2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2:1

Since we heard of your faith . . . and love. He probably heard through Epaphras, a member at Colosse, who was at that time with him in Rome (Colossians 1:7 4:12).

2 Thessalonians 2:2

For the hope. He gives thanks for their hope of heaven. Which is laid up for you in heaven. This suggests that they have a treasure laid up in heaven which they hope to use. Their treasure is above. Whereof ye heard before. They heard of this hope when the gospel was preached to them.

2 Thessalonians 2:3

Which is come unto you. The gospel had come to them, being now spread abroad in all the world. That is not to be taken literally, but affirms the wide diffusion of the gospel. Bringeth forth fruit. It always bears fruit in holy lives wherever received.

2 Thessalonians 2:4

As ye also learned of Epaphras. “Also” in the Common Version is not found in the best MSS. They had learned of the gospel, its truth, its hope, and fruit from Epaphras, who probably planted the church under Paul’s direction. Where he was converted we are not informed, but possibly at Ephesus, the capital of the province, during Paul’s stay of three years there. Some have held that he is the same as the Epaphroditus of Php 2:25; 4:18, but this is not probable. He is highly commended here and in Colossians 4:12 and in the latter place is identified with the Colossian church.

2 Thessalonians 2:5

Who also declared unto us. Epaphras was at the date of the letter attending the apostle at Rome.

2 Thessalonians 2:6

For this cause. What he had heard, named in Colossians 1:4-8. Since the day we heard. He had something which had aroused his solicitude. That ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will. This would be their best security against false teaching, and an assurance of a faithful life. In all wisdom and spiritual understanding. The wisdom and understanding conferred by walking as led by the Spirit. See Ephesians 1:3,8 1 Corinthians 12:8.

2 Thessalonians 2:7

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord. Thus they would be equipped so as to please the Lord in all things in their walk. Being fruitful in every good work. Some things are named which please the Lord. The first is to abound in good works. Increasing in the knowledge of God. The second is to increase in the knowledge of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:8

Strengthened with all might. Made mightily by the divine power. Unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness. Nothing requires more grace than patience and long-suffering under wrong, or even fancied wrong. It is especially hard to endure wrong “with joyfulness”.

2 Thessalonians 2:9

Giving thanks unto the Father. In the midst of the trials which call for patience and long-suffering, still joyful and thankful to the Father that he hath made us fit to be partakers. Fit to have a share. Once, then, they were unfit. Of the inheritance of the saints. God’s infinite love had called them to be children, heirs, and joint-heirs with Christ. The heavenly inheritance is meant. To have a share with the saints in light is to be heirs of heavenly felicity. In light. Light is a symbol of purity and blessedness. It is in contrast with darkness in Colossians 1:13.

2 Thessalonians 2:10

Who hath delivered us. The language implies that we were captive. We were under the power of darkness. Compare Lu 22:53. Satan is the power of darkness. Those in sin are held under his power. Hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son. God, through the gospel, had rescued them, and has translated them into Christ’s kingdom. This was effected when they were converted. Some teach that Christ’s kingdom is yet future, but this passage shows that it already had an existence. The church was its visible form. It was inaugurated on Pentecost.

2 Thessalonians 2:11

In whom we have redemption through his blood. We are redeemed from sin. We were in bondage, but have been purchased. Satan holds us under bondage until our sins are blotted out. The price paid is his blood. Compare Ephesians 1:7.

2 Thessalonians 2:12

Who is the image of the invisible God. He came in order to reveal the Father in his own person. See John 14:10 Hebrews 1:3. The love of God is revealed in Christ. He was the visible representative of the invisible God. The firstborn of every creature. The thought is that he existed before creation began; born of God instead of being created by the divine fiat; born before any creature was called into existence. The passage does not say that he was the first created, but the first-born. He was before creation. See John 1:1,2.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

By him were all things created. Hence he must have existed before any creation. Compare John 1:3 Hebrews 1:2. As God manifested himself by means of the Son in the gospel, so in creation he manifested himself through the Son. The visible universe is a manifestation of God through the Son. THE WORD is the power that gives all things existence that exist. Thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. The angelic hierarchy; different ranks of angels, according to the teachings of some of the Jewish doctors. A heresy had already been proposed that divided these into ranks, assigned them an undue prominence, and held that Christ was only an angel. Paul does not pause to say whether these divisions are correct, but declares All things were created by him, and for him. That Christ is above them all, created them, and that they were created for him. One of these heresies he wished to counteract was the doctrine of angel worship.

2 Thessalonians 2:14

And he is before all things. He was before them all in time, by him all things consist. Through him they came into existence.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

And. In Colossians 1:15-17, Paul portrays Christ as the center and source of the creation. In this section he shows that he is the Head of the “new” creation. He is the head of the body, the church. In the church he is pre-eminent. It is his spiritual body, and he is the supreme head. Compare 1 Corinthians 11:3 Ephesians 1:10,22. Who is the beginning. The new creation began from him and in him. He is first of all in time. The first-born from the dead. He first conquered death, and not for himself alone, but the great company of those found in him who have been born from the dead.

2 Thessalonians 2:16

In him should all fulness dwell. All power and blessing. Completeness in all things. If limitations were placed upon his power to create, to save and to bless, all fulness would not dwell in him.

2 Thessalonians 2:17

Having made peace through the blood of his cross. See notes on Ephesians 2:14,17. Christ came to make peace between Jew and Gentile, man and man, man and God. The means employed was the blood shed on the cross. Through it the law, the partition wall between Jew and Gentile, was removed, and both alike have access to God. By him to reconcile all things to himself. “It pleased the Father” (1:19) . . . “by him (Christ) to reconcile all things to himself” (the Father). All who accept Christ are reconciled to him, and found in him, are reconciled thus to God. Whether things in earth. Human beings. Things in heaven. Chrysostom explains: Christ not only reconciles man on the earth, but raises him, who had been an enemy to God, to heaven and gives him a place there are peace with God, so that in heavens the fruits of reconciliation are seen forever.