2 Thessalonians and sin

2 Thessalonians does not use the word sin. It does, however, use the word lawlessness (anomia). In particular, 2 Thessalonians speaks of a "man of lawlessness" (2:3; also 2:8) and a "mystery of lawlessness" (2:7). Lawlessness here seems closely connected to opposition to God (2:4). Indeed, this lawless one seems to lead some sort of "rebellion" (apostasia) (2:3).

We should not commit the anachronistic fallacy and assume apostasia means a turning away from faith. The group this lawless one leads astray are "those who are perishing" who "did not receive love of the truth" (2:10). These are "all who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness" (adikia) (2:12).

Sin in 1 Thessalonians 2 is thus once again opposition to God and what He is enacting in history. In contrast to the unbelievers above, the Thessalonians have been "chosen for salvation by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth" (2:13).

Chapter 2 ends with a prayer for them to be established in "every good work and word" (2:17), again showing that works do not contradict faith.

There is talk in chapter 1 (1:5, 11) of the Thessalonians being worthy of the kingdom because of their endurance of suffering and because God has fulfilled in them "every good pleasure of goodness and work of faith in power" (1:11). Again, we find no sense of careful distinction between faith and works. Both are in the mix of worthiness for the kingdom.

3:2-3 talk of God's protection "from the evil one" in being delivered from "wicked and evil people." My sense is that this does not refer to deliverance from sin but deliverance from persecution.

The last part of 2 Thessalonians 3 warns against idleness. But it does not identify it as a sin.