2 Thessalonians Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study Paul’s second epistle to the Thessalonians.
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2 Thessalonians Basics
- Author: Apostle Paul (with Silas & Timothy)
- Who was Paul?
- Date: c 50-51, shortly after the first letter, while Paul is still in Corinth and before his next visit to Thessalonica (Acts 20:4).
- Background: Acts 17
- Occasion: Paul needs to clarify fresh misunderstandings about the second coming of Christ and address continued idleness in the community.
Genre: Understanding Epistles
Background & Outlines
1&2 Thessalonians NASB Study Text
1&2 Thessalonians ESV Study Text
Paul’s use of the Old Testament
Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
Blue Letter Bible: 2 Thessalonains Outline
Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background – 2 Thessalonians
ESV: The Global message of 2 Thessalonians
James Van Dine: Intro to 2 Thessalonians
David Malick (Bible.org): An Introduction To Second Thessalonians
David Malick: An Argument Of Second Thessalonians
Charles Swindoll: 2 Thessalonians Overview
Daniel B Wallace: 2 Thessalonians: Introduction, Argument, Outline
J Vernon McGee: 1 and 2 Thessalonians Introduction
Maps
Journeys
Paul’s Conversion and Early Ministry– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 1st Journey – Bible-History.com
1st Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 2nd Journey – Bible-History.com
2nd Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 3rd Journey – Bible-History.com
3rd Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Journeys– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Arrest and Imprisonment– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Voyage to Rome– Holman Bible Atlas
Pentecost and the Jewish Diaspora– Holman Bible Atlas
Apostles’ Journeys – Bible-History.com
Geography
Israel in New Testament Times – Bible-History.com
New Testament Jerusalem – Bible-History.com
Herod the Great’s Kingdom – Bible-History.com
Herod’s Kingdom Divided – Bible-History.com
The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I – Holman Bible Atlas
The Kingdom of Agrippa II– Holman Bible Atlas
Expansion of the Early Church in Palestine– Holman Bible Atlas
Key Words in 2 Thessalonians
Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.
God (18x/14v) – Strong’s G2316 in 2Th 1:1; 2Th 1:2; 2Th 1:3; 2Th 1:4; 2Th 1:5; 2Th 1:6; 2Th 1:8; 2Th 1:11; 2Th 1:12; 2Th 2:4; 2Th 2:11; 2Th 2:13; 2Th 2:16; 2Th 3:5.
Lord (22x/20v) – Strong’s G2962 in 2Th 1:1; 2Th 1:2; 2Th 1:7; 2Th 1:8; 2Th 1:9; 2Th 1:12; 2Th 2:1; 2Th 2:2; 2Th 2:8; 2Th 2:13; 2Th 2:14; 2Th 2:16; 2Th 3:1; 2Th 3:3; 2Th 3:4; 2Th 3:5; 2Th 3:6; 2Th 3:12; 2Th 3:16; 2Th 3:18.
Jesus (12x/11v) – Strong’s G2424 in 2Th 1:1; 2Th 1:2; 2Th 1:7; 2Th 1:8; 2Th 1:12; 2Th 2:1; 2Th 2:14; 2Th 2:16; 2Th 3:6; 2Th 3:12; 2Th 3:18.
Christ (10x) – Strong’s G5547 in 2Th 1:1; 2Th 1:2; 2Th 1:12; 2Th 2:1; 2Th 2:14; 2Th 2:16; 2Th 3:5; 2Th 3:6; 2Th 3:12; 2Th 3:18.
faith (5x) – Strong’s G4102 in 2Th 1:3; 2Th 1:4; 2Th 1:11; 2Th 2:13; 2Th 3:2.
glorified (3x) – Strong’s G1740 in 2Th 1:10; 2Th 1:12; Strong’s G1392 in 2Th 3:1; glory (2x) – Strong’s G1391 in 2Th 1:9; 2Th 2:14.
grace (4x) – Strong’s G5485 in 2Th 1:2; 2Th 1:12; 2Th 2:16; 2Th 3:18.
truth (3x) – Strong’s G2225 in 2Th 2:10; 2Th 2:12; 2Th 2:13.
Commentaries & Study Bibles
Top 5 Commentaries on 1&2 Thessalonians – Ligonier.org
Best Commentaries on 1&2 Thessalonians – Tim Challies
Commentary Reviews: Thessalonians
Hiebert, D. Edmond. The Thessalonian Epistles. Chicago: Moody, 1971.
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: 2 Thessalonians
Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: 2 Thessalonians
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: 2 Thessalonians
Alfords Exegetical Commentary: 2 Thessalonians
Geneva Study Bible: 2 Thessalonians
Reformation Study Bible Notes 2 Thessalonians
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: 2 Thessalonians
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
City of Thessalonica
Holman Bible Dictionary: Thessalonica
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Thessalonica
McClintock and Strong: Thessalonica
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Thessalonica
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Thessalonica
Letter
Holman Bible Dictionary: 2 Thessalonians
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: – 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Theology of
American Tract Society: Thessalonians, Epistle to the 1 and 2
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Thessalonians, Epistles to the
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Thessalonians, the Epistles to the
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Thessalonians, 2nd Epistle
Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT: Thessalonians Epistles to the
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Thessalonians, Epistles to the
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Thessalonians, 2nd Epistle
McClintock and Strong: Thessalonians, 2nd Epistle
The Nuttall Encyclopedia Thessalonians, Epistle to the
Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Thessalonians epistles to the
Paul
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Paul the Apostle
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Paul
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Paul
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Paul
Holman Bible Dictionary: Paul
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Paul the Apostle
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Paul
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Paul
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Paul, the Apostle
McClintock and Strong: Paul
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Paul
The Jewish Encyclopedia:
Timothy
American Tract Society: Timothy
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary:
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Holman Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Timothy
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Timothy
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Timotheus, Timothy
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Timothy
McClintock and Strong: Timothy
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Timothy
Timothy in Acts: Acts 16:1-3; Acts 17:14-15; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4
Silas, Silvanus
American Tract Society: Silas; Silvanus
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Silas
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Silas
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Silas
Holman Bible Dictionary: Silas, Silvanus
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Silvanus
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Silvanus
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Silas
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Silvanus
McClintock and Strong: Silvanus
Silas in Acts: Acts 15:22-41; Acts 16; Acts 17; Acts 18:5
Articles
Wayne Brindle: Biblical Evidence for the Imminence of the Rapture
FF Bruce: The Second Epistle to the Thessalonians: An Expanded Paraphrase
Mal Couch: Postribulationism and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Mal Couch: Major Rapture Terms and Passages
Paul Dixon: The evil restraint in 2 Thess 2:6 Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 33.4 (Dec. 1990): 445-449.
David Mallick: An Argument Of Second Thessalonians
Stanley Ellisen: The Apostasy as it Relates to the Lord’s Return
Paul Feinberg: The Rapture and 2 Thessalonians 2
George Gunn: 2 Thessalonians 2:13, A Rapture Passage?
James B Joseph: Exegetical Research of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Richard Mayhue: The Bible’s watchword: day of the lord – The Master’s Seminary Journal 22/1 (Spring 2011) 65-88
Richard Mayhue: False prophets and the deceiving spirit – TMSJ 4/2 (Fall 1993) 135-63
Wayne House: A Defense of the Rapture in 2 Thessalonians 2:3
James Rosscup: Paul’s Concept of Eternal Punishment TMSJ 9/2 (Fall 1998) 169-189
James: Stitzinger: The Rapture in 20 Centuries of Biblical Interpretation TMSJ 13/2 (Fall 2002) 149-171
RL Thomas: Imminence in the NT, especially Paul’s Thessalonian epistles TMSJ 13/2 (Fall 2002) 191-214
Daniel Wallace: The “Temple of God” in 2 Thessalonians 2-4- Literal or Metaphorical
Bruce Winter: If a Man Does Not Wish to Work..’ A Cultural and Historical Setting for 2 Thessalonians 3:6-16,” Tyndale Bulletin 40.2 (1989): 303-315.
Andy Woods: Second Thessalonians 2:3a—Spiritual or Physical Departure? (Part 1)
Andy Woods: Second Thessalonians 2:3a—Spiritual or Physical Departure? (Part 2)
Andy Woods: Second Thessalonians 2:3a—Spiritual or Physical Departure? (Part 3)
Daniel B Wallace: The Addressees in Paul’s Salutations
Got Questions.org
Book of 2 Thessalonians – Bible Survey
What does it mean that hell is eternal separation from God?
What does hell look like? How hot is hell?
Who is the son of perdition (destruction)?
Who is the man of lawlessness?
Will there be a great apostasy – falling away during the end times?
What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming
Will the Holy Spirit be present during the tribulation?
What is the mystery of iniquity?
What does the Bible say about lawlessness?
How much power does Satan possess?
Why is God going to send a strong delusion in the end times?
Should a Christian go on welfare?
Should a Christian be involved in mentoring?
What does the Bible say about work ethic?
What is a biblical theology of work?
What does the Bible say about laziness?
What does the Bible say about personal responsibility?
What does the Bible say about playing the lottery?
What does the Bible say about being a busybody?
Is ‘idle hands are the devil’s workshop’ a biblical statement
What does the Bible say about shunning?
When is the Rapture going to occur in relation to the Tribulation?
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