Tag Archives: 2 Thessalonians 1-3

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2023 Bible Study — The Man of Lawlessness and Christ’s Return

Today, I am reading and commenting on  2 Thessalonians 1-3.

Once again in writing to the Thessalonian Believers Paul writes about Christ’s return.  In his previous letter to them, Paul had written that Christ’s return would be like a thief in the night.  From what he writes here it appears that some were telling the Believers that they had missed it.  After all, if Christ would return like a thief in the night, then some might miss His coming.  Paul tells them that they should not let such teachers deceive them.  The day of Christ’s return will not come until the man of lawlessness is revealed.  Most people read what Paul writes here as referring to a specific singular individual, the Anti Christ.  However, every where in the New Testament where the term antichrist is used, it suggests that the antichrist is not specific individual, but instead is an attitude possessed by many people.  My personal opinion on this is that we should be watching for an individual who matches Paul’s description here, while at the same time applying this verse as if it refers to a more general attitude among people in general.

So, what does Paul tell us about the man of lawlessness who must be revealed before Christ’s return?  He writes that he is destined for destruction.  further, Paul writes that the man of lawlessness will oppose and exalt himself over everything which is worshiped or called God.  Indeed, the man of lawlessness will declare himself to be God.  On the one hand, as I read what Paul writes here, he seems to be speaking about a singular individual who will appear shortly before Christ’s return.  On the other hand, Paul’s description of the man of lawlessness sounds a lot like what our society today promotes.  Our culture today opposes everything which is called God, except in cases where people set themselves up as their own gods.  It certainly looks as if the one who holds back the man of lawlessness has been taken out of the way.  Does that mean that an individual will soon arise who will fulfill Paul’s prophecy?  Or, has his prophecy already been fulfilled by the rise of a society of lawlessness?  In either case, we should be prepared for Christ’s soon return.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2022 Bible Study — Those Who Refuse To Believe The Truth Embrace Wickedness

Today, I am reading and commenting on  2 Thessalonians 1-3.

In his second letter to the Thessalonian Believers, Paul begins by refuting the claim that Jesus had already returned.  Paul makes clear that there will be no doubt when Jesus has returned.  It will be clear to everyone.  Further, he writes that Christ’s return will be preceded by the rise of “the man of lawlessness”.  When I read what Paul writes here I go back and forth between believing that when Paul refers to “the man of lawlessness” that he is referring to a singular individual, or to society becoming lawless in its entirety.  In any case, Paul tells us that God will allow “the man of lawlessness” to spread delusion to those who choose to embrace wickedness rather than believe God’s truth.  If you look around at the people you know you can see how those who refuse the truth of the Gospel instead easily believe lies, often because they wish to embrace wickedness in one form or another.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2021 Bible Study –Idleness Will Lead Us Into Lawlessness

Today, I am reading and commenting on  2 Thessalonians 1-3.

I want to take note of Paul’s description of what will happen in eternity for those who reject the Gospel.  They will be shut out from the presence and glory of God.  So, what Paul tells us is that those who reject God will be punished for eternity by not being allowed to be in His presence.  When people ask why a loving God would damn people to Hell for refusing to do His will we need to remember that all of the other torments described result from them being separated from God.  And they have made it clear by the choices which they have made that they do not wish to be in God’s presence.

When I read what Paul writes about the man of lawlessness I go back and forth between thinking that it applies to a specific individual, the Antichrist, and thinking that it refers to a state of society in general.  If Paul means the latter then we must consider that the Day of Christ’s return is near, very near.  Paul tells us that the man of lawlessness will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God.  He will proclaim himself God.  When the lawless one comes displays of power will be used to serve the lie.  Those who refuse to love the truth will delight in wickedness and believe the lie.  So, if we look at our society today it is becoming ever more lawless, rebelling against the very idea of law.  Paul writes that we must stand firm in our belief in the Truth which comes from God and the traditions which contain it.  Further, he tells us that holding firm means that we must not allow ourselves to be idle.  We must seek work with which we can fill our time.  We must never tire of doing what is good.  This is yet another area, similar to when Paul writes about prayer, where I feel called out: I allow myself to be idle entirely too much of the time and I know that Satan uses such idleness to lead me into sin.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2019 Bible Study — Prayer vs Lawlessness

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Thessalonians 1-3

I keep writing about prayer because I am convicted that I need to improve the prayer in my life.  At the beginning of this letter, and of most of his letters, Paul writes about praying for those to whom he is writing..  Writing that gave me insight into improving my prayers.  I do not believe it has ever occurred to me before to pray for those of you reading this (although a few of you are otherwise among those for whom I pray).  So, starting today, I will strive to pray for those who read my writing.  Then at the end of this letter, Paul asks those reading it to pray for him.  So, I will ask those of you reading this to do the same for me.  Please pray that God will make me a better servant to Him.

However, central to this letter is Paul’s writing about Christ’s return.  Paul writes that that day has not yet happened and that everyone will know when it comes to pass.  Before the Day of Christ’s return will come a time of lawlessness, presided over by a man of lawlessness.  Paul’s writing here has elements which suggest that the “man of lawlessness” is a specific individual and elements which suggest that the “man of lawlessness” is a figurative being.   In either case, there will be a period of lawless rebellion against God.  This passage suggests that the period will culminate in the rise of an evil “Messiah” figure who will deceive many into a false, and evil, religion.  Speaking of prayer, I pray that God pour His Holy Spirit out on the people of this world, drawing them to Him, and delaying the arrival of the day of lawlessness.

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2018 Bible Study — Those Unwilling to work will not eat

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Thessalonians 1-3.

At the beginning and again near the end of this letter Paul speaks of prayer. He writes as part of his opening beginning that he will continue to pray for those to whom he is writing. Then, as he begins to conclude his letter he asks them to pray for him. This gives us an idea of Paul’s thoughts on the importance of prayer. I know that I do not pray as much, or as deeply, as I should.

Paul writes that the day of Jesus’ return will not come until after the “man of lawlessness” has been revealed. It is not clear to me if Paul is referring to a singular individual, or to a social phenomena. I am not eve< convinced that Paul was clear in his own mind on that. Paul transitions from discussing the “man of lawlessness” and Christ’s return to warning us that not only should we not be idle, but we should stay away from believers who live that way. I think that Paul was referring to two groups of people when he referred to those who lived idle lives; those who stopped working and sold all of their possessions because they were convinced that Jesus would return before all of their money was spent, and those who took advantage of the charity of others to avoid working themselves. Paul’s instruction to us is clear, and consistent with the teachings of the rest of the Bible, we should work hard in order to both care for ourselves and have enough left over to care for those who cannot care for themselves./p>

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2017 Bible Study — Do Not Be Deceived By The Lawless

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Thessalonians 1-3.

    Paul starts out by reassuring the believers that the suffering and persecution which they are experiencing will be worth it when Jesus returns. I do not really like my wording there. Paul writes that those who persecute believers today will experience trouble when God judges the earth and those who are persecuted will receive relief at that time. Paul then reassures them that Christ has not already returned, despite those claiming otherwise. He writes that Christ will not return until after “the man of lawlessness” has been revealed. The context of the passage suggests that “the man of lawlessness” is a particular individual, but it is possible that Paul was instead referring to a cultural attitude. It is also possible that Paul envisioned “the man of lawlessness” as an individual, but the Holy Spirit meant a cultural attitude. In either case, “the man of lawlessness” represents a person, or people, who set themselves up as God. He will perform signs and wonders which will deceive those who refuse to accept the truth of the Gospel. When Jesus returns He will completely reveal and destroy the delusion. Those who stand firm in the Gospel will not be fooled into believing the lie. One of the reasons I wonder if “the man of lawlessness” might refer to a cultural attitude is that I see our society increasingly embracing lawlessness as time goes by.

    In light of this, Paul encourages the believers to stay away from believers who are idle and disruptive. Each one of us should do whatever we are able in order to earn the necessities of life. “Those who are unwilling to work shall not eat,” is Paul’s command to us. Each of us should consider our lives and whether we fill this command from Paul, because it is directed more at those who are idle than at those who are busy (it is more important that I make sure I work for my living than that I not support those who do not). We should never tire of doing good and avoid those who do not obey Paul’s command in this matter. I do not believe that Paul was referring to shunning them, rather just not allowing their indolence to influence us to the same.

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2016 Bible Study — The Anti-Christ and Christ’s Return

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Thessalonians 1-3.

    It is clear from Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonian believers that there were disagreements in the Thessalonian Church about Christ’s Second Coming. I suspect that the same people were involved in this as had been denying the resurrection of the dead (which Paul addressed in the first letter). Paul wrote that Jesus’ will not return until after the “man of lawlessness” has been revealed. This is perhaps the most specific of all of the prophesies regarding the Second Coming. Paul seems to be saying that this “man of lawlessness” is a specific individual, the Anti-Christ (this passage is where the idea of a singular individual called “the Anti-Christ” comes from. Other references to anti-Christ refer to all who oppose Jesus as being anti-Christ’s). Paul refers to someone who will come and perform miracles, setting themselves up as God. Many people will accept this person’s teachings, which are contrary to the teachings from God. They will do so because they do not want to accept the truth which comes from God.
    It is certainly clear to me from reading this that Paul was referring to a singular individual who would come at some time in the future. However, it is possible that Paul was mistaken. It is possible to understand the words which he actually wrote to refer to a time when people in general do not accept lawful behavior and consider themselves to be gods. Certainly it is reference to a time when people reject God’s truth in favor of lies and deception. I believe that there will be a singular Anti-Christ before Christ’s return, but we should not become complacent because he has not yet appeared. Christ’s return will be sudden and unexpected by most. I will choose to believe that it could happen tomorrow.