Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and _by_ our gathering together unto him, Ver. 1. _Now we beseech you, brethren_] Christ's spokesmen must be fair spoken, so wooing for him that they may win upon men's hearts, leading by the hand those that are willing, and draw... [ Continue Reading ]
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Ver. 2. _That ye be not soon shaken_] Σαλευθηναι (_a nomine_ σαλος, _salum_). As seamen are tossed by a tempest, and even brought to their wits' ends,P... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no man deceive you by any means: for _that day shall not come_, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Ver. 3. _Except there come a falling_] Gr. αποστασια, an apostasy, viz. of people from the truth, when the whole world went a wondering... [ Continue Reading ]
Who opposeth and exalteth 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. Ver. 4. _Who opposeth himself_] αντικειμενος, who standeth in full opposition to Christ, as a counter-christ. The enemy and adversar... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? Ver. 5. _Remember ye not_] Satan usually hides from us that which should help us. But as the soul should be as it were a holy ark; so should the memory be as the pot of manna, preserving holy truth for constant use.... [ Continue Reading ]
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. Ver. 6. _What withholdeth, &c._] viz. The Roman empire, which had its rise, reign, and ruin, whereupon the popedom was founded, and grew to that excessive greatness, that it laboured with nothing more than with the weightiness... [ Continue Reading ]
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth _will let_, until he be taken out of the way. Ver. 7. _For the mystery of iniquity_] Policy palliated with the name of piety; dissembled sanctity, which is double iniquity. The Council of Trent (where Popery was established by a... [ Continue Reading ]
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Ver. 8. _And then shall that wicked_] Gr. ανομος, that lawless, yokeless, masterless monster to whom in the Council of Lateran, 1516 (one year only... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even him_, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, Ver. 9. _After the working of Satan_] Who (as God's ape) works effectually in his and by his agents upon others. By corrupt teachers Satan catcheth men, as a cunning fisher by one fish catcheth anothe... [ Continue Reading ]
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Ver. 10. _And with all deceiveableness_] Popery is nothing else but a great lie, a grand imposture, a farrago of falsities and heresies. It is not without c... [ Continue Reading ]
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: Ver. 11. _Strong delusion_] Gr. the efficacy of error. As in those at Genoa, that show the ass's tail whereupon our Saviour rode, for a holy relic, and perform divine worship to it. (Wolph. Mem. Lect.) And in th... [ Continue Reading ]
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Ver. 12. _That they all might be damned_] Heresy is the leprosy in the head, Leviticus 13:29, which is utterly incurable, and destroys the soul. See Revelation 19:21 . _ Had pleasure in unrighteousness_]... [ Continue Reading ]
But we 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: Ver. 13. _But we are bound, &c._] Lest they should be discouraged with the former discourse,... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 14. _To the obtaining of the glory_] This is the end of faith, as faith is of effectual calling.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Ver. 15. _Stand fast_] Though never so many fall from the faith. Falling stars were never but meteors. God also will have the tree of his Church to be shaken sometimes, that rotten f... [ Continue Reading ]
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given _us_ everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Ver. 16. _And good hope_] The fruit of everlasting consolation, Romans 15:4. And well called good, because it hath for its object the greatest g... [ Continue Reading ]
Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. Ver. 17. _Stablish you_] Taking you by the hand, and laying hold on you, like as ye lay hold upon his word, 2 Thessalonians 2:15 .... [ Continue Reading ]