THE THEME OF THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS 

The second to the Thessalonians has in the title as the first: Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy, etc. And therefore it seems to have been written, in the same place, to wit, at Corinth, *where they remained a year and six months, and straightway upon their answer to the first Epistle. First, he thanks God for their increase and perseverance, comforting them again in those persecutions, and prays for their accomplishment. Secondly, he assures them, that the day of Judgment is not at hand, putting them in remembrance what he told them thereof by word of mouth, when he was present, as therefore he bids them afterward to *hold his Traditions unwritten, no less than the written, to wit, that all these persecutions and heresies, raised then, and afterward against the Catholic Church, were but the mystery of Antichrist, and not Antichrist himself, but that there should come at length a plain Apostasy, and then, the whole fore-running mystery being once perfectly wrought, should follow the revelation of Antichrist himself in person, as after all the mysteries of tin Old Testament, Christ Jesus our Lord came himself in the fullness of time. Ana then at length after all this, the day of judgment and second coming of Christ shall be at hand, and not before, whatsoever pretense of vision, or of some speech of mine, says Paul, any make to seduce you withal, or of my former Epistle, or any other. For which cause also, in the end of this Epistle, he bids them to know his hand, which is a sign in every Epistle. Lastly, he requests their prayers, and requires them to keep his commandments and traditions, namely, that the poor which are able, get their own living with working, as he also gave them example, though he were not bound thereto.

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*Acts 13:11

*2 Thess 2:15