2 Thessalonians
The First Epistle to the Thessalonians, it is generally agreed, was the earliest written of all St. Paul's epistles, whence we see the reason and propriety of his anxiety that it should be read in all the Christian churches of Macedonia. - "I charge you by the Lord, that this Epistle be read unto all the holy brethren" (1Th_5:27). "The existence of this clause," observes Dr. Paley, "is an evidence of its authenticity; because, to produce a letter, purporting to have been publicly read in the church at Thessalonica, when no such letter had been read or heard of in that church, would be to produce an imposture destructive of itself. Either the Epistle was publicly read in the church of Thessalonica, during St. Paul's lifetime, or it was not. If it was, no publication could be more authentic, no species of notoriety more unquestionable, no method of preserving the integrity of the copy more secure. If it was not, the clause would remain a standing condemnation of the forgery, and one would suppose, an invincible impediment to its success." Its genuineness, however, has never been disputed; and it has been universally received in the Christian church, as the inspired production of St. Paul, from the earliest period to the present day. The circumstance of this injunction being given, in the first epistle which the Apostle wrote, also implies a strong and avowed claim to the character of an inspired writer; as in fact it placed his writings on the same ground with those of Moses and the ancient prophets. The second Epistle, besides those marks of genuineness and authority which it possesses in common with the others, bears the highest evidence of its divine inspiration, in the representation which it contains of the papal power, under the characters of "the Man of sin," and the "Mystery of iniquity." The true Christian worship is the worship of the one only God, through the one only Mediator, the man Christ Jesus; and from this worship the church of Rome has most notoriously departed, by substituting other mediators, invocating and adoring saints and angels, worshipping images, adoring the host, etc. It follows, therefore, that "the Man of sin" is the Pope; not only on account of the disgraceful lives of many of them, but by means of their scandalous doctrines and principles; dispensing with the most necessary duties, selling pardons and indulgences for the most abominable crimes, and perverting the worship of God to the grossest superstition and idolatry. It was evidently the chief design of the Apostle, in writing to the Thessalonians, to confirm them in the faith, to animate them to a courageous profession of the Gospel, and to the practice of all the duties of Christianity; but to suppose, with Dr. Macknight, that he intended to prove the divine authority of Christianity by a chain of regular arguments, in which he answered the several objections which the heathen philosophers are supposed to have advanced, seems quite foreign to the nature of the epistles, and to be grounded on a mistaken notion, that the philosophers designed at so early a period to enter on a regular disputation with the Christians, when in fact they derided them as enthusiasts, and branded their doctrines as "foolishness." In pursuance of his grand object, "it is remarkable," says Dr. Doddridge, "with how much address he improves all the influence which his zeal and fidelity in their service must naturally give him, to inculcate upon them the precepts of the gospel, and persuade them to act agreeably to their sacred character. This was the grand point he always kept in view, and to which every thing else was made subservient. Nothing appears, in any part of his writings, like a design to establish his own reputation, or to make use of his ascendancy over his Christian friends to answer any secular purposes of his own. On the contrary, in this and in his other epistles, he discovers a most generous, disinterested regard for their welfare, expressly disclaiming any authority over their consciences, and appealing to them, that he had chose to maintain himself by the labour of this own hands, rather than prove burdensome to the churches, or give the least colour of suspicion, that, under zeal for the gospel, and concern for their improvement, he was carrying on any private sinister view. The discovery of so excellent a temper must be allowed to carry with it a strong presumptive argument in favour of the doctrines he taught....And, indeed, whoever reads St. Paul's epistles with attention, and enters into the spirit with which they were written, will discern such intrinsic characters of their genuineness, and the divine authority of the doctrines they contain, as will, perhaps, produce in him a stronger conviction than all the external evidence with which they are attended." These remarks are exceedingly well grounded and highly important; and to no other Epistles can they apply with greater force than the present most excellent productions of the inspired Apostle. The last two chapters of the first epistle, in particular, as Dr. A. Clarke justly observes, "are certainly among the most important, and the most sublime in the New Testament. The general judgment, the resurrection of the body, and the states of the quick and the dead, the unrighteous and the just, are described, concisely indeed, but they are exhibited in the most striking and affecting points of view."
2 Thessalonians 1
Overview
1:1 Paul certifies them of the good opinion which he had of their faith, love, and patience;
1:11 and therewithal uses divers reasons for the comforting of them in persecution, whereof the chief is taken from the righteous judgment of God. Verse 1 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Reciprocal Luke 11:2 - Our; Acts 15:22 - Silas; 16:1 - named; 17:1 - Thessalonica; Romans 1:7 - God; 16:21 - Timotheus; 1 Corinthians 1:2 - the church; Galatians 1:22 - in; Philippians 1:1 - Timotheus; Colossians 1:1 - Timotheus; 1 Thessalonians 2:14 - are; 2 Thessalonians 2:16 - our Lord; Philemon 1:1 - Timothy; 1 Peter 5:12 - Silvanus Verse 2 Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3, 1:8 Reciprocal Luke 11:2 - Our; John 14:27 - Peace I leave; 16:24 - in; 2 Corinthians 1:2 - General; Galatians 1:3 - General; 2 Thessalonians 2:16 - our Lord Verse 3 are 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 1:3, 3:6, 3:9, as is, Luke 15:32; Philippians 1:7; 2 Peter 1:13 your Job 17:9; Psalm 84:7, 92:13; Proverbs 4:18; Isaiah 40:29-31; Luke 17:5; John 15:2; Philippians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 4:9, 4:10; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:5-10, 3:18 growethThe word, υπεραυξανω [G5232], from υπερ [G5228], intensive, and αυξανω [G837], to grow, increase, signifies, as Dr. Clarke remarks, to grow luxuriantly, as a good and healthy tree in a good soil; and, if a fruit tree, bearing an abundance of fruit to compensate the labour of the husbandman. Faith is one of the seeds of the kingdom: this the Apostle had sowed and watered, and God gave an abundant increase. Their faith was multiplied, and their love abounded, and this was not the case with some distinguished characters only; it was the case with every one of them. For this the apostle felt himself bound to give continual thanks to God on their behalf, as it was "meet" and right.Reciprocal Ruth 4:14 - Blessed; Psalm 34:1 - General; Malachi 4:2 - ye shall; Matthew 15:28 - great; Mark 4:27 - and grow; 9:24 - help; Luke 12:59 - thou shalt; John 13:34 - That ye love; 15:12 - General; Romans 3:3 - faith; 6:17 - But; 12:10 - kindly; 1 Corinthians 15:58 - abounding; 16:14 - General; 2 Corinthians 8:7 - see; Ephesians 1:15 - faith; 1:16 - Cease; 4:16 - edifying; 5:20 - thanks; 6:23 - and love; Philippians 1:3 - upon; 2:19 - that I; 4:18 - abound; Colossians 1:4 - faith; 2:19 - increaseth; 1 Thessalonians 3:12 - abound; 1 Timothy 2:1 - and; 6:2 - because they are; Philemon 1:4 - General; Habakkuk 3:1 - Choosing; 3:1 - General; 1 Peter 2:2 - grow; 4:8 - fervent; 2 Peter 1:8 - and abound; 3 John 1:2 - even; Revelation 2:4 - because; 2:19 - charity; 3:15 - that Verse 4 glory 2 Corinthians 7:14, 9:2, 9:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:19 your patience 2 Thessalonians 3:5; Romans 2:7, 5:3-5, 8:25, 12:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 3:2-8; Habakkuk 3:1, 3:1; 3:1-12:3; James 1:3, 1:4, 5:7, 5:8; 2 Peter 1:6; Revelation 14:12 your persecutions 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 3:3, 3:4; James 5:11 Reciprocal Matthew 5:10 - for; Luke 16:26 - between; John 14:2 - if; 1 Corinthians 13:7 - endureth; 2 Corinthians 1:7 - as ye; 4:17 - worketh; 1 Thessalonians 1:6 - received; 1:8 - in every; 1 Timothy 6:20 - keep; 2 Timothy 2:12 - we suffer; Revelation 1:9 - in the; 7:14 - came Verse 5 manifest 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Philippians 1:28; 1 Peter 4:14-18 righteous Job 8:3; Psalm 9:7, 9:8, 33:5, 50:6, 72:2, 99:4, 111:7; Jeremiah 9:24; Daniel 4:37; Romans 2:5; Revelation 15:4, 16:7, 19:2 may 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Luke 20:35, 21:36; Acts 13:46; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:12; Revelation 3:4 for 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Acts 14:22; Romans 8:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Timothy 2:12; Habakkuk 3:1, 3:1 Reciprocal Micah 7:9 - he will; Malachi 3:18 - discern; Matthew 6:33 - the kingdom; 8:11 - in; 10:37 - not; 22:8 - but; Mark 13:9 - take; Luke 6:20 - for; 6:23 - your; 11:20 - the kingdom; 12:32 - the kingdom; 13:28 - the kingdom; 21:13 - General; John 17:22 - the glory; Romans 2:2 - judgment; 8:28 - we know; 2 Thessalonians 3:17 - the token; 2 Timothy 4:8 - the righteous; Habakkuk 3:1 - he appear; 3:1 - God; James 2:5 - heirs; 1 Peter 2:23 - judgeth; Revelation 1:9 - in the; 11:18 - and that; 16:5 - Thou art Verse 6 Deuteronomy 32:41-43; Psalm 74:22, 74:23, 79:10-12, 94:20-23; Isaiah 49:26; Zechariah 2:8; Revelation 6:10, 11:18, 15:4, 16:5, 16:6, 18:20, 18:24, 19:2 Reciprocal Joshua 7:25 - Why hast; Esther 9:5 - smote; Job 3:17 - the wicked; 34:33 - he will; Psalm 7:13 - persecutors; 17:2 - Let my; 18:24 - the Lord recompensed me; 34:21 - they; 35:24 - Judge; 71:16 - thy righteousness; 92:15 - and; 119:132 - as thou usest to do unto those; 119:142 - an everlasting; Proverbs 12:14 - and; Ecclesiastes 3:17 - God; Isaiah 34:8 - General; 66:5 - but; 66:15 - the Lord; Jeremiah 50:34 - that he; 51:56 - the Lord; Daniel 9:16 - according; Joel 3:4 - swiftly; 3:7 - and will; 3:19 - for; Habakkuk 3:16 - that I; Matthew 7:2 - General; 10:41 - a righteous man's; 18:6 - offend; Mark 9:42 - it; Luke 18:7 - avenge; 21:36 - accounted; Romans 2:9 - Tribulation; 3:5 - Is God; 2 Corinthians 4:17 - worketh; Philippians 1:28 - an; 2 Thessalonians 1:5 - manifest; 2 Timothy 4:8 - the righteous; 4:14 - reward; Habakkuk 3:1 - God; Revelation 2:9 - tribulation; 14:13 - Yea Verse 7 who Isaiah 57:2; Matthew 5:10-12; Luke 16:25; Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Timothy 2:12; Habakkuk 3:1, 3:1, 3:1; 1 Peter 4:1; Revelation 7:14-17, 14:13, 21:4 when Matthew 13:39-43, 16:27, 25:31, 26:64; Mark 8:38, 14:62; John 1:51; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 4:17; Titus 2:13; Habakkuk 3:1; Jude 1:14, 1:15; Revelation 1:7, 20:11 his mighty angelsGr. the angels of his power, John 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Colossians 1:16; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 22:6, 22:9, 22:16 Reciprocal Deuteronomy 20:13 - thou shalt smite; 33:2 - ten thousands; Joshua 10:40 - utterly; 2 Samuel 16:12 - requite; 19:33 - Come thou; Job 3:17 - the wicked; 34:33 - he will; Psalm 9:17 - The wicked; 18:24 - the Lord recompensed me; 89:5 - in the congregation; 92:9 - For; 92:15 - and; 94:13 - mayest; 103:21 - ministers; 119:132 - as thou usest to do unto those; Proverbs 12:14 - and; Isaiah 10:17 - for a flame; 10:34 - by a mighty one; 11:10 - his rest; 26:21 - Lord; 61:2 - and; Jeremiah 50:34 - that he; Daniel 7:9 - his throne; 12:13 - rest; Joel 3:11 - cause; Zechariah 1:11 - they answered; 14:5 - and all; Malachi 3:17 - they shall; Matthew 7:2 - General; 10:41 - a righteous man's; 11:28 - and I; 13:49 - and sever; 19:28 - when; 24:30 - see; 25:6 - Behold; 26:53 - and he; Mark 13:26 - General; Luke 17:30 - General; John 5:22 - General; Acts 2:36 - that same; 3:19 - when; 3:23 - that every; 24:25 - judgment; Romans 8:18 - the glory; 1 Corinthians 1:7 - coming; 3:13 - the day; 10:10 - destroyer; Philippians 3:20 - from; 1 Thessalonians 2:19 - in; 2 Thessalonians 1:5 - for; 2 Timothy 4:1 - who; Habakkuk 1:4 - so; 1:14 - ministering; 3:1 - God; 1 Peter 1:7 - might; 1:13 - the grace; 4:13 - when; 5:4 - appear; 2 Peter 2:11 - angels; Revelation 2:9 - tribulation; 6:16 - and from; 12:7 - and his; 19:14 - the armies Verse 8 flaming Genesis 3:24; Deuteronomy 4:11, 5:5; Psalm 21:8, 21:9, 50:2-6; Daniel 7:10; Matthew 25:41, 25:46; Habakkuk 3:1, 3:1; 2 Peter 3:7, 3:10-12; Revelation 20:10, 20:14, 20:15, 21:8 takingor, yielding vengeance, Deuteronomy 32:35, 32:41, 32:42; Psalm 2:9-12, 94:1; Isaiah 61:2, 63:4-6; Habakkuk 3:1; Revelation 6:10, 6:16, 6:17 that know Exodus 5:2; 1 Samuel 2:12; Psalm 9:10, 79:6; Isaiah 27:11; Jeremiah 9:6; Zephaniah 1:6; John 3:19, 8:19; Romans 1:28; 1 Corinthians 15:34; 1 Thessalonians 4:5 and that Deuteronomy 4:30; Psalm 18:44; Isaiah 1:19; Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5, 2:7, 2:8, 6:16, 10:16, 15:18; 16:26; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Galatians 3:1; Habakkuk 2:3, 3:1, 3:1; 1 Peter 1:2, 3:6, 4:17 Reciprocal Exodus 19:18 - in fire; Deuteronomy 9:3 - a consuming fire; 32:22 - For a fire; Judges 2:2 - but ye have; 2:10 - knew not; 2 Samuel 22:41 - I might; 23:7 - and they shall; 2 Kings 18:12 - they obeyed not; 1 Chronicles 16:33 - because; Job 15:30 - the flame; 18:21 - knoweth; Psalm 2:12 - when; 18:8 - went; 36:12 - There; 37:38 - General; 45:4 - right; 50:3 - a fire; 68:2 - as wax; 89:46 - thy wrath; 94:13 - mayest; 97:3 - General; 103:21 - ministers; Isaiah 1:28 - the destruction; 9:5 - burning; 26:11 - fire; 30:30 - the flame; 33:14 - everlasting; 50:11 - ye shall; 55:4 - a leader; 59:17 - the garments; Jeremiah 10:25 - that know; 12:17 - if; 50:15 - for it; Lamentations 1:13 - above; Ezekiel 1:27 - the appearance of fire; 3:19 - he shall; 24:9 - I will; Daniel 7:9 - his throne; Micah 5:15 - General; Malachi 4:1 - shall burn; Matthew 7:13 - that; 10:28 - able; 11:29 - my; 18:8 - everlasting; 18:34 - and delivered; 25:31 - the Son; 25:42 - General; Mark 16:16 - but; Luke 9:26 - when; 16:24 - for; John 12:48 - the word; 15:21 - because; 16:3 - because; 17:3 - this; 17:25 - the world; 1 Corinthians 10:10 - destroyer; 16:22 - Anathema; Galatians 4:8 - when; 5:7 - obey; Ephesians 1:6 - praise; Philippians 3:20 - from; 1 Thessalonians 4:6 - the Lord; 2 Thessalonians 2:8 - with the brightness; 1 Peter 3:1 - obey; 1 John 4:6 - he that knoweth; Revelation 14:10 - in the; 20:9 - and fire Verse 9 be Isaiah 33:14, 66:24; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41, 25:46, 26:24; Mark 9:43-49; Luke 16:25, 16:26; John 5:14; Philippians 3:19; Habakkuk 3:1; 2 Peter 2:17, 3:7; Jude 1:13; Revelation 14:10, 14:11, 20:14, 21:8, 22:15 from the presence Genesis 3:8, 4:16; Job 21:14, 22:17; Psalm 16:11, 51:11; Matthew 7:23, 22:13, 25:41; Luke 13:27 the glory 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Deuteronomy 33:2; Isaiah 2:10, 2:19, 2:21; Matthew 16:27, 24:30; Titus 2:13 *Gr: Revelation 20:11 Reciprocal Genesis 4:14 - from thy; Leviticus 22:3 - from my; Deuteronomy 7:23 - shall destroy; 2 Samuel 22:41 - I might; 2 Kings 13:23 - neither cast he; 17:20 - until he had cast; 2 Chronicles 14:13 - before the Lord; Job 15:30 - the flame; 31:3 - destruction; Psalm 2:12 - when; 9:3 - they shall; 34:21 - they; 36:12 - There; 37:38 - General; 45:4 - right; 50:3 - a fire; 68:2 - as wax; 73:18 - thou castedst; 80:16 - perish; 138:6 - afar off; Isaiah 1:28 - the destruction; 27:11 - therefore; 50:11 - ye shall; Jeremiah 4:20 - upon destruction; 23:39 - cast; Ezekiel 3:19 - he shall; Jonah 1:3 - from; Matthew 3:7 - flee; 5:26 - Thou; 7:13 - that; 18:8 - everlasting; 18:34 - and delivered; Mark 3:29 - but is; 9:44 - the fire; 1 Corinthians 16:22 - Anathema; Ephesians 2:8 - by; 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - then; Revelation 15:8 - from the Verse 10 to be glorified 2 Thessalonians 1:12; Numbers 23:23; Psalm 89:7; Isaiah 43:21, 44:23, 49:3, 60:21; Jeremiah 33:9; Matthew 25:31; John 11:4, 17:10; Galatians 1:24; Ephesians 1:6, 1:12, 1:14, 1:18, 2:7, 3:10, 3:16; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 7:11, 7:12 to be admired Psalm 68:35 our 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 2:13 in that Malachi 3:17; Matthew 7:22, 24:36; Luke 10:12; 2 Timothy 1:12, 1:18, 4:8 Reciprocal Genesis 21:7 - Who; Leviticus 10:3 - before; 1 Chronicles 16:33 - because; Psalm 96:13 - he cometh; Song of Songs 6:9 - The daughters; 6:13 - What; Isaiah 41:20 - General; 46:13 - Israel; 61:3 - that he; Matthew 3:7 - flee; 5:16 - and; Luke 18:43 - followed; Acts 3:19 - when; 9:21 - amazed; 21:20 - they glorified; Romans 8:30 - he justified; 9:23 - might; 15:7 - to; 1 Corinthians 2:1 - the testimony; 11:26 - till; 15:54 - this mortal; 2 Corinthians 1:20 - unto; Philippians 1:1 - the saints; Colossians 3:4 - ye; 1 Thessalonians 3:13 - with; 1 Timothy 1:16 - for this; 2:6 - to be testified; Habakkuk 3:1 - unto; 1 Peter 4:14 - but; Revelation 15:4 - and glorify Verse 11 we pray Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16, 3:14-21; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-13; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 our God Psalm 48:14, 68:20; Isaiah 25:9, 55:7; Daniel 3:17; Revelation 5:10 would 2 Thessalonians 1:5; Colossians 1:12; Revelation 3:4 countor, vouchsafecalling 2 Thessalonians 2:14; Romans 8:30, 9:23, 9:24; Philippians 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Habakkuk 3:1; 1 Peter 5:10 fulfil Psalm 138:8; Proverbs 4:18; Isaiah 66:9; Hosea 6:3; Zechariah 4:7; Mark 4:28; 1 Corinthians 1:8; Philippians 1:6 the good Psalm 51:18; Luke 12:32; Ephesians 1:5, 1:9; Philippians 2:13; Titus 3:4-7 the work John 6:27-29; Ephesians 1:19, 1:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 2:13; Habakkuk 3:1 Reciprocal Psalm 68:28 - strengthen; Isaiah 53:10 - the pleasure; Mark 9:24 - help; Acts 2:39 - as many; Ephesians 1:18 - his calling; 4:1 - vocation; 1 Thessalonians 3:10 - might perfect Verse 12 the name 2 Thessalonians 1:10; John 17:10; 1 Peter 4:14 and ye Genesis 18:18; Psalm 72:17; Isaiah 45:17, 45:25; John 17:21-26; Philippians 3:9; Colossians 2:9, 2:10; 1 Peter 1:7, 1:8 the grace Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 8:9, 13:4; Titus 2:11; Revelation 1:4 Reciprocal Isaiah 46:13 - Israel; John 14:3 - I will; Acts 19:17 - the name; Galatians 1:24 - General; Ephesians 2:7 - show; Philippians 1:11 - are; 1 Thessalonians 2:12 - who