2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
The Man of Lawlessness
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way…”
The Apostle Paul introduces this passage about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and us being taken up to be with Him. He already addressed this in his previous letter in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. However, there seems to be some error within the body of believers in Thessalonica. Some were led astray to think that the coming of the Lord has already happened and they missed it. But note, we must not be too quick to judge these precious saints because of their misunderstanding. After all, Paul was only with them for a very short time before persecution came and caused him to nearly escape. These persecuted believers did not understand the doctrine that was meant to comfort them. They were tremendously devastated as young Christians in their faith. Nevertheless, Paul, the great tender-hearted servant of Christ, who love this church, wrote to them, not just once, but twice because of the reports that he heard about them and his love for them.
Beginning in verse 1, Paul called them brothers, and they were true brothers in Christ. Yet, he had such high regard and empathy for these Christians. Paul treated them with kindness, mercy, grace, love, and compassion as a father who deals with his own son. Such is the way the Lord God, our Father deals with us (Hebrews 12:3-11), and which are the very same attributes of God when God revealed himself to Moses (Exodus 34:6-7). It is interesting to note the word “ask” that Paul uses in the original Biblical language. There are two common words in the Greek language for “ask”: one is used as an authoritative command, whereas the other one is used as a means to convey a gentle plea as one with filial affection. Paul uses the word that suggests a gentle plea and not an authoritative command. The Message, by E. H. Peterson, paraphrases 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a and says it this way:
“Now, friends, read these next words carefully. Slow down and don’t go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him. Don’t let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master’s arrival has come and gone. Don’t fall for any line like that.”
We also need to be tender-hearted, kind, merciful, gracious, loving, and compassionate too, when we deal with our brothers and sisters in Christ who need correction from errors, either in their belief or in their behavior. We are not to patronize and look down upon them as someone who is lowly, but lift them up in love so we are looking at each other face-to-face. We are, like Christ who condescended from Heaven and came in flesh to atone for our sins, to approach others with humility so they are lifted up, not as sinners but forgiven and declared as saints of the Lord God Almighty.
Christ came and dwelt, or “tabernacled” with us. John the Beloved describes the disciples’ beautiful relationship with Christ in 1 John 1:1-4, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” In the same way, we also must do all to maintain our sweet fellowship with believers: seeing, hearing, touching, and proclaiming Him who made this all possible!
This whole passage reminds me of my relationship with my brothers when we were young and growing up. There were five boys. We all were preacher’s kids, also known as PKs! Yes, we did fight and probably drove our mother insane at times. Yet, no one from the outside could ever come and fight with one of the Campbell boys. If they did, they had to fight with all five! Bad example, I know! The important truth is to take care of our o’hana (Hawaiian for family)!
Christian Hymn, Face to Face With Christ, my Savior by Carrie E. Breck in 1898
