2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 . CORRECTION OF THEIR ERROR AS TO CHRIST'S IMMEDIATE COMING. THE APOSTASY THAT MUST PRECEDE IT. EXHORTATION TO STEADFASTNESS, INTRODUCED WITH THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR ELECTION BY GOD.

1. Now--rather, "But"; marking the transition from his prayers for them to entreaties to them.
we beseech you--or "entreat you." He uses affectionate entreaty, rather than stern reproof, to win them over to the right view.
by--rather, "with respect to"; as the Greek for "of" ( 2 Corinthians 1:8 ).
our gathering together unto him--the consummating or final gathering together of the saints to Him at His coming, as announced, Matthew 24:31 , 1 Thessalonians 4:17 . The Greek noun is nowhere else found except in Hebrews 10:25 , said of the assembling together of believers for congregational worship. Our instinctive fears of the judgment are dispelled by the thought of being gathered together UNTO HIM ("even as the hen gathereth her chickens under her wings"), which ensures our safety.

2. soon--on trifling grounds, without due consideration.
shaken--literally, "tossed" as ships tossed by an agitated sea. Compare for the same image, Ephesians 4:14 .
in mind--rather as the Greek, "from your mind," that is, from your mental steadfastness on the subject.
troubled--This verb applies to emotional agitation; as "shaken" to intellectual.
by spirit--by a person professing to have the spirit of prophecy ( 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 1 John 4:1-3 ). The Thessalonians had been warned ( 1 Thessalonians 5:20 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ) to "prove" such professed prophesyings, and to "hold fast (only) that which is good."
by word--of mouth (compare 2 Thessalonians 2:5 2 Thessalonians 2:15 ); some word or saying alleged to be that of Paul, orally communicated. If oral tradition was liable to such perversion in the apostolic age (compare a similar instance, John 21:23 ), how much more in our age!
by letter as from us--purporting to be from us, whereas it is a forgery. Hence he gives a test by which to know his genuine letters ( 2 Thessalonians 3:17 ).
day of Christ--The oldest manuscripts read, "day of the Lord."
is at hand--rather, "is immediately imminent," literally, "is present"; "is instantly coming." Christ and His apostles always taught that the day of the Lord's coming is at hand; and it is not likely that Paul would imply anything contrary here; what he denies is, that it is so immediately imminent, instant, or present, as to justify the neglect of everyday worldly duties. CHRYSOSTOM, and after him ALFORD, translates, "is (already) present" (compare 2 Timothy 2:18 ), a kindred error. But in 2 Timothy 3:1 , the same Greek verb is translated "come." WAHL supports this view. The Greek is usually used of actual presence; but is quite susceptible of the translation, "is all but present."