2 THESSALONIANS OUTLINE

A. Ralph Johnson

 

THEME:  Correction of misconception that Christ's coming was to be just at hand.

Written by Paul from Corinth around A.D. 50, shortly after 1Thes., after Acts 18:5

CHAPTERS & KEY WORDS

OUTLINE

3ch(4) Map (brief)

 

Greeting (1-2)

1: Judgment

I.         COMING RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD

 

A.        Thanksgiving for their faithfulness in persecution (3-4)

 

B.         Judgment upon their persecutors at Christ’s coming (5-10)

 

C.         Prayer that they will be acceptable to God (11-12)

 

2: Man of Sin

II.       COMING OF THE LORD NOT JUST AT HAND (2:1-17)

 

A.      Do not be deceived (1-2)

 

B.       The falling away must come first (2:3-12)

 

1.       Man of Sin*—Son of Perdition to be revealed (3-10)

 

a.       Sitting as God in the temple of God (4-6)

 

b.       The mystery of iniquity has already begun (7a)

 

c.       There is one who restrains (7b)

 

d.    After that is removed he will be revealed and ultimately destroyed by the Lord’s coming (8)

 

e.       He will deceive and do lying wonders (9-10)

 

2.       God will send a “Strong delusion” (11-12)

 

 

III.      THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER (2:13-3:5)

 

A.      Thanksgiving for them (2:13-14)

 

B.       Faithfulness urged (2:15 )

 

C.       Blessing invoked (2:16 -17)

3: Idlers

D.      Request for their prayers for Paul and companions (3:1-2)

 

E.       Confidence in their faithfulness (3:3-5)

 

 

IV.   WITHDRAW FROM THOSE WHO WON'T WORK (3:6-15)

 

 

CONCLUSION:  (3:16-18)

-Invocation (16)

-Salutation  (17)

-Benediction (18)

 

* Note: The “Man of Sin” is often confused with the “antichrist” (1John 2:18-19; 2John 7)  The antichrist was not one person but many—the Gnostics—those who dienied the Jesus came in the flesh.