There are few passages in Paul’s letters more difficult than this one, not least because his argument refers to teachings we don’t have (vs 5,6). While we can’t understand in full, we can discern some important truths and warnings. 

First, sin is rebellion against God – lawlessness, chaos (v 3) – which tries to take his place (v 4). Second, the full expression of sin’s rebellion is being held back (v 6) – perhaps by God himself, perhaps by the rule of law. Third, Satan works through powerful deception and lies (v 9). Fourth, God’s judgement is to give those who reject his truth exactly what they want (vs 10–12). And fifth, although these patterns of sin are repeated throughout history, one day someone will arise as the ultimate expression of this rebellion. But how will God deal with him? Read verse 8. 

There is not even a skirmish, let alone a great battle. Take a breath and breathe out – that is all Jesus needs to do to ‘overthrow’ this enemy!

‘Blessed are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.’¹

It’s easy to be misled by appearances. My friend uses an old disinfectant bottle to spray her house plants with water. One day, she unwittingly picked up the real disinfectant – which looked identical – and sprayed a begonia with it!

Evil can also be deceptive and harmful. We don’t know exactly what Paul means by the coming ‘man of lawlessness’ (v 3) who will set himself up ‘in God’s temple’ (v 4), though it seems likely that he may have been inspired by the Roman emperor Augustus, for whom a temple was built in Thessalonica as part of his imperial cult.² However, it is clear that this ‘man’ symbolises everything that is utterly opposed to faith – while presenting himself as something to be worshipped. All the way through this passage, Paul describes this ‘lawless one’ by using language that he normally uses only about God and Christ: he is ‘revealed’ (vs 3,8); his power is ‘secret’ (v 7, the word used is the same Paul uses for the ‘mystery’ of God in various letters);³ he is ‘at work’ (v 7); he is ‘coming’ (v 9). Yet it is all a lie. Paul says that the power of lawlessness is ‘already at work’ (v 7). Can you identify people or things around you that deceive others into thinking they are worthy of worship? 

We might be concerned about being misled ourselves by Satan’s deceptions. However, Paul describes the ones who are deceived as those ‘who refused to love the truth’ (v 10), not those who have accepted it. (My friend soon realised her mistake and the plant survived!) Paul’s message for the Thessalonians is to ‘remember’ what he has told them before (v 5). We also have nothing to fear from the enemy, while we hold on to the gospel truth that we have received. 

Pray for the Lord’s mercy towards unbelieving friends and family.

¹ Ps 40:4, TNIV  ² Green, Thessalonians, Apollos, 2002, p310–312  ³ Eg Eph 3:3,4,9; Col 1:26,27; see Green, p317