Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ:
    A. This could be a reference to Nero who "deified" himself and had incense burned before his image in the temples. In the fifth year of his reign Nero murdered the famous Roman teacher and philosopher Seneca who was his tutor and chief adviser and a restraining influence in his life (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Nero became a severe persecutor of Christians putting to death Paul and Peter.