μὴ ταχέως σαλευθῆναι ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ νοὸς μηδὲ θροεῖσθαι, μήτε διὰ πνεύματος μήτε διὰ λόγου μήτε δι’ ἐπιστολῆς ὡς δι’ ἡμῶν, ὡς ὅτι ἐνέστηκεν ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ Κυρίου.
Not to be quickly shaken in mind nor to be alarmed, neither through a spirit nor through a logos nor through a letter as though from us, as though the Day of the Lord has arrived.
The structure of 2 Thess 2:2 presupposes three distinct channels of authoritative communication. Because “spirit” already encompasses inspired oral tradition, “logos” cannot mean mere spoken teaching. The only type of authoritative “word” distinct from prophecy and epistle—and capable of being forged—is a gospel narrative. Thus, read in light of early traditions (Clement, Marcion) that Paul possessed a gospel, 2 Thess 2:2 becomes unexpectedly transparent: Paul warns the Thessalonians against forged prophecies, forged gospels, and forged letters.
