2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17
Chapter 2
1
The Parousia or Second Coming of the Lord
Brothers and sisters, let’s discuss the coming of Christ Jesus, our Lord, and our gathering to meet him.2
Do not be easily shaken. Do not be alarmed by what a prophet says, or by any report, or by some letter supposedly from us claiming that the day of the Lord is near.
3
Never let yourselves be deceived. Apostasy must happen first when the man of sin appears,
14
To this end, he called you through the gospel we preach, because he wanted you to share in the glory of Christ Jesus, our Lord.
15
Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions we taught you, whether by word or letter.
16
May Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has loved us, and God our Father, who, in his mercy, gives us everlasting comfort and steadfast hope, strengthen you.
17
May he strengthen your hearts and help you stay steadfast in every good deed and word.
Commentaries
The Parousia or Second Coming of the Lord.
We now move to the heart of this short letter: the ultimate coming of the Lord. When will it happen? This question does not seem to concern most Christians today. However, it was a pressing issue in early Christian communities like Thessalonica, leading to a climate of anxiety and sometimes collective hysteria, fueled by rumors spread by prophets of the time or the circulation of “letters falsely attributed to us” (2) with specific dates for the upcoming event. This religious hysteria about the “end of the world” has recurred throughout Christian history during periods of intense tension caused by wars or natural disasters. Christians continue to struggle and dedicate themselves, knowing that ultimately, victory will always belong to Christ.
Mutual Prayers.
The Apostle, now addressing the faithful community, begins to draw practical conclusions from all of the above in an atmosphere of grateful prayer. Paul also asks for prayers for the apostolic group so that the Word of the Lord may spread and run like a living being: “He sends forth his command to the earth, and his word runs swiftly” (Ps 147:15). And so, by praying to God for one another—evangelizers and evangelized—they will know how to resist the attacks of the wicked and wait with patience and endurance for the coming of Christ (cf. Rom 8:25; 15:4).