Similar to my initial response post regarding Colossians, where I make the case for why Paul and/or Timothy could have been the authentic author, 2 Thessalonians is another case in which Paul could have been the true author. Not to mention that because the divide over 2 Thess, as well as over Colossians, has been rather evenly split for quite a while now (Foster 152), it seems more than time to find any compelling evidence that could significantly break the tie either way. According to a journal article I found, here are some reasons why it may be time to reconsider Paul, or even possibly Timothy, as the author of 2 Thess :
For one, NT Wright’s book, Paul: a Fresh Perspective, along with other 21st century scholarship, has caused a bit of a shift from viewing 2 Thess as a largely disputed letter to one that needs to be more carefully re-examined. This includes looking more closely at the apocalyptic influence on Paul’s theology (Foster 151, 152).
For instance, some of the debate about Paul’s change in eschatological thinking involves Emperor Nero’s reign, and that perhaps it is Nero who is identified as the “restrainer” in 2 Thess 2:7. Still, the main argument, while not well conclusive, is centered around whether Paul does in fact shift drastically in his eschatological view from 1 Thess to 2 Thess (Foster 155).
This leads to, as Soards mentions, the theological incompatibility between 1 Thess 4-5 and 2 Thess 2:1-12 (132). However, it is important to note that much of this view is rooted in 19th German scholarship, which has remained a default for explaining Paul’s shift from preparing believers for Christ’s imminent return, to reminding the Thessalonians to ‘hold to the traditions” they were taught (Foster 154, 155; Soards 132). This does not mean that the scholarship is probably antiquated; rather, as you pointed out from Meeks and Fitzgerald that there is still “no consensus” on 2 Thess, then all the more reason to get to the root of the matter.
Next, while there are many observations about the differences in tone and style between 1 Thess and 2 Thess (Soards 131; Foster 156, 157), these same observations must take into account the similarities in vocabulary and themes between 1 Thess and 2 Thess. Foster points out that scholars end up in contradictory debates that lead to the inevitable question, ‘Which one is it’: Do the similarities in vocabulary and themes, as well as 2 Thess’ overall dependence on 2 Thess, make a strong case for Pauline authorship; or do they ironically prove that Paul is not the author? (Foster 155, 156).
Foster argues, as I do too, that because the data regarding tone and style makes for a more speculative than conclusive position about pseudonymous authorship, we must account for a scenario where Paul certainly could have factored his first letter to the Thessalonians in order to write the follow-up letter. Moreover, because Paul changes up his tone in other letters as well, such as the Corinthian correspondence (Foster 157) — and because, as a human being, his mood probably changed in certain circumstances — the argument about his tone does not hold a whole lot of water at the end of the day.
Now, while Paul could have been the author of 2 Thess, Timothy also remains on the list of potential authors. One argument for Timothy being the author is that because Paul’s signature is oddly mentioned at the end of the letter, and because Timothy most likely would have been familiar with Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, Timothy could have written the letter as a correction to 1 Thess (Foster 167).
Furthermore, given that a running theme in Paul’s ministry is that he often had to clarify his theological positions, or correct the ‘distorted’ gospels that invaded some of the regions where he had previously preached, then perhaps 2 Thess is another case of cleaning up some leftover confusion. Or as appears to be the pattern in all Pauline letters, disputed or not, the Christian communities are ever evolving towards a more unified belief, a more unified Church (as becomes more evidenced in Ephesians and the Pastoral Epistles). Therefore, Paul and his followers demonstrate in their letters that they are adapting to the changes and thus preaching in conjunction with them.
Works Cited
Foster, Paul. “Who Wrote 2 Thessalonians? A Fresh Look at an Old Problem.” Journal for the Study of the New Testament, vol. 35, no. 2, Dec. 2012, pp. 150–75.
Soards, Marion L. The Apostle Paul: An Introduction to his Writings and Teaching. Paulist Press, 1986.