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 we beseech you, brethren, 1by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by 2our gathering together unto him,
1 That is, as certainly as you believe and expect this coming of Christ and our gathering together unto Him. Others translate it as touching the coming, etc. Namely, whereof he had spoken in the previous epistle, 1 Thes. 4; 5, which some among them seemed not to have well understood, wherefore he here further informs them of this. But the first agrees best with the Greek words.
2 Namely, at the last day, in His glory, whereof he had treated in the previous epistle, 1 Thes. 4:16.
2Thata ye be not soon 3shaken 4in mind, or 5be troubled, neither 6by spirit, nor 7by word, nor 8by letter as from us, as that 9the day of Christ is at hand.
a Jer. 29:8; Mat. 24:4; Eph. 5:6; Col. 2:18; 1 John 4:1.
3 A similitude taken from the waves of the sea, which are driven this way and that way by several winds.
4 That is, from the true meaning concerning this article of faith. Others take it for the human understanding itself, whereby, when men do once embrace such notions of Christ’s second coming, with the expression of the day and hour, they then begin to be driven as distracted persons, as formerly there were such among the Chiliasts, and in our time among some sorts of enthusiasts.
5 Or, terrified, astonished, as one uses to be astonished at a sudden and unexpected great cry of raging people.
6 That is, by pretenses of spiritual revelations, which such persons use to produce. See also 1 John 4:1.
7 Or, speech. Namely, as heard from me, or Timothy and Silas. Others take it for some probable reasons collected here and there out of God’s Word without support.
8 Namely, counterfeited by them in our name, which such men are wont also to bring forward.
9 Namely, of Christ’s second coming to judgment, as if this would occur immediately thereafter.
3Let no man 10deceive you by any means: for 11that day shall not come, exceptb there come 12a falling away first, and that 13man of sin be 14revealed, 15the son of perdition;
10 This the apostle says, because these men under such pretense turned away the congregations from their calling and from their ordinary labor as now henceforward unnecessary, seeing Christ in this His coming would make an end of all, and bring in an heavenly life, of which he will speak in detail in the following chapter. Others were thereby deceived to doubt the firmness of the Gospel, observing that they seemed to wait in vain for this coming, as is spoken of such, 2 Peter 3:3, 8, 9.
11 Namely, the day of Christ of which he had made mention earlier.
b Mat. 24:23; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 2:18.
12 Gr. apostasia; which some ancient teachers understand of the falling away of many kingdoms from the Roman Empire, but is more properly taken for a general apostasy from the purity of the Gospel, which Paul also predicts, 1 Timothy 4, and 2 Timothy 3, and 4; Revelation 11; 12, and elsewhere. Seeing this word apostasy signifies always in the New Testament a falling away from the doctrine, and Paul also here properly treats of the doctrine.
13 That is, antichrist, the man given up to all sin. From this, as also from the following word, the son, the unjust one, some would conclude that the antichrist would be but one person, who, they say, shall reign three years and a half, that he shall draw all the Jews throughout the whole world unto him, build up again the temple at Jerusalem, and cause himself to be honored as God therein, and so bring all the kingdoms of the earth under his authority, etc. But these are inventions repugnant to all human discretion and power, to obscure the true antichrist, seeing the operations and properties, which are ascribed to him hereafter and throughout in the Revelation of John, are altogether foreign to such interpretations. Therefore, although antichrist be here described under the name of one man, yet it is necessarily understood that not one man alone, but a long continual succession of men, who, one after another, have the same office, power and dominion, as such phrases are usual in such like prophecies. See Isa. 10:5; 14:12; Jer. 48:40; Dan. 7:17; Heb. 9:7, 25; 1 John 4:3; Rev. 17:10, the rather, because the apostle testifies in this chapter, verse 7, that this mystery of iniquity now already began to work in his time.
14 That is, shall openly have made known and confirmed his spiritual dominion over Christendom, as this word is also taken hereafter in verses 6 and 8.
15 That is, who destroys others, and goes himself to destruction, and is appointed thereunto by God’s just judgment. See John 17:12; Rev. 9:11.
4Who 16opposeth and 17exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he 18as God sitteth 19in the temple of God, 20shewing himselfc that he is God.
16 Namely, against Christ and His doctrine, wherefore he is also called antichrist, that is, against christ. This is to be understood, not of that which he shall profess in words, but that his doctrine and actions shall be such that thereby he shall seek to suppress the true doctrine of Christ and His church, although he would seem to want to be otherwise. Therefore two horns are ascribed to him, as to the lamb, but notwithstanding he speaks as the dragon, and does the works of the first beast, Rev. 13:11, etc.
17 That is, assumes more authority, than anything that is called God in heaven and on earth. See Psalm 82:6; 115:3; 1 Cor. 8:5. Or, exalteth himself against all. Others read, above all that is called God.
18 Namely, on earth, ascribing Divine power to himself.
19 Or, against the temple of God. Whereby the temple of Jerusalem cannot be understood, as some pretend, forasmuch as the same had lain waste now above these fifteen hundred years, and must also remain waste, according to the testimony of the angel, Dan. 9:26 and of Christ, Mat. 23:37, 38; 24:1, 2, which also, if it would be built again by the antichrist to be worshipped therein, could not be called the temple of God, but the temple of the antichrist, or of the devil. But hereby is understood the Church of God where in or against the antichrist shall set himself, and which he shall oppress with his dominion, as this word temple of God is so taken also elsewhere in the Scripture, 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 6:16; 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Peter 2:5, etc.; and as the word sitteth is also used of the antichrist. Rev. 17:15; 18:7.
20 That is, assuming and exercising such majesty, power and dominion, as if he were God.
c Dan. 11:36.
5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6And now 21ye know 22what 23withholdeth that he might be revealed 24in his time.
21 Namely, by the warning given you by me, which therefore the apostle does not express here, as many ancients think, that he might not provoke too much the emperors of Rome against the Christians, since the Romans pretended that their dominion would have no end in the world.
22 Namely, the antichrist.
23 That is, still hinders and delays his manifestation or public advance. Hereby, is understood by some the pure preaching of the Gospel, and the uprightness of the teachers in the congregation of God, which, as long as they were preserved in the church of Christ, withstood and stopped such desire of dominion and errors. But by almost all ancient teachers, and those of our time, hereby is understood the supreme authority and respect of the ancient emperors in the Roman Empire, who by their worldly power withheld the arising spiritual power of antichrist over Christendom, until the said imperial authority by the Saracens and Mohammedans in the east, and by several barbaric nations in the west, was very much broken, and brought under foot; by which occasion this spiritual usurped power broke forth into Christendom, and openly established its dominion even over emperors, kings, princes and nations, which, to have come to pass about six hundred years after Christ’s birth, is proved by many out of the histories of that time. Now who this antichrist is, that has usurped this power in Christendom for many hundred years, is clearly shown in Revelations 13; 17; 18.
24 Namely, ordained by God, and permitted to the antichrist, as is declared before.
7For 25the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he 26who now lettethdwill let, until 27he be taken 28out of the way.
25 That is, the secret advance of this unrighteous, antichristian dominion is promoted little by little in the church of Christ, namely, by Satan and some of his instruments, who by desire of rule (as one Diotrephes is reproved for it, 3 John verses 9, 10) and by bringing in of false and superstitious doctrines and human inventions, herein offered Satan their hand even from the apostles’ times. See 1 John 2:18. Or, For the mystery of iniquity is already wrought.
26 Namely, withholds antichrist in his progression, whereof is spoken in the previous verse.
d hindereth, preventeth*
27 Namely, who restrains him.
28 That is, shall likewise be broken and loose his power as such that he shall no longer be able to withstand this arising spiritual dominion. Now, who this is, is declared in the foregoing verse.
8And 29then shall that 30Wicked 31be revealed, whome the Lord shall 32consume 33with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy 34with the brightness of his coming:
29 That is, after that he shall now have lost his power of withholding.
30 That is, antichrist, who is so called, because he would submit himself to no laws, but would boast himself to be above all laws; as the Greek word anomos properly signifies without law, or lawless.
31 See the annotations on the previous third verse.
e Job 4:9; Isa. 11:4.
32 Or, destroy. The Greek word analosei signifies properly to destroy and waste meat, drink, money, goods little by little. So then shall Christ also in His own time destroy little by little the antichrist, and take away his authority in christendom.
33 That is, by the pure preaching of the Holy Gospel, whereby the Spirit of the Lord is powerful in the hearts of men. See the like Isa. 11:4; Heb. 4:12; Rev. 1:16.
34 That is, by His appearing in His last coming. For, then shall the beast and the false prophet be slain, and cast into the lake of fire, Rev. 19:20.
9Even him, 35whose coming is afterf the working 36of Satan 37withg all power and signs and 38lying wonders,
35 That is, of the antichrist, of which he had spoken at the beginning of the previous verse.
f John 8:41; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2.
36 That is, with such working as Satan is wont to use to deceive people, whose working is declared in the following verses.
37 That is, in all power of signs or miracles, which Satan shall bring forward to confirm the dominion and false doctrine of the antichrist. See Mat. 24:24; Rev. 13:13, etc.
g Deut. 13:1; Rev. 13:13.
38 That is, which shall partly be feigned, partly brought to pass by Satan, to keep his ministers in esteem, and the poor, blind men in their false conceit, and superstitions.
10And with 39all 40deceivableness of unrighteousness inh them that perish; 41because they received not 42the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
39 That is, all manner of. For, Satan has a limited power.
40 That is, unto unrighteous and false doctrine, as the word truth shows, which is opposed to it; and as later in verse 12.
h 2 Cor. 2:15; 4:3.
41 That is, in recompense that they, etc., which the Greek word requires. It is therefore a righteous judgment of God upon the perverseness and unthankfulness of such men, as is further expressed in the following verse.
42 That is, loved not the truth, and consequently neither believed nor kept it. See similar judgment of God upon the Gentiles, who kept not the natural knowledge of God, Rom. 1:28.
11Andi for this cause 43God shall send them strong delusion, thatj they should believe 44a lie:
i Rom. 1:24.
43 That is, God shall let loose the reins of Satan upon them, to use his power of deception against them, and He shall henceforward restrain His grace which as yet withheld them, and so give them up to their own lusts, whereby they shall powerfully be brought into error. See parallel judgments of God upon unthankful men, Deut. 28:28; 2 Chron. 18:22; Job 12:17; Isa. 19:14; Rom. 1:24; 11:8; 2 Cor. 4:3, 4, etc.
j 1 Tim. 4:1.
44 That is, feigned and false doctrine.
12That they all might 45be damned who believed not 46the truth, but had pleasure in 47unrighteousness.
45 Gr. judged, that is, condemned, or damned, as many times in other places.
46 Namely, of the Gospel.
47 That is, false and unrighteous doctrine, as previous in verse 10.
13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath 48from the beginning chosen you to salvation 49through sanctification of the Spirit and 50belief of the truth:
48 Namely, of the world, as Micah 5:1; John 1:1. That is, from eternity, or, before the foundation of the world, Eph. 1:4; although some others understand it from the beginning when the Gospel was proclaimed unto them, when God by His Spirit chose or separated them out of the corrupt heap of men; as the word choose, or select is also taken elsewhere. See John 15:16 and 1 Cor. 1:27; but the first exposition seems to fit agreeably with the following verse, seeing the choosing, whereof Paul speaks here, goes before calling, as is to be seen also in Rom. 8:29, 30; 9:23, 24, but the actual election out of the corrupt heap of men, which is done in time, follows after calling, seeing this separation is brought to pass by the calling of the Gospel.
49 Gr. in, that is, which salvation is obtained by sanctification of the Spirit and faith, and therefore is an infallible evidence of your eternal election. Rom. 8:14; 2 Cor. 1:22.
50 That is, which has respect to and relies on the truth of the Gospel.
14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, 51to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
51 That is, to obtain eternal glory through Christ and with Christ, Rom. 8:17; Rev. 3:21.
15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, andk hold 52the traditions which ye have been taught, whether 53by word, or our epistle.
k 2 Thes. 3:6.
52 Gr. deliverings. And so the apostle calls the exhortations and doctrines which they had received from him, concerning doctrine as well as life, not only when he was present with them, but also which he has now propounded in these epistles. See 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thes. 3:6.
53 Namely, when I was present with you.
16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us 54everlasting consolation and 55good hope 56through grace,
54 That is, a firm consolation, grounded on the promise of eternal life.
55 Namely, of our redemption and eternal salvation. 1 Peter 1:3, 4.
56 That is, in His grace.
17Comfort your hearts, and stablishl you in every 57good word and work.
l 1 Thes. 3:13.
57 That is, grant that you may always edify and strengthen yourselves and others with godly words and works.