Disinformation

Paul addressed rumors and false claims that the “Day of the Lord has set in" in his second letter to the Thessalonians. Incorrect information about the return of Jesus had disrupted the Assembly. This disinformation was attributed either to a “spirit,” word (logos), or a letter “as if from” the Apostle Paul and his coworkers.

The Church has been plagued by false information and overheated expectations about the return of Jesus virtually from its founding. Paul’s two letters to the Thessalonians attest to this fact. Unfortunately, the problem continues to this day.

[Letters Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash]

Paul listed two events that must occur before the ‘Parousia’ or “arrival” of Jesus when he comes to gather his saints. Firstly, the “revelation of the Man of Lawlessness,” and secondly, the “Apostasy.” The fact that neither had occurred demonstrated that his return and the “Day of the Lord” remained in the future.

Paul prepared his readers for this discussion in the first chapter of his letter.  Despite hostility from without, the Thessalonians had exhibited “endurance and faith in all their persecutions and tribulations.” However, God would recompense “tribulation to those who troubled you,” and provide “release” and “glory” to the beleaguered saints when Jesus was “revealed from heaven” - (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10).

More dangerous than persecution, however, was the threat posed by the deceivers spreading false information and rumors in the Assembly that could cause many to apostatize. Jesus also warned his disciples not to be alarmed by deceivers who spread false reports about the “End.” His warning became all too real in Thessalonica.

• (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2) - “But we request you, brethren, in behalf of the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, that you be not quickly tossed from your mind nor be put in alarm, either by spirit or by discourse or by letter as by us, as that the day of the Lord has set in.”

The English term “arrival” translates the Greek noun ‘Parousia,’ the word applied most often by Paul to the future “coming of Jesus” in his two letters to the Thessalonians. It means an “arrival” or “presence,” the arrival of someone or something.

The English clause “our gathering together” translates the Greek noun ‘episunagogé.’ Whatever this “gathering” was, Paul connected it to the ‘Parousia’ of Jesus and the “Day of the Lord” - (1 Thessalonians 2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2:8-9).

Jesus applied the same term to the “gathering of his elect” at his “coming” in his ‘Olivet Discourse’ (“Then shall he send his angels and gather together his elect from the four winds”). Paul taught that the same event would occur on the “Day of the Lord” - (Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Paul sent this warning to prevent the Thessalonians from becoming “troubled.” The verb translated as “troubled” or ‘throeō’ occurs in the Greek New Testament only here and on the lips of Jesus in his ‘Olivet Discourse.’ Paul was echoing Christ’s warning about coming deceivers - “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you be not troubled, for these things must come to pass; but the end is not yet” – (Matthew 24:6, Mark 13:7).

The Thessalonians must not heed false information about the return of Jesus regardless of its source - “Whether by spirit or by discourse or by letter, as by us.” Paul was unsure how the false rumors were being spread. The term “spirit” is ambiguous but could refer to a spiritual gift such as prophecy.

The Greek word translated as “discourse” or ‘logos’ could refer to several types of verbal communication. The significance of the noun “letter” is obvious. The clause “as by us” means this communication was attributed to Paul. He denied any such claim.

DAY OF THE LORD

Paul linked the “Day of the Lord” to the “arrival” of Jesus and the “gathering” of the elect. The “Day of the Lord” is a common term in the Hebrew Bible for the time of visitation and judgment of God, the “Day of Yahweh” when He rescued His people and judged His enemies - (Isaiah 2:12, Joel 1:15, 2:1, 2:31, 3:14, Malachi 4:5).

The Apostle Paul used the same phrase in his first letter to the Thessalonians and compared that day’s sudden arrival to “a thief in the night,” the same analogy Jesus applied to his future return. That day would bring “sudden destruction” on those who opposed the Gospel and persecuted the Assembly.

Elsewhere in Paul’s epistles, the “Day of the Lord” becomes the “Day of Jesus Christ,” the hour when he will vindicate the righteous but also judge the wicked - (Matthew 24:42-44, Luke 12:39, 1 Corinthians 1:8, 5:5, 2 Corinthians 1:14, Philippian 1:6-10, 2:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).

The phrase, “has set in,” translates the Greek verb ‘enistemi,’ meaning “stand in, to set in.” It is in the Greek perfect tense in this passage, signifying a completed action. In this context, it indicates something imminent, or more likely, an event that has already commenced.

His reference to the “word” received “as from us” is a verbal link to the conclusion of this literary section where he encouraged the Thessalonians to adhere to the “traditions” they had received from Paul and his coworkers (“So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or by epistle from us” - 2 Thessalonians 2:15).

Regardless of the source, believers must not heed voices that deviate from the Apostolic Tradition, including its teachings about the return of Jesus. This tradition is preserved in the Greek New Testament. By adhering to those teachings, followers of Jesus will avoid apostasy and deception, and attain salvation and glory when he does appear.

• “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning for salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth,  whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” – (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

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RELATED POSTS:

• Deceivers and Disasters - (Jesus warned of coming deceivers who would mislead many and spread false information about his return)

• Seated in the Sanctuary - (The Man of Lawlessness will be unveiled when he seats himself in the House of God - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

• The Apostasy - (Paul warned the Thessalonians of the future apostasy which he linked to the unveiling of the Man of Lawlessness, the Son of Destruction)