2 Thessalonians 2

The Apostle declares that the coming of Christ to Judgment shall not be so soon as some sought to persuade them, 3. But that the Apostasy and Antichrist must first come, whose characters he describes. 5. Testifieth that he had told them the same before this, as also what that was which withheld him. 8. Declares that he shall truly come afterward, and that he shall remain until the Lord shall destroy him. 9. He warns them of the power of seduction itself in them that perish, 11. and that by the just judgment of God upon the unthankful ness of men; 3. But assures the Thessalonians of their election to salvation in faith and sanctification. 15. Exhorts them to continue firm in it, 16. And prayeth God that he would comfort and confirm them.

1. And we beseech you, Brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, [That is, as certainly as ye 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 former Epistle, chapter 4. and 5. which some among them seemed not to have well understood, wherefore he here further informs them thereof. But the first agrees best with the Greek words] and our gathering together unto him, [namely, at the last day in his glory, whereof he had treated in the former Epistle chapter 4. ver. 16.]

2. That ye be not suddenly moved [A similitude taken from the waves of the sea, which are driven hither and thither by divers wind] from understanding [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 instant, they then begin to be driven as distracted persons, as formerly there were such among the Chiliasts, and in out time among some sorts of Enthusiasts] Or terrified [Or troubled, astonished, as men use to be astonished at a sudden and unexpected great cry of raging men] neither by Spirit [that is, by pretences of spiritual revelations, which such persons use to produce. See also 1 John 4:1.] Nor by word [Or speech. Namely, as heard from me, or Timothy and Silas. Others take it for some probable reasons collected here and there out of Gods word without ground] nor by Epistle as [written] by us, [namely, counterfeited by them in our name, which such men are wont also to produce] as if the day of Christ were at hand, [namely, of Christ’s second coming to judgments, as if this should be immediately after.]

3. Let no man seduce you in any wise: [This the Apostle faith, because these men under this show turned away the Churches from their calling, and from their ordinary labor, as now hence forward unnecessary, seeing Christ in this his coming should make an end of all, and bring in a heavenly life: whereof he will speak more largely in the following Chapter. Others were thereby seduced to doubt of the firmness of the Gospel, observing that they seemed in vain to wait for this coming, as is spoken of such, 2 Pet. 3. 3. etc.] For [that cometh not] [namely, the day of Christ whereof he had immediately before made mention] except the falling away be come first, [Gr. Apostasia. Which some ancient Teachers understand of the falling away of many Kingdoms from the Roman Empire; but is more fitly taken for a general Apostasy from the purity of the Gospel, which Paul also foretells, 1 Tim. 4. and 2 Tim. chapter 3. 4. John, Revel. chapter 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 the doctrine] and [that] the man of sin [that is, Antichrist, the man given up to all sin. From hence, as also from the following words, the son, the unjust one etc. some would conclude that the Antichrist should be but one person, who they say shall reign three years and a half, that he shall draw all the Jews throughout the world unto him, build up again the Temple at Jerusalem, and cause himself to be honoured as God therein, and so bring all the kingdoms of the earth under his command, & c. But these are inventions repugnant to all human conduct and power, to obscure the true Antichrist, seeing the operations and properties which are scribed to him hereafter, and throughout in the Revelation of John, are altogether opposite to such interpretations. Therefore although Antichrist be here described under the name of one man; yet under it is necessarily understood not one man alone, but a long-continuing succession of men, who one after another have the same office, power, and dominion, as such phrases are usual in such like prophesies. See Isaiah 10:5. and chapter 14. 12. Jer. 41. 40. Daniel 7:17. Hebrews 9:7, 25. 1. John 4:3. Revel. 17. 10. the rather because the Apostle in this chapter, ver. 7. testifieth that this mystery of iniquity now already in his time began to work] be revealed, [that is, shall openly have made known and confirmed his spiritual dominion over Christendom, as this word is also taken hereafter ver. 6. 8.] The son of destruction, [that is, which destroys others, and goes himself to destruction, and is appointed thereunto by Gods just judgment. See John 17:12. And Revel. 9. 11.]

4. Who opposeth himself [Namely, against Christ and his doctrine, wherefore he is also called Antichrist. i.e. against Christ: which 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, although he would seem to do otherwise. Therefore two horns are ascribed to him, as to the lamb, but not withstanding he speaketh as the dragon, and doth the works of the first beast. Revel. 13. 11. etc] and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or is honoured [as God] [that is, assumes more authority, than anything that is called God in heaven and on earth. See Psal. 82. 6. 115. 3. 1 Cor. 8. 5. Or exalteth himself against all. Others read, above all that is called God] so that he shall sit as a God [namely, on earth, ascribing divine power to himself] in the Temple of God, [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, Daniel 9:26. And of Christ, Mat. 23. ver. 37, 38. And chapter 24. ver. 1, 2. which also if it should be built again by Antichrist, to be worshipped therein, could not be called the Temple of God, but the Temple of Antichrist, or of the devil. But hereby is understood the Church of God where in or against which 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. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 5. etc. and as the word sit is also used or Antichrist. Revelation 17:15. and 18. 7.] showing himself that he is God. [That is assuming and exercising such majesty, power and dominion, as if he were God.]

5. Do ye not remember that being yet with you, I told you these things?

6. And now what withholdeth [That is, yet hinders and stays his revealing, or public coming up. Hereby, by some is understood the pure preaching of the Gospel, and the uprightness of the Teachers in the Church of God, who 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 Mahumetans in the East, and by the divers barbarous Nations in the West, was very much broken and brought under foot, by which occasion this spiritual usurped power brake forth into the 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 hath usurped this power in Christendom for many hundred years, is clearly showed Revel. chapter 13. 17, 18.] [him] namely, Antichrist] ye know [namely, by the warning given you by me, which therefore the Apostle expresseth not here, as many ancients think, that he might not too much provoke the Emperors of Rome against the Christians, seeing the Romans gave out that their dominion should have no end in the world] that he may be revealed in his own time [namely, ordained by God, and permitted to Antichrist, as is declared before.]

7. For the mystery of iniquity [That is, the secret coming up of this unrighteous Antichristian dominion is by little promoted 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 Joh. Ver. 9. 10.) and by bringing in of false and superstitious doctrines, and human inventions, herein offered Satan their hand even from the Apostle times. See 1 John 2:18. Or the mystery of iniquity worketh already] is already wrought: only he that now withholdeth him, [namely, withholds Antichrist in his coming up, whereof is spoken in the former verse] [he shall withhold him] until he [namely, who withholds him] shall be taken out of the way, [that is, shall be so broken, and lose his power, that he shall be able no longer to withstand this arising spiritual dominion. Now who this is, is declared in the foregoing verse.]

8. And then [Namely, after that he shall now have lost his power of withholding] shall the righteous one [that is, Antichrist, who is so called, because he should submit himself to no laws, but should boast himself to be above all laws, as the Greek word anomos properly signifies without law, or lawless] be revealed [See before the Annotate on the third ver.] whom the lord shall destroy [or consume, The Greek word analosai signifies properly by little and little to make away and waste meat, drink, money, goods. So then shall Christ also in his own time by little and little destroy Antichrist, and take away his authority in Christendom] by the spirit of his mouth [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 Isaiah 11:4. Hebrews 4:12. Revel. 1. 16.] and bring to naught by the appearance of his coming: [that is, by his appearing in his last coming: for then shall beast and the false Prophet be slain, and cast into the Lake of fire, Revel. 19. 20.]

9. Him [That is, Antichrist, whereof he had spoken in the beginning of the former verse] [I say] whose coming is according to the working of Satan, [that is, with such working as Satan is wont to use to seduce men, which working is declared in the following verses] in all power and signs [that is, power of signs or miracles, which Satan shall produce to confirm the dominion and false doctrine of Antichrist. See Matth. 24. 24. Revel. 13. 13, & c.] and wonders of lies: [that is, which shall partly be feigned, partly brought to pass by Satan, to keep his Ministers in esteem, and poor blind men in their false conceits, and superstitious.]

10. And in all [That is, all manner of. For Satan hath a limited power] seduction of unrighteousness, [That is, unto unrighteous and false doctrine, as the word truth showeth, which is opposed to it: and as after ver. 12.] in them that perish: because that [that is, in recompense that they & c. which the Greek word imports. It is therefore a just judgement of God upon the perverseness and unthankful-ness of such men, as is further expressed in the following verse] they received not the love of the truth, [that is, loved not the truth, and consequently neither believed nor kept it. See the like judgement of God upon the Gentiles, who kept not the natural knowledge of God, Romans 1:28.] to be saved.

11. And therefore shall God send them a power of error, [That is, God shall let loose the reigns of Satan upon them, to use his power of seduction against them, and 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 the like judgements of God upon unthankful men. Deuteronomy 28:28. 2 Chron. 12. 28. John 12:17. Isaiah 19:14. Romans 1:24. and 11. 8. 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4, etc] that they should believe lie [that is feigned and false doctrine.]

12. That they all may be damned [Gr. Judged, i.e condemned and damned, as divers times in other places] who have not believed the truth, [namely, of the Gospel] but had a pleasure in unrighteousness. [that is, false and unrighteous doctrine, as before ver. 10.]

13. But wrought always to thank God for you brethren, who are beloved of the Lord, that God hath chosen you from the beginning [Namely, of the world, as Micah 5:1. John 1:1. that is, from eternity, or before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4. although some others understand it from the beginning when the Gospel was published 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 as fit to agree with the following verse, seeing the choosing whereof Paul here speaks goes before calling, as is to be seen also Rom. 6. 29, 30. and chapter 9. 23, 24. but the actual choosing out of the corrupt heap of men, which is done in time, follows after calling, seeing that separation is brought to pass by the calling of the Gospel] unto salvation, in sanctification of the spirit, [or by, that is, which salvation is obtained by sanctification of the spirit and faith, and therefore is an infallible evidence of your eternal election. Romans 8:14. 2 Cor. 1. 22.] and belief of the truth: [that is, which hath respect to and relieth on the truth of the Gospel.]

14. Whereunto he hath called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. [That is, to obtain eternal glory by Christ and with Christ. Romans 8:17. Revel. 3. 21.]

15. So then brethren stand (fast) and keep the institutions [Gr. Traditions, delivering. And so the Apostle calls the exhortations and doctrines which they had received from him, as well concerning doctrine as life, not only when he was present with them, but also which he hath now propounded in these Epistles. See 1 Cor. 11. 2. 2 Thes. 3. 6.] which are taught you, whether it be by [our] word, [namely, when was I was present with you] or by our Epistle.

16. And our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and our God and father who hath loved us, and hath given us an everlasting consolation, [That is, a firm consolation grounded on the promise of eternal life] and good hope [namely, of our redemption and eternal salvation. 1 Pet. 1. 3, 4.] in grace, [that is, by his grace.]

17. Comfort your hearts, and strengthen you in every good word and work [That is, grant that you may always edify and strengthen yourselves and others with Godly words and works.]