World English Bible · Under Rome
2 Thessalonians 2
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Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our and our gathering together to him, we ask you not to be quickly shaken in or troubled, either by or by word or by letter as if from us, saying that the day of Christ has already come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of is , the son of . He opposes and exalts himself against all that is called or that is , so that he sits as in of , setting himself up as . Don't you remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be in his own season. For of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of . Then the lawless one will be , whom will kill with the breath of his and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; even he whose coming is according to the working of with all and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be . Because of this, sends them a powerful delusion, that they should a lie, that they all might be judged who didn't the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to always give thanks to for you, brothers loved by , because chose you for through sanctification of and in the truth, to which he called you through our , for the obtaining of the of our . So then, brothers, stand firm and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word or by letter. Now our himself, and , who loved us and gave us comfort and good through , comfort your and establish you in every good work and word.
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Christians read this chapter differently
- Where does the church's authority come from? · 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Every view at its strongest, with who holds it and what it has to answer for.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.