| 2 THESSALONIANS |
| Explanatory Footnotes |
| 2:7 Exactly What Will Happen Nearly every age has come up with a different interpretation of this passage. No one is certain about the "secret power of lawlessness" or "the one who now holds it back." This passage is obscure because Paul refers to further information he had taught the Thessalonians in person. (Even another New Testament author admitted that Paul's letters contain "some things that are hard to understand" [2 Peter 3:16].) 3:10 No Work, No Eat Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians had affirmed that Jesus could return at any time, unexpectedly. Evidently, this doctrine had encouranged those who had quit their jobs; they did nothing but wait for the second coming. To correct the imbalance, in this second letter Paul stresses that certain events must happen before Christ's return. He also strongly warns against idleness. |