Chapter 1

1:7-9 - Jesus will take "vengeance on them that know not God" by burning them forever "in flaming fire."

* This is written and verified by other passages of scripture.  See Revelation 20:15.  The Creator God will punish the ones who reject Him.

1:8-9 - Does Hell exist? Yes.

* Verse 9 refers to Hell when it says "everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord . . ."

Chapter 2

2:2 - "The day of Christ is at hand." Paul believed that he would see Jesus' return.

* 2 Thessalonians 2:2 is a prophetic passage and, like most passages of scripture, cannot be understood without reading and understanding the verses before and after it.  Taking one phrase out of the Bible and making a judgment from it is a poor way to exegete the Bible.

* 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 reads, "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as if the day of Christ is at hand.  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"  Paul is actually (and plainly) saying that Christ is not returning now and will not return until the falling away and the "son of perdition" comes.  This is a reference to the Anti-Christ mentioned in Daniel and Revelation.

2:8 - Jesus will "consume" the wicked "with the spirit of his mouth."

* This is what this passage says.  This is no contradiction.  With a breath and a word, matter was created by God.  In the same manner, it will be consumed.

2:9 - This verse says that Satan, not God, is all-powerful.

* This verse says nothing about God's power or lack thereof.  However, this passage does say that, for a time, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders."  God allows the Anti-Christ to have some power, but it comes to an end and God is the victor.  This passage never indicates that this "lawless one" to come is a threat to God or His sovereignty.

2:11-12 - God will cause us to believe lies so that he can damn our souls to hell.

* These two verses are better understood by reading the verses before it and after it.  2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 read, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."  This passage of scripture is plainly saying that the ones who reject God before the "coming of the lawless one" (which occurs after the rapture) will not trust, believe, or accept God after the rapture.  Their delusion and rejection of God will continue through the rapture and the tribulation and they will not trust, believe, or accept God.

2:13 - God selects those who are to be saved (or damned) "from the beginning." It therefore makes no difference how good, kind, honest, or loving we may be; if god hasn't chosen us, we will be damned.

* 2 Thessalonians 2:13 and 14 read, "But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has, from the beginning, chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."  God clearly calls people and the believer answers by their belief in the truth.

* Salvation never depends on how good, kind, honest, or loving a person acts.  Without faith and trust in Jesus Christ, these actions are not done to glorify God and therefore, will not please Him.

Chapter 3

3:6, 14 - Those who disagree with Paul are to be shunned.

* 2 Thessalonians 3:6 and 14 read, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed."  Paul is telling people that if they have friends who live in sin and do not obey God's Word, then they are to avoid them.  

3:10 - Paul said that those who will not or cannot work should starve to death. He must have been a Republican.

* The phrase in this verse is "would not work."  Paul isn't referring to the handicapped or mentally ill.  Paul is telling the Thessalonians that if they are lazy and choose to avoid working, then they won't have anything to eat.  Do you think that a person who rejects work and does nothing should simply be given everything?  Paul isn't talking about people that are "in between jobs."

* The Greek word for "would  (not)" can better be translated "chooses, inclines, determines, prefers (not)."  This is clearly an exhortation against laziness and against uselessness.

3:16 - See Ex.15:3 for an example of what "the Lord of Peace" can do.

* The "Lord of Peace" and the "Prince of Peace" are two of Jesus' titles.

* Exodus 15:3 is part of a song that the Israelites sang after God helped them defeat the Egyptians.  They were finally set free from slavery.

* God has a complete and perfect character.  He goes to war for the ones that love Him.  In this case, He set the Hebrews free from the evil oppression of the Egyptians.