At a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authorship | Paul and Silvanus and Timothy (traditional); critical: disputed, one of the letters attributed to a follower writing in Paul's name (scholars are sharply divided) |
| Date | ~50-51 AD (traditional, shortly after 1 Thessalonians); critical: later, ~70-100 AD |
| Audience | Thessalonian church |
| Purpose | Correct misunderstanding about Christ's return and warn against idleness |
| Chapters | 3 |
Main themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Day of Lord not yet come | Address mistaken belief |
| Man of lawlessness | 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 |
| Work and diligence | 2 Thessalonians 3, against idleness |
| Perseverance under persecution | 2 Thessalonians 1:4-7 |
Key passages
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, God's just judgment
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, man of lawlessness
- 2 Thessalonians 3:10, the rule that whoever is unwilling to work should not eat