Title: Do not be deceived
Contents
“Let no one deceive you by any means” - 2 Thessalonians 2 -
2 Thessalonians 2 can be divided into four parts (vv. 1-12; 13-14; 15; 16-17), while verses 1-12 contain the most important teaching about the coming of Christ in 2 Thessalonians. . The structure of his teaching here is at first glance clear (vv. 1-2 [general topic and particular interest]; verses 3-4 [Paul's emphatic response]; verses 5-12 [additional information about the man of lawlessness]). However, there are many words in this verse that we do not know exactly what Paul meant. That is why we need the wisdom to focus on what we can know, not to speculate on the unknown, and to grasp the clear and sure lesson Paul gives us. Let's get into the text together.
1. On the Coming of Christ (vv. 1-12): After Paul expressed his particular concern that the Thessalonians should not be confused by the general talk of the coming of Christ and the rumors that the coming of the Lord had already been fulfilled (1-2). v.), and by saying that the day of the Lord has not yet come, because the man of lawlessness has not yet appeared (vv. 3-4), and gives more information about this Satanic-inspired man in the rest of the chapter. Give an explanation (vv. 5-12).
In the words of verse 1 “of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and of our gathering before him,” the first element is the same as that dealt with in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, and the second element is what is described in I Thessalonians 4:17. same. The particular concern that Paul expresses in verse 2 is that there are some among the Thessalonians who are shaken or frightened by the claim that “the day of the Lord has come”. It is not certain how a misunderstanding arose among them that this day of the Lord had come. In any case, Paul's teaching must have provided an excuse for misunderstanding. No, it is more accurate to say that the Thessalonians misunderstood Paul's teaching. Judging from the content of Paul's answer to this question in verse 3 and below, his primary interest was not in the path of misunderstanding, but in the misunderstanding that the day of the Lord had already arrived.
Paul denies the misunderstanding (see v. 15), emphasizing the content of the misunderstanding: “Let no one in any way deceive you” (v. 3a: “Let no man in any way deceive you” [MINISTRY] ]). The day of the Lord has not yet come. For there are things that must happen before the day of the Lord comes, and they have not yet happened. The first things that will happen are the apostasy and the appearance of the man of lawlessness. The term “apostasy” (apostasia) can refer to either a political or religious apostasy, but here it seems to combine these two elements with greater emphasis on the latter.