ends,
"The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the
token in every epistle: so I write" (2 Thess. 3:17).
Those who believe Paul was the author of 2 Thessalonians
also note how Paul drew attention to the authenticity of
the letter by signing it himself: "I, Paul, write this
greeting with my own hand, which is how I write in every
letter.". Bruce Metzger writes, "Paul calls attention to
his signature, which was added by his own hand as a
token of genuineness to every letter of his (3:17)."
Other scholars who hold to authenticity include Beale,
Green, Jones, Morris, and Witherington .
The traditional view is that the second epistle to the
Thessalonians was probably written from Corinth not many
months after the first. Apparently the first letter was
misunderstood, especially regarding the second advent of
Christ. The Thessalonians had embraced the idea that
Paul had taught that "the day of Christ was at hand",
that Christ's coming was about to occur. This error is
corrected (2:1-12), and the apostle announces what first
must take place before the end times. A passage from
this book reading "For even when we were with you, this
we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither
should he eat", (2 Thess. 3:10), was later adapted by
Vladimir Lenin as an adage of the Soviet Union, He who
does not work, neither shall he eat.
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