This is Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, and some reckon that it was written not long after the first – perhaps in the light of Silas’ and Timothy’s return having delivered it. There are certainly some similarities and duplications – as well as some developments. The ‘man of lawlessness’, for example, is a new addition, not being referenced elsewhere, although this builds on Paul’s teaching on the return of Christ in his first letter.

The bond that Paul has with the Thessalonian church is still evident, although he doesn’t spend as long on it second time around. There’s the sense in this letter that Paul is being a little more severe in his outline of judgment. It is clear that there will be some (like the Thessalonians) for whom Jesus’ second coming will be a glorious event; equally, there will be others for whom it will be a decidedly uncomfortable moment (see Matthew 25:1-13, for example).

There are also times in the letter when he appears to be being a little cryptic, for example, in v.5. It’s as if, in his writings, he’s referring back to what he said before but not actually writing it, which makes it hard for us with only the letters, and not the original teaching, to go on! So teaching like this can be a little unsettling, because we can read verses such as 2.11 and wonder, “how do I know if I’m believing a delusion?”

Well, here, the example of the bank teller is important. To be trained to recognise forgeries, they are exposed time and time again to the genuine article, so that when a dud appears, it’s obvious. The closer we are to Jesus, the more we study and worship him, the more we’ll be able to discern the difference between right and wrong.

There seems to be, today, much debate and many different perspectives to do with what hell is and isn’t, and who might end up there and who won’t. It can be a distraction. Sometimes, we can fall into the trap of looking to see people ‘saved’ in order that they might avoid hell. Part of Paul’s delight in the Thessalonians is the extent to which they display the life of God in their lives in the here and now. Surely our desire for those around us is that they might know life in all its fullness (John 10.10) now, as well as when they die.

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Let’s pray for those around us that they may know life in all its fullness now.