“Look at the Book” is Bible Gateway’s series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians clarifies some of the points in his first letter and prepares the Thessalonians for a longer wait than they had expected for Jesus to return.
Scroll to the bottom if you’d prefer to see (and save) this article as an infographic. You’ll also find a handy 30-day reading guide. Or, for a challenge, you can do it in one week using the 7-day reading guide below.
Summary
Paul encourages the believers and corrects misunderstandings that had arisen concerning Jesus’ return. He also urges the believers to be steadfast and work for a living.
- Category: Epistle
- Theme: Endurance
- Timeline: Written around AD 52
Key Verse
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)
Stay the Course
Themes in 2 Thessalonians:
- Believers will endure suffering for God’s kingdom
- Believers must be wary of the Enemy’s deceptions
- Believers need to remain busy doing God’s work
The life of a Christian resembles a marathon more than a sprint. We will experience setbacks, challenges, and trials tempting us to go off course and slow our pace. Paul encourages us to cling to the promises found in God’s Word.
7 Day Reading Guide
(See 30-day guide below.)
- Day 1: 1 Thessalonians 1-2
- Day 2: 1 Thessalonians 3
- Day 3: 1 Thessalonians 4
- Day 4: 1 Thessalonians 5
- Day 5: 2 Thessalonians 1
- Day 6: 2 Thessalonians 2
- Day 7: 2 Thessalonians 3
Get Right Church
Emphasis is on how to maintain a healthy church with an effective testimony in proper response to sound eschatology and obedience to the truth.
Access the rest of the series. Browse Bible studies for each book of the Bible. Or right-click on the infographic below to download and save the image for your reference.
Chris Fann is the Senior Digital Marketing Manager for Harper Christian Resources. He loves the smell ofa baseball glove, coffee, and old books. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife, 2 teenage boys, and their dog, Freya.
