1Paul warneth the Thessalonians against a groundless surmise that the day of Christ was near at hand; 3shewing that it would be preceded by a great apostasy, and that the man of sin would be first revealed, and by his wicked impostures draw many into perdition. 13He repeateth his good hopes concerning them, 15exhorting them to stand fast in his doctrine, and praying God to comfort and stablish them in all goodness.
1NOW awe beseech you, brethren, bby the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
a Ro. 12.1. 2Co. 10.1. 2Ti. 4.1. 1Ti. 6.14. 1Co. 1.8. 1Th. 3.13; 4.16,17. Mat. 25.31-34; 24.30,31. Mar. 13.27. b 1Th. 2.19.
2cThat ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor dby letter as from us, as that ethe day of Christ is at hand.
c Je. 29.8. Mat. 24.4-6. Col. 1.24; 2.8,18. ch. 3.14. 2Pe. 2.1. 1Jn. 4.1. Mi. 2.11. 1Th. 4.15. 1Pe. 4.7,8. d v.15. e 2Co. 1.14.
3fLet no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come , except there come ga falling away first, and that hman of sin be revealed, the ison of perdition;
f Mat. 24.4,23. Je. 29.8. Ep. 5.6. g Da. 7.8,20-25; 11.36-39. 1Ti. 4.1-3. 2Ti. 3.1-5; 4.3,4. 1Jn. 2.18. Re. 9.1-11; 13. h v.8-10. 1Jn. 2.18. Re. 13.5,6,11,12,14. Da. 7.25. 1Jn. 4.3. i Re. 9.11; 13.10; 17.2,6,8; 19.20. Jn. 17.12.
4Who opposeth and jexalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
j Is. 14.13. Da. 11.36,37; 7.8,25. Re. 13.6-8. 1Co. 8.5.
5kRemember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
k v.15. Re. 3.3. 1Th. 2.11. Col. 1.28. Ac. 20.31.
6And now ye know what 1withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
1Or, holdeth.
7For the lmystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now *letteth will *let , until he be taken out of the way.
*letteth-hindereth.
*let-hinder.
l Re. 17.5,7. Ac. 20.29. 1Jn. 2.18; 4.3. 1Co. 1.12; 3.3. 3Jn. 9. Ro. 10.3. Col. 2.18-23.
8And then shall that mWicked be revealed, nwhom the Lord shall consume owith the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with pthe brightness of his coming:
m v.3,4. Re. 9.1-11; 13. Da. 7.8,20-25; 11.36-39. 1Ti. 4.1-3. 2Ti. 3.1-5; 4.3,4. n Da. 7.10,11,22,26; 11.45. 2Ti. 3.9. Re. 12.3,17; 13.10; 14.6-20; 15.6-8; 16; 17.14,16; 18.2-23; 19.2,20,21; 20.10. o Is. 11.4. Ho. 6.5. Re. 2.16; 19.15,20,21. He. 10.27. Job 4.9. p 1Ti. 6.14. 2Ti. 1.10; 4.1,8.
9Even him , whose coming is qafter the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
q De. 13.1. Mat. 24.24. Jn. 8.44. 2Co. 4.4. Ep. 2.2. Re. 12.3; 13.13,14; 19.20.
10rAnd with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in sthem that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
r He. 3.13. Re. 13.8; 17.8. 2Co. 2.15; 4.3. Ps. 109.17. 1Co. 16.22. s 1Co. 1.18.
11tAnd for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe ua lie:
t Ps. 81.11,12; 109.17. Pr. 1.29. 1Ki. 22.22. Is. 44.20; 66.4. Eze. 14.9. Ro. 1.24. Mat. 24.5,11,24. 1Ti. 4.1,2. Re. 9.8,10; 13.2-8,11-16. u Ro. 1.25.
12vThat they all might be damned who wbelieved not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
v De. 32.35. Ro. 1.32. Ps. 9.17. Mar. 16.16. w Ro. 2.8.
13But xwe are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
x ch. 1.3,4. Ep. 1.4. 1Th. 1.4. 2Ti. 1.9. 1Pe. 1.2-4.
14yWhereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
y 1Pe. 5.10. Ep. 1.14. Jn. 10.28. 1Jn. 2.25. Jn. 17.22,24; 14.2,3. Re. 3.21. Ro. 8.17. 1Th. 2.12.
15Therefore, brethren, zstand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether aby word, or our epistle.
z 1Co. 16.13. Phi. 4.1. 1Co. 11.2. ch. 3.6,14. Pr. 23.23. Jude 3. Re. 3.11; 2.10. a v.2.
16bNow our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us ceverlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
b ch. 1.2. 2Co. 13.14. Je. 31.2. 1Jn. 4.9,10,19. Jn. 16.27; 3.16; 13.1. Re. 1.5. c Ps. 103.17. He. 9.12; 13.20. 1Pe. 1.3,4. He. 6.18,19. 2Co. 4.17,18; 5.1.
17dComfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
d Is. 40.1,2; 41.10,14; 46.4; 51.3,12; 54.10; 57.18,19; 58.11; 60.19,20; 61.2,10; 66.13. 2Co. 1.3-6. 1Co. 1.8. 1Th. 3.13. Col. 2.2. ch. 3.3.