II Thessalonians Lesson 1 (Text: Chapter 1:1-12)

Introduction to II Thessalonians

It is important to study God’s Word, the Bible. It is important to memorize verses and to think upon His Word. The Word of God never changes, even though we live in a world of constant change. Our friends and families change. Circumstances change. Our thoughts and attitudes change. And all around us we experience change every day. But the Word of God remains the same, and is sure and steadfast. We can always depend upon His Word. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven,” and in I Peter 1:23, we read that the Word of God lives and abides forever. In uncertain and changing times, we can always depend upon His Holy Word to give us comfort, strength, grace and power for each moment of our lives, regardless of our situations or our circumstances. The Word of God also helps newborn babies in Christ to grow spiritually. In I Peter 2:2 we read, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” We, as believers in Christ, are commanded in God’s Word to grow spiritually. II Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” The Word of God has always existed and will always exist. In John 1:1-2 we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” Read the following verses from the Bible: Psalm 119: 2, 9, 11, 28, 50, 67, 71, 74, 92, 114, 130, 147, 148, 162 and 165. As you begin these study courses of God’s Word, please begin them with this thought and prayer found in Psalm 119:18, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” And in Psalm 119:105 we read: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” This tells us how to stand with God and how to go with God.  

II Thessalonians Key Verse: II Thessalonians 2:3, “Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”

Key Words: Good – found 22 times; Doctrine – found 8 times; Teach – found 8 times.

Theme: Christians are to be patient in waiting, watching, and working up to the moment of the Lord’s return.

Date: 53 A.D. (spring – 3 months after I Thessalonians was written.)

Writer: The Apostle Paul

Written to: believers at Thessalonica

From: Corinth (see Acts 17:1-10)

The Book: Number in Bible – 53rd Book of the Bible; Number of Chapters – 3; Number of verses – 47; Number in order of writing – 14th in New Testament.

Purpose: 1) To correct wrong views concerning the Second Coming 2) To comfort and encourage the faithful 3) To admonish the lazy and disorderly 4) To show the believers how to conduct themselves while waiting on the Lord

Divisions: 1) The second coming…a comfort in persecution (Ch. 1) 2) The second coming…and coming man of sin (Ch. 2) 3) The second coming…and Christian’s daily living (Ch. 3)

Outline:

1. Encouragement in suffering (Ch. 1)
2. Greeting and grace in time of persecution (v. 1, 2)
3. Gratitude and growth in persecution (v. 3, 5)
4. Glorious and grand appearing of Christ to end persecution (v. 6, 10)
5. Goodness and glory – because of persecution
6. Enlightenment about the day of the Lord (Ch. 2)
7. There will be a falling away (v. 1-3)
8. The man of sin will be revealed (v. 3-5)
9. The temple will be rebuilt (v. 4)
10. The Holy Spirit will be taken out (v. 6-7)
11. The world will be deceived (v. 8-10)
12. The church will be completed (v. 13-17)

III. Establishment in Christian living (Ch. 3)

1. Plea for prayer and patience (v. 1-5)
2. Prayer (v. 1)
3. Persecution (v. 2)

iii. Protection (v. 3)

1. Practicing (v. 4)
2. Patience (v. 5)
3. Proclaiming the problem and plan (v. 6-13)
4. The problem
5. Walking disorderly (v. 6-11)
6. Workers idle (v. 10, 11)
7. Weary in well-doing (v. 13)
8. The plan
9. Work quietly and steady (v. 12)
10. Win own bread (self-sustaining) (v. 12)
11. Withdraw from worthless (v. 6, 14)
12. Presenting the program of peace (v. 14-18)
13. Watch disobedience (v. 14)
14. Withdraw from disobedient (v. 14)

iii. Work with disobedient (v. 15)                        

iv. Wait for peace (v. 16)                    

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