1. AUTHOR. — Paul.

2. DATE. — Very soon after the preceding, 53–54 A. D.

3. TO WHOM WRITTEN. — To the church of the Thessalonians.

4. HISTORICAL OCCASION. — Nearly the same as that of the first Epistle. Perhaps Paul had received some additional information regarding the condition of the Thessalonians.

5. LEADING TOPICS. — Thanksgiving for their faith; teaching concerning the time of judgment and the second coming of Christ, and an exhortation to orderly living.

6. CHIEF PURPOSE. — To show that Christ is to judge men, rendering just punishment to those who oppose him, but that there would be increased opposition first, and that Christians should not cease to give their earnest attention to the ordinary affairs of this present life.

7. GENERAL ANALYSIS.

(a) A day of judgment to come, Ch. 1.

(b) Violent opposition first, Ch. 2.

(c) Disorderly living discouraged, Ch. 3.

8. SPECIAL TEACHING OF THE BOOK. — The Lord is to come to punish the wicked with everlasting punishment; antichrist to come first; Christians to be glorified in Christ when he comes. Christians to withdraw from the disorderly.

9. RELATION TO OTHER N. T. Books. — This gives an extension of the thought of the First Epistle; is connected with the statement of Christ in Matthew 24, and with the description of judgment in Revelation.

10. TOPICS FOR SPECIAL STUDY. — Teaching of the Bible about the judgment; meaning of antichrist.