The Heart Of Paul’s Theology: Paul And The ThessaloniansSample

Man of Lawlessness Will Be Revealed: 2 Thessalonians 2:4-9

Paul mentioned that Christ would not return until the man of lawlessness was revealed. From Paul’s description in 2 Thessalonians 2:4-9, the man of lawlessness would appear to be a sort of parody of the incarnate Jesus Christ. For example, verse 8 says that, like Jesus, he will be “revealed.” Verse 6 indicates that he will come “in his own time.” According to verse 9, his “coming” will be accompanied by “signs, powers and wonders.” And verse 4 says that he will actually proclaim himself to be divine.

Many suggestions have been made regarding the identity of the man of lawlessness. Some have thought him to be a specific political figure, such as Roman emperor Nero Claudius Caesar in the first century. Others have thought him to be a type of political figure that is repeated in every age. For example, although Nero was the first tyrannical persecutor of the church, he was later followed by emperors like Marcus Aurelius, who was also no friend of the church. 

Perhaps the best explanation is that the man of lawlessness is a single human figure, yet to be revealed, who will be influential in the last generation before Christ returns, the one whom John called the “antichrist” in 1 John 2:18.

Now, although scholars disagree regarding the precise meaning of each of these elements we have mentioned, we can at least be sure of the larger point Paul was making: Some of the Thessalonians had gone so far in their fervor for the return of Christ that they believed that Jesus had already returned, and that they had not been glorified with him as promised. So, Paul reiterated that a number of things had to happen before the Second Coming of Christ. Since these things had not transpired, it was clear that Jesus had not returned.

Paul pointed out that Christ’s return was further away than the Thessalonians thought in order to open their eyes to the significance of their present lives. And for the same reasons, whenever we are so concerned with the nearness of Christ’s return that we are tempted to neglect this life, we need to remember how important it is that we engage in the responsibilities and struggles of life in the “already but not yet.”

Click here to watch The Heart of Paul's Theology: Paul and The Thessalonians, lesson three in the series The Heart of Paul's Theology. Biblical Education, For the World. thirdmill.org