2 Thessalonians

• DatesAbout AD 51 if Paul wrote it (debated)
• GenrePaul’s Letters
• AuthorshipPaul according to the letter; authorship debated
• TimelineEarly Church
• Key texts2 Thessalonians 2; 2 Thessalonians 3
• Read the text2 Thessalonians in the World English Bible
• Covered in classSession 4

What the sources say, and how sure we are

• The text says

  The letter warns against being deceived about the day of the Lord, speaks of a “man of lawlessness,” and says that some letters were falsely attributed to Paul.2 Thess 2:1–12; 2 Thess 2:2; 2 Thess 3:17

• Debated

  Many scholars accept Paul as the author. Others see differences from 1 Thessalonians in tone and teaching and propose a later writer, partly because of the warning about forged letters. The identity of the “man of lawlessness” has been explained in many ways.2 Thess 2:3–10