2 Thessalonians
This second letter to the believers in Thessalonica was, like the first letter, written from Corinth during Paul’s second missionary journey of 50 – 52AD (see Map 27). It was probably written in 52AD about six months after Paul’s First letter to the Thessalonians. Paul is writing again to the church he had established in Macedonia (northern Greece) about a year earlier before moving south to Achaia (southern Greece) (see Acts 17:1-9, 18:1 and 5 on Map 24).
Paul had written a few months earlier (see 1 Thessalonians 1:1) and is writing again in response to further information he has received about the new church. The person who delivered this second letter is again uncertain, but as with the first letter, it was unlikely to have been Timothy or Silas (see 2 Thessalonians 1:1), who may have scribed the letter while Paul dictated.
In this letter, Paul clears up some confusion that has arisen about the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Paul confirms that the ‘Day of the Lord’ has not yet come and will be preceded by a time of persecution and evil under a powerful leader whom Paul refers to as the ‘Man of Evil’.
Via Egnatia in Thessalonica
2 Thess. 1:1-2 Paul sends greetings from himself and from Silas (‘Silvanus’) and Timothy (who are staying in Corinth with Paul at the home of Aquila and Priscilla – see Acts 18:1-3 & 5 and 5 on Map 24).