Chapters 2 and 3

2 Thessalonians 2:6 - This verse tells us that Satan wants to bring the man of lawlessness on the scene even now. But the Father in His mercy is restraining him. Why? "He does not wish that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance." The Father is prolonging the time to give more people the chance to receive Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 - Paul tries to reassure his readers that they need not fear this delusion so long as they persist in the Gospel.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 - Modern Christianity wants to take out "salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit," and they just want to say, "salvation through belief of the truth" (KJV). But in truth, salvation is a process that includes both elements, (1) being made holy by the Spirit, (2) belief in the truth. In fact, 2 verses later (vs. 15) we are commanded to "stand fast" and "hold [fast]" (KJV) the "teachings" (lit.) of the apostles. This means that whatever the Apostles have commanded in the Scripture, we are bound to do, if we are bound to obey.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 - First notice that Paul does not shrink from using the word "command." Recall that in 1 Thessalonians 5:12, Paul used a subjunctive form of "ask" rendered, "we would request..." Here Paul gives an explicit command. How does he make this command? "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Can he be more solemn? His command must be very serious. Indeed, it is serious. He commands them to "avoid" or "keep aloof" (NASB) from those who lead a disorderly life. By this he is referring to the situation mentioned in vs. 11. These are those who do not work but are busy spreading idle reports and suppose that they do work for the Kingdom, but in fact they only hinder the work. The tradition Paul speaks of is his example when he was among them. This is not necessarily something written in the Scripture that he refers to (though it is written for us).