Brief Exposition of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Part 2
A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE SECOND EPISTLE Of PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS.
The ARGUMENT.
PAul having not long before this written the preceding Epistle to the Church at Thessalonica, wherein he had shewn his resolute purpose to come and see them (1 Thes. 3. 10, 11.) and being yet as formerly, (1 Thes. 2. 18.) hindred, he hath been informed that not only their sad sufferings did yet continue, chap. 1. 4. but also that some, having taken occasion from what he wrote, 1 Thes. 4. and 5. concerning Christ his second coming unexpectedly to judgement, did spread a fond and fabulous opinion as if Christ had been to come in that present age, chap. 2. 2. whereupon some among them did cast by all care of their particular callings, and others, abusing the simplicity of those, and having given themselves unto Idleness, did live upon their means, chap. 3. 11. Therefore, and upon those occasions, he writeth this second Epistle unto them; His scope wherein, is, to confirm them in the doctrine of faith and practice of piety against both persecutors and seducers, (which after the inscription, chap. 1. v. 1.) he endeavoureth to effectuate, first, by comforting them under their present sad sufferings, chap. 1. Secondly, by refuting the forementioned errour, from this, that there would be first a general apostasie under the Antichrist, before Christ his second coming, chap. 2. Thirdly, by exhorting them to several duties of a Christian conversation, and more especially to abandon in their own practice, and suppress in others, the sin of Idleness, to v. 16. of chap. 3. In which and the two following verses, he concludeth the Epistle.