Paul cautions his new Thessalonian brothers and sisters not to be taken in by every rumor or report they may hear about the prophesied day of the Lord. Evidently these neophyte Christians had been duped by some such gossip, attributed to Paul himself, concerning both the Lord's coming and the in- "gathering" of all those connected to him. Paul's words here take for granted his audience's knowledge of what he had previously preached, both about Christ's return and about what they might expect as believers.

Paul calms as he cautions. He counsels the Thessalonians not to be "shaken in mind" or "alarmed," but to maintain stability and a trusting state. Paul emphasizes that whatever reports they have received - whether "by spirit or by word or by letter," the message did not come from him. In …