2 Thessalonians 2 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"

                              Chapter Two

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To examine what is revealed about the "man of sin" whom the Lord 
   will destroy at His coming

2) To consider how those who do not have a love for the truth are 
   setting themselves up to be deceived by the man of sin

3) To discern why God will send a strong delusion to some that they 
   will believe a lie

SUMMARY

Evidently Paul received word that some of the Thessalonians had the
impression that the day of Christ had come, that is, it was near at
hand.  To reassure them such was not the case, he reminds them of those
things he had told them while he was still with them.  That is, Christ
will not come until the falling away occurs, and the man of sin is 
revealed (1-3).  Paul then describes this man of sin and explains that 
he is currently hindered from being revealed.  When that which 
restrains him is removed, the man of sin will become apparent, whom the
Lord will destroy with His coming (4-8).  The coming of the lawless one
is further described, whose coming will be according to the working 
with Satan.  With all power, signs, and lying wonders, he will deceive 
those who do not have a love for the truth.  Indeed, God will also send
a strong delusion to those who do not love the truth, that they might 
believe the lie and be condemned for taking pleasure in unrighteousness
instead of believing the truth (9-12).

As for the Thessalonians themselves, Paul is ever thankful that God has
chosen them for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and 
belief in the truth, having called them by the gospel to obtain the 
glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (13-14).  He therefore exhorts them to 
stand fast and hold to the traditions taught by word or epistle, and 
prays that Jesus and God the Father will comfort their hearts and 
establish them in every good word and work (15-17).

OUTLINE

I. ENLIGHTENMENT ABOUT THE COMING OF THE LORD (1-12)

   A. DO NOT BE TROUBLED (1-2)
      1. Concerning the coming of the Lord, and our gathering to Him
         (1)
      2. By false reports, as though the day of Christ has come (2)

   B. THE APOSTASY MUST COME FIRST (3-12)
      1. The Day of Christ will not come until...
         a. A falling away comes first (3a)
         b. The man of sin (lawlessness) is revealed (3-4)
            1) The son of perdition (3c)
            2) Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called
               God and that is worshipped (4a)
            3) He sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself 
               that he is God (4b)
         -- As Paul told them while he was with them (5)
      2. The man of sin is being restrained (6-7)
         a. They knew what it was that was restraining him (6a)
         b. He will be revealed in his own time (6b)
         c. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work (7a)
         d. But the one who restrains will do so until taken out of the
            way (7b)
      3. When the lawless one is revealed (8-12)
         a. The Lord will...
            1) Consume him with the breath of His mouth (8a)
            2) Destroy him with the brightness of His coming (8b)
         b. The coming of the lawless one...
            1) Will be according to the working of Satan (9a)
            2) With all power, signs, and lying wonders (9b)
            3) With all unrighteous deception among those who perish
               (10a)
               a) Because they did not receive the love of the truth
                  (10b)
               b) That they might be saved (10c)
         c. For this reason...
            1) God will send them a strong delusion (11a)
               a) That they should believe the lie (11b)
               b) That they may be condemned (12a)
            2) Because they did not believe the truth but had pleasure
               in unrighteousness (12b)

II. STEADFASTNESS ENCOURAGED (13-17)

   A. THANKSGIVING AND A CALL TO STEADFASTNESS (13-15)
      1. Bound always to give thanks to God (13a)
         a. Who from the beginning chose them for salvation (13b)
            1) Through sanctification by the Spirit (13c)
            2) And belief in the truth (13d)
         b. To which He called them (14a)
            1) By the gospel (14b)
            2) For the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ
               (14c)
      2. Stand fast and hold the traditions which they were taught
         (15a)
         a. Whether by word (15b)
         b. Or by his epistle (15c)

   B. PAUL'S PRAYER FOR THE THESSALONIANS (16-17)
      1. May the Lord Jesus Himself, and our God and Father (16a)
         a. Who loved us (16b)
         b. Who has given us... (16c)
            1) Everlasting consolation
            2) Good hope by grace
      2. Comfort your hearts (17a)
      3. Establish you in every good word and work (17b)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Enlightenment about the coming of the Lord (1-12)
   - Steadfastness encouraged (13-17)

2) What two related things does Paul now address them? (1)
   - The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
   - Our gathering together to Him

3) About what did he not want them to be troubled? (2)
   - As though the day of Christ had come

4) What two things must happen before that Day comes? (3)
   - The falling away
   - The man of sin is revealed

5) List the various descriptions of the "man of sin" (3a-4)
   - The son of perdition
   - Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or 
     that is worshipped
   - He sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is
     God

6) Had Paul told the Thessalonians of these things before? (5)
   - Yes

7) Did they know what was restraining the "man of sin" from being
   revealed? (6)
   - Yes

8) What was already at work at the time Paul wrote the Thessalonians?
   (7)
   - The mystery of lawlessness

9) How long would the one who restrains do so? (7)
   - Until he is taken out of the way

10) What will the Lord do to the lawless one? (8)
   - He will consume him with the breath of His mouth
   - He will destroy him with the brightness of His coming

11) According to what will the coming of the lawless one be?  What will
    accompany his coming? (9-10)
   - According to the working of Satan
   - All power, signs and lying wonders; with unrighteous deception

12) Who will be deceived by this lawless one?  Why? (10)
   - Those who perish
   - Because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they 
     might be saved

13) What will God therefore send? (11)
   - A strong delusion

14) What two purposes does Paul give for God doing this? (11-12)
   - That they should believe the lie
   - That they may be condemned

15) Who is it that will suffer such things? (12)
   - Those who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in 
     unrighteousness

16) How did God choose to save the Thessalonians? (13)
   - Through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth

17) How did God call them?  For what purpose? (14)
   - He called them by the gospel
   - For the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ

18) What two exhortations does Paul give them? (15)
   - Stand fast
   - Hold to the traditions which they were taught, whether by word or
     epistle

19) What two things does Paul mention that God and Jesus has given to
    us? (16)
   - Everlasting consolation
   - Good hope

20) For what does Paul pray that Jesus and God will do for the 
    Thessalonians? (17)
   - Comfort their hearts
   - Establish them in every good word and work
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