Day 345 Reading Schedule: 2 Thessalonians 1-3 

2 Thessalonians 1: Victorious Faith with the Hope of the Second Coming 

[Overview]

This chapter deals with encouragement for the persecuted church in Thessalonica. Like 1 Thessalonians, this book also provides much information about eschatology. It also contains Paul’s strict teachings to those who stubbornly refuse to change their lives despite receiving Paul’s loving advice. This chapter, where God’s justice in judging human actions is especially emphasized, includes praise for the Thessalonians who showed enduring faith even in the midst of tribulation and persecution, as well as the judgment of the enemies who persecute the saints and Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians. Therefore, Paul begins this chapter by greeting them and giving thanks to God for the good news that the Thessalonians’ faith and love have increased. At the same time, by emphasizing that when God’s justice is proven, those who persecuted them will suffer tribulation and those who have been persecuted will be given rest, he is encouraging their faith. The content of this chapter consists of greetings of grace and peace (verses 1-2) and encouragement for persecution (verses 3-12).

2 Thessalonians 2: Teachings on the Appearance of the Antichrist 

[Summary]

In the early days of the apostle Paul’s ministry, the second coming of Jesus was a major issue in all churches, and among them, the church in Thessalonica was particularly serious. Some of the Thessalonian believers thought that the sudden second coming that Paul spoke of was an immediate second coming, and they not only disturbed others’ hearts but also became lazy and inactive. In this chapter, Paul informed the Thessalonian church, which had many problems due to misunderstandings about the day of the Lord’s second coming, of the signs that would occur when the day of the Lord came, so that changes would occur in the lives of the believers. In other words, Paul was teaching that before the day of the Lord comes, there would be a great apostasy and that lawless people would appear, but that there were currently influences that were preventing his appearance. In addition, Paul added words of comfort that when Jesus Christ comes again, he would save the true people who had been saved from the fear of a great apostasy. The content of this chapter consists of warnings against false Christs (verses 1-12), comfort, and prayer (verses 13-17).

2 Thessalonians 3: Lessons on the Good Life of the Saints 

[Summary]

In this chapter, Paul teaches the Thessalonian church from an apostolic standpoint, as if a parent were admonishing his child. Not only does Paul pray for their blessing, but he also humbly requests intercessory prayers from the church, citing the fact that he himself is an imperfect human being, and he also prays with the conviction that God will protect the church with only grace and love and protect the people he has chosen until the end. In this way, the saints should always live with the premise of a healthy sense of individuality and the end of history, and in particular, the content of this chapter teaches that pastors and their flock should seek a more mature relationship through spiritual fellowship of praying for each other and exchanging intercessory prayers. The content of this chapter consists of a request for prayer so that he can preach without any hindrance (verses 1-5), an exhortation for the saints to live a life of scale (verses 6-15), and a closing greeting praying for the Lord's grace to be with them all (verses 16-18).