Thoughts on Ministry, The Bible, & Christian Living
Authorship: Pauline
Date: 49-51 AD, shortly after 1 Thessalonians
Chronology: some suggest 2 Thessalonians to be written first, this is unlikely, see 2.15.
Theme: 2nd Coming, clarification of eschatology, 1) that Jesus has already return, 2) that the tribulation had begun
Chapter 5 concludes Paul’s discussion on eschatological matters and ends with a smorgasbord of commands to enable the Thessalonians to continue to live as salt and light in their dark world.
Introduction: Now & Later
When I was a kid, I could always count on my Dad stopping at a convenience store for snacks. One of my favorites growing up were the Now & Later candies. Apparently they have their name because you’ll enjoy them now and want some more later. I usually just enjoyed mine in the now and didn’t worry much about the later.
Paul combines these two aspects of time in our chapter this week. What we do now impacts the later. How we view the later often impacts what we do now. With this in mind, Paul discusses three important characteristics which believers should embody in the now (1-12) – purity (1-7), love (9-10), and life (11-12). Then, wanting to clear confusion among the church about the later, he speaks about the resurrection and rapture of God’s people (13-18).