Publisher's Synopsis
There always seems to be talk about the end times among Christians. Could we be in the days just before Jesus returns? But speculations about whether we are in the last days is not a recent phenomenon. The new believers in Thessalonica were confused about whether the "day of the Lord" had already come. Paul had taught them about these matters when he was with them when he founded the church. But now some were saying (even citing Paul) that the day of the Lord had come. In light of this false teaching, some had quit working because they thought that since the day was here, Jesus would return soon. But when it didn't happen and they ran out of money, they had to sponge off others in the church who were still working. Paul had alluded to this problem in his first letter, but in this second letter he gives it more extended treatment (3:6-13).
So Paul wrote this second short letter to the Thessalonians shortly after his first letter to clarify these matters and to give some instructions for the church in the end times. For the apostle Paul and the other New Testament writers, the end times (or last days) encompasses the time between Jesus' ascension into heaven and His future return in power and glory. And while there will be some distinctive signs that the return of our Lord is near, as He Himself explained in Matthew 24 and as Paul clarifies here, the church must live with the tension that the Lord may not come back in our lifetimes and yet He could come back soon. As Martin Luther is reputed to have said, "If I knew that the Lord was coming back tomorrow, I'd plant a tree today."
While there are some difficult interpretive matters (as with all prophetic Scriptures), I hope that I can bring some clarity and that the practical value of this short letter will come through.
