Boldness with the Gospel & in Correction

On Sunday, we will look at the third and final chapter of 2 Thessalonians to conclude the series. We know that one of the main reasons Paul wrote his second letter was to correct misunderstandings about the Second Coming of Christ. We saw that in the second chapter, where Paul explained the events that would precede the Day of the Lord, which will be a time of spiritual rebellion and see the rise of a notable figure called “the man of lawlessness.” We also saw that the second chapter ended with the theme of standing firm and holding fast to the teachings that Paul and his companions passed on to them and an encouragement in being established in good works. The third and final chapter begins with prayer requests that center around the successful spread of the gospel. Then, Paul takes a turn and addresses an issue of laziness, or idleness, among the Thessalonians, perhaps stemming from a misunderstanding about the Second Coming. Paul, in no uncertain terms, says that all able-bodied believers are not to be lazy and idle, and must carry their own weight in the community of faith.