Disinformation
Disinformation about the “day of the Lord” caused alarm among many in the congregation at Thessalonica – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2.
In his second letter to the
Thessalonians, Paul addresses a claim that the “Day of the Lord has set
in." Rumors are disrupting the congregation with false information
about the “arrival” of Jesus that is being attributed either to a “spirit,”
a word (logos), or a letter “as if from us” - [Photo by sue hughes on Unsplash].
In response, Paul first lists two events that must occur BEFORE the
“parousia” of Jesus - the “revealing of the man of lawlessness”
and the “apostasy,” and the fact that they have not occurred
demonstrates that the Thessalonians are receiving disinformation about the
future.
In the preceding chapter,
Paul prepared the ground for what now follows. Despite hostility from without,
the Thessalonians have exhibited “endurance and faith in all their
persecutions and tribulations.” But God will recompense “tribulation to
them that trouble you,” but provide “release” and “glory” to
the beleaguered saints at the “revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven”
- (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10).
FALSE ALARMS
But the greater danger is
posed by deception from within the church, and this could quite easily cause
some if not many to apostatize.
Years earlier, Jesus warned
disciples not to be alarmed by deceivers who spread false reports
and thereby cause anxiety about the “end.” That warning has now become
all too real in Thessalonica. Therefore, Paul warns the Thessalonians not to
heed claims that the “day of the Lord” is imminent or has even arrived.
- (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2) - “But we request you, brethren, in behalf of the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, that you be not quickly tossed from your mind nor be put in alarm, either by spirit or by discourse or by letter as by us, as that the day of the Lord has set in.”
In this passage, “arrival”
translates the Greek noun parousia, the term applied most often by
Paul to the “coming of Jesus” in his letters to the Thessalonians. It denotes
an “arrival” or “presence,” the arrival of someone or
something - (1 Thessalonians 2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:1,
2:8-9).
“Our gathering together”
translates the Greek noun episunagogé. Whatever this “gathering”
is, Paul connects it to the “arrival” of Jesus and the “Day of the
Lord.” The Greek word is related to the verb episunagō,
which means “to gather together.”
The same term was applied by Jesus to the “gathering
of his elect” at his “coming” in his ‘Olivet Discourse’ (“Then
shall he send his angels and gather together his elect from the
four winds”), the same event Paul now states will occur on “Day of the
Lord” - (Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
BE NOT TROUBLED
“That
you are not quickly troubled.” The verb rendered “troubled” is throeō. In the New Testament, it occurs only here and on
the lips of Jesus in his ‘Olivet Discourse.’ Thus, Paul echoes Christ’s warnings
about coming deceivers:
- (Matthew 24:6) – “And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you be not troubled: for these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” – (Also, Mark 13:7).
“Whether by spirit
or by discourse or by letter, as by us.” Paul is unsure how this
disinformation is being spread. “Spirit” is ambiguous but could refer to
the exercise of a spiritual gift, perhaps the gift of prophecy.
“Discourse” or logos can
refer to several types of verbal communication, and the significance of “letter”
is obvious. “As by us” points to the communication being
attributed falsely to Paul.
DAY OF THE LORD
“The Day
of the Lord.” Paul links this day to the “arrival” of
Jesus and the “gathering” of the elect. The “Day of the Lord”
is a common term in the Hebrew Bible for the time of visitation and judgment by
God, the “day of Yahweh,” the day when He rescues His people and judges
His enemies - (Isaiah 2:12, Joel 1:15, 2:1, 2:31, 3:14, Malachi 4:5).
In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul used the same phrase and compared its sudden arrival to “a thief in the night,” the same analogy Jesus applied to his “coming” at the end of the age. According to Paul, that day will bring “sudden destruction” upon those who oppose the gospel and persecute the saints.
Elsewhere in his epistles, the “Day of
the Lord” becomes the “day of Jesus Christ,” the hour when
he vindicates his righteous one but also judges the wicked - (Matthew
24:42-44, Luke 12:39, 1 Corinthians 1:8, 5:5, 2 Corinthians 1:14,
Philippian 1:6-10, 2:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).
“Has set in”
translates the Greek verb enistemi, meaning “to stand in, to set
in,” and here it is in the Greek perfect tense. It signifies a completed action.
In this context, it indicates an imminent
event, or more likely, one that has already commenced. Unfortunately, Paul does
not detail exactly how the Thessalonians understand this alleged scenario.
In
the next paragraph, Paul will begin to defuse
the situation. That day cannot arrive
until after two key events occur. In all this, he does not provide “signs” by
which believers can ascertain the imminence of the end. Instead, he presents
evidence proving why that day had not yet arrived.
His reference to a “word” received “as from us” is a verbal link to the
conclusion of this literary section when he exhorts the Thessalonians to adhere
strictly to the “traditions” they have received from Paul and his
coworkers “whether through discourse or
through our letter.”
Regardless of their
source, disciples must not heed any voices that deviate from the apostolic
teaching. By adhering to the apostolic teachings, they will avoid apostasy and
deception, and thereby attain the “acquisition of the glory of our Lord
Jesus Christ” when he does appear.
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