Second Thessalonians was written by the Apostle Paul in about 51 AD to instruct a young congregation suffering persecution and infiltrated by false teaching about the end times.

I. The Groundwork (Acts 17:1-9). Silas (Silvanus a Roman name) was a Jew with Roman citizenship, a prophet/preacher (Acts 15:32), missionary with Paul, and secretary to Peter (1 Pet 5:12). Timothy was like a son to Paul, whose father was Greek and mother a Jew (Acts 16:1; 2 Tim 1:5). He was a missionary companion of Paul, a pastor, and later his ambassador (Acts 19:22; 1 Cor 4:17; 16:10; Phil 2:19-24; 1 Thess 3:2; 1 Tim 1:3).
Paul, Silas, and Timothy were escorted from Philippi after Paul’s preaching stirred a riot (Acts 16). The journey from Philippi to the metropolis of Thessalonica was about 100 miles or a three day walk. Thessalonica had a Jewish synagogue where Paul went first, preaching three Saturdays in a row that Jesus was the promised Messiah who died and was resurrected
In the synagogue, Paul reasoned (to exchange questions and answers), explaining (opening to understand), and demonstrating (giving evidence to prove a point) the gospel of Jesus. He shared the gospel from Scripture, not experience or beliefs.
A few Jews and many devout Gentiles (non-Jews who worshiped with Jews but hadn’t converted with the physical sign of circumcision) believed the gospel, which was for all people (Gal 2:28). Rather than a city-wide revival, these conversions created a riot. People who cannot be convinced by reason turn to violence. These rioters were wicked men (lit, bums).
Paul and Silas were accused of rebelling against Rome, turning the world upside-down. Actually, sin turned the world upside-down; the gospel of Jesus turned it right side up. Christianity unsettled the sinful world as sinners knew it. The missionary team was snuck from the city under the cover of darkness.
From this short few month ministry came a congregation grounded in the essentials and fundamentals of the Christian faith. Good teaching can quickly produce a strong and well-grounded assembly.

II. The Gathered (2 Thess 1:1). Paul wrote to the church (ekklesia) in Thessalonica. The ekklesia is an assembly or gathering of called out ones. The church is called out of unbelief to faith, from darkness to spiritual light, from sin into righteousness, from alienation to God to fellowship with Him (1 Pet 2:9). Biblically speaking, the church is people, not a building; a living organism, not an organization.

III. The Godhead (2 Thess 1:1). The church is in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The word Father is authoritative, relational, and pro-generational. He is both the Father of Jesus (1 Thess 1:1), and of believers; a personal, relational God; not “a” god or “the” God, but our Father.
The church lives and moves and has its being in (enveloped) the Father and the Son. This reveals an equality in the Godhead, but also submission. The Father and Son are equals in deity and attributes, but Jesus, as Son, has submitted Himself to the authority of the Father.
In other religions, men become gods or are absorbed into a god-force. Christianity alone claims its followers are “in” God, revealing a union or immersion into Him (Col 3:3).
And Jesus (Saviour), the One who saved the church, is also its Lord (master, sovereign), and Christ (Messiah or chosen One).