That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Soon - on trifling grounds, readily (Galatians 1:6).
Shaken, х saleutheenai (G4531)] - tossed as ships tossed by an agitated sea (James 1:6; James 1:8; James 1:11; Ephesians 4:14).
In mind, х apo (G575) tou (G3588) noos (G3563)] - from your mind; i:e., from your ordinary stedfastness.
Or, х meede (G3366)] - 'nor yet.' [A 'Aleph (') B Delta G, instead of meete (G3383).]
Troubled, х throeisthai (G2360)] - emotional agitation; as "shaken" to intellectual.
By spirit - by a person professing to have the spirit of prophecy (1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 1 John 4:1-3). The Thessalonians were warned (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21) to "prove" such professed prophesyings, and "hold fast (only) that which is good."
By word - of mouth (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:15): some saying alleged to be that of Paul, orally communicated. If oral tradition was liable to such perversion in the apostolic age (cf. a similar instance, John 21:23), how much more in ours!
By letter as from us - purporting to be from us, whereas it is a forgery. Hence, he gives a test by which to know his genuine letters (2 Thessalonians 3:17).
Day of Christ. 'Aleph (') A B Delta G f g, Vulgate, read 'of the Lord.'
Is at hand, х enesteeken (G1764)] - rather, as in Romans 8:38; 1 Corinthians 3:22; Galatians 1:4, 'is present' [stronger than efesteeken (G2186), 2 Timothy 4:6]. Christ and His apostles always taught that the Lord's coming is at hand; it is not likely that Paul would imply anything contrary: what he denies is, that it is so immediately imminent, or present, as to justify the neglect of every day duties.