And:Sounds plausible to me. I have no issue with it. But I’ve just gone along with the idea that it’s not a genuine letter of Paul’s, so I haven’t given it much thought, but now I want to take a closer look at it.
It is interesting that it was part of Marcion’s canon (so I’m learning), which could mean that just because he used something -like the supposed absence of the brother of the Lord reference in Galatians- it does not mean that it is “early” or authentic.
I will have to check this information, but right off the bat it is interesting that it also says on wikipedia:
“there is more evidence from early Christian writers for [Paul’s] authorship of Second Thessalonians than that of First Thessalonians. The epistle was included in Marcion’s canon and the Muratorian fragment; it was mentioned by name by Irenaeus, and quoted by Ignatius, Justin, and Polycarp.”
It’s the Ignatius reference that’s catching my attention, since (I think?) he died before the Bar Kochba revolt, though there might be nothing definite about that. But I can’t wait to find out.
I don't know of any evidence that Bar Kokhba reconquered Jerusalem or the Temple and I'm inclined now to think that he did not. But Bauckham notes the miracles claims here and says Jerome (Ad. Rufin. 3.31) refers to the fire breathing.I’ve been thinking about this a little more, and I still agree that the “Man of Sin” sounds like Bar Kochba. All the ducks seem to be in a row, like the “apostasy,” the man of sin sitting in the temple, and the fire breathing (though I didn’t see the source for that concerning Bar Kochba, I assume it’s in the Talmud).
However, one thing seems a little “off” about this idea, 2 Thessalonians being in Marcion’s canon. It seems strange that the letter would be accepted so quickly by him and his contemporaries as Pauline. I still lean towards Bar Kochba, but I wonder if it could possibly refer to Lukuas from the Kitos Revolt of 115-117:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lukuas
I know we don’t know much about him, but that might explain why Ignatius (if he does, and if it’s genuine)
“quotes” 2 Thessalonians, and why 2 Thessalonians was accepted by Marcion and other church fathers.
https://books.google.com/books?id=MKMJn ... rs&f=false