2 Thessalonians 2:11

11. πεμψει in אcDcEKLP, most minn., and the verss. (except am fu of the Vulgate)—a tame correction of πεμπει (א*ABDgr*Ggr 17 67** cattxt, Or Bas Cyr Dam, &c.)—originating perhaps with the versions.

11. καὶ διὰ τοῦτο πέμπει αὐτοῖς ὁ θεὸς ἐνέργειαν πλάνης. And on this account God sends them a working of error. For διὰ τοῦτο, and its backward reference, cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; καί consecutive,—almost “so for this cause” (Ellicott). Πέμπει, present (see Textual Note), by anticipation of the predicted certainty; or rather, as the affirmation of a principle already at work (see 2 Thessalonians 2:7)—what takes place in the victims of Antichrist is seen every day on a smaller scale. Αὐτοῖς is dative of persons concerned: πρός (or εἰς) with accus., in such connexion, denotes motion towards. Ὁ θεός is emphatic by position; see note below. Ἐνέργεια πλάνης is parallel to ἐνέργεια τοῦ Σατανᾶ. 2 Thessalonians 2:9, “Satan” being ὁ πλανῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην (Revelation 12:9; Revelation 13:14; Revelation 20:10; cf. John 8:44). On πλάνη, see 1 Thessalonians 2:3; it is an active principle, the oppositive in its “working” of the λόγος θεοῦ (1 Thessalonians 2:13); for ἐνέργεια, see note on 2 Thessalonians 2:9. This πλάνη is the ἀπάτη� of 2 Thessalonians 2:10 operative and taking effect,—the poison running in the veins; it is the ψεῦδος of Antichrist (see next clause) believed and followed. What “God sends” is not “error” as such, but error used for correction and with the train of moral consequences included in its ἐνέργεια.

This effectual delusion God sends on wicked men to the very end, foreseen by Him, εἰς τὸ πιστεῦσαι αὐτοὺς τῷ ψεύδει, that they should believe the lie. The question of Isaiah 63:17 is inevitable: “O Lord, why dost Thou make us to err from Thy ways?” Τὸ ψεῦδος—the opposite of ἡ� (2 Thessalonians 2:10), the truth of God in the Gospel (cf. Ephesians 4:25; 1 John 2:21)—in Romans 1:25 taking the form of idolatry, is here “the lie” par excellence, the last and crowning deception practised by Satan in passing off the Lawless One as God (2 Thessalonians 2:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:9 f.). This passage, in fact, ascribes to God the delusion that we have hitherto been regarding as the masterpiece of Satan (cf. the contradiction of 2 Samuel 24:1 and 1 Chronicles 21:1). Three things must be borne in mind in reflecting upon this: (1) that Satan is never regarded in Scripture as an independent power or rival deity of evil, like the Ahriman of Parsism. However large the activity allowed him in this world, it is under Divine control; see Job 1:2; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 10:13, &c. (2) St Paul teaches that sin works out its own punishment. In Romans 1:24 ff. he represents the loathsome vice of the Pagan world as a Divine chastisement for its long-continued idolatry: “For this cause God sends effectual delusion,” is parallel to “For this cause God gave them up to vile passions.” In each case the result is inevitable, and comes about by what we call a natural law. That a persistent rejection of truth destroys the sense for truth and results in fatal error, is an ethical principle and a fact of experience as certain as any in the world. Now he who believes in God as the Moral Ruler of the universe, knows that its laws are the expression of His will. Since this delusion, set on foot by Satan, is the moral consequence in those who receive it of previous and wilful refusal of the light of truth, it is manifest that God is here at work; He makes Satan and the Lawless One instruments in punishing false-hearted men; cf. Ezekiel 14:9, and 1 Kings 22. (3) The advents of Christ and of Antichrist are linked together (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:9); they are parts of the same great process and drama of judgement, and the deceivers will suffer heavier punishment than the deceived: cf. Revelation 20:10. God, who “sends a working of error” in the Antichrist, will quickly send the Christ to put a stop to the delusion and to “destroy” its author by His sudden and glorious coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).