Analysis Of The Chapter The main object of 2 Thessalonians 2 is to correct an erroneous impression which had been made on the minds of the Thessalonians respecting the second coming of the Saviour, either by his own former letter, or by one forged in his name. They had received the impression that... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WE BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, BY THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - The phrase “by the coming,” is not here, as our translators seem to have supposed, a form of solemn adjuration. It is not common, if it ever occurs, in the Scriptures, to make a solemn adjuration in view of an event, and the conn... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE BE NOT SOON SHAKEN IN MIND - The word here used signifies, properly, to be moved as a wave of the sea, or to be tossed upon the waves, as a vessel is. Then it means to be shaken in any way; see Matthew 11:7; Matthew 24:29; Luke 6:38; Acts 4:31; Hebrews 12:26. The reference here is to the agi... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU BY ANY MEANS - That is, respecting the coming of the Lord Jesus. This implies that there were then attempts to deceive, and that it was of great importance for Christians to be on their guard. The result has shown that there is almost no subject on which caution is more proper... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO OPPOSETH - That is, he is distinguished as an opposer of the great system which God has revealed for human salvation, and of those who would serve God in purity in the gospel of his Son. No Protestant will doubt that this has been the character of the papacy. The opposition of the general system... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER YE NOT, THAT, WHEN I WAS YET WITH YOU, I TOLD YOU THESE THINGS? - The whole subject of the second coming of the Saviour seems to have constituted an important part of the instructions of Paul when at Thessalonica. He now refers them to what he had told them respecting the great apostasy, to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW YE KNOW WHAT WITHHOLDETH - Margin, “holdeth.” The reference is, to something that then operated to constrain or hold back the obvious tendency of things, so that the “man of sin” should not at once appear, or so that things should not soon so develop themselves as to give rise to this anti-C... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY - On the meaning of the word mystery, see the notes on Romans 11:25; compare 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:3; Colossians 1:26. It means properly what is hidden or concealed; not necessarily that which is unintelligible. The “mystery of iniquity” seems here... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEN SHALL THAT WICKED BE REVEALED - ὁ ἄνομος ho anomos - “the wicked one,” referring to the “man of sin,” and called “the wicked one” because of the eminent depravity of the system of which he was to be the head; see the notes on 2 Thessalonians 2:3. WHOM THE LORD SHALL CONSUME - The Lord Je... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN HIM, WHOSE COMING IS AFTER THE WORKING OF SATAN - Greek, κατ ̓ ἐνέργειαν τοὺ Σατανᾶ kat' energeian tou Satana. According to the energy of Satan; that is, the energetic or efficient operation of Satan. The word rendered “after,” it need not be said to one who looks at the Greek, does not ref... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WITH ALL DECEIVABLENESS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS - There are two ideas here. The first is, that there would be deceit; and the other is, that it would be for the purpose of promoting unrighteousness or iniquity. The iniquitous system would be maintained by fraudulent methods. No one who has read Pasca... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR THIS CAUSE - Because they choose error, or their hearts love that more than they do truth. The original reason then of their embracing and adhering to the system was not an arbitrary decree on the part of God, but that they did not love the truth. Hence, he gave them up to this system of err... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED - The word “damned” we commonly apply now exclusively to future punishment, and it has a harsher signification than the original word; compare the notes, 1 Corinthians 11:29. The Greek word - κρίνω krinō - means to judge, determine, decide; and then to condemn; Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE ARE BOUND TO GIVE THANKS ALWAY TO GOD FOR YOU; - see the notes on 2 Thessalonians 1:3. “Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation.” The following important things are affirmed or implied here: (1) That God had chosen or elected them (εἵλετο heileto) to salvation. The doct... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREUNTO HE CALLED YOU BY OUR GOSPEL - He made the gospel as preached by us the means of calling you to salvation. That is, God has chosen you to salvation from eternity, and has made the gospel as preached by us the means of carrying that eternal purpose into effect. TO THE OBTAINING OF THE GLORY... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE - In view of the fact that you are thus chosen from eternity, and that you are to be raised up to such honor and glory. STAND FAST - Amidst all the temptations which surround you; compare the notes on Ephesians 6:10. And hold the traditions which ye have been taught On the word “traditions... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF - This expression is equivalent to this: “I pray our Lord Jesus, and our Father, to comfort you.” It is really a prayer offered to the Saviour - a recognition of Christ as the source of consolation as well as the Father, and a union of his name with that of the Fath... [ Continue Reading ]
COMFORT YOUR HEARTS; - see the notes, 1Th 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:14. The Thessalonians were in the midst of trials, and Paul prayed that they might have the full consolations of their religion. AND STABLISH YOU - Make you firm and steadfast; 1Th 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 3:13. IN... [ Continue Reading ]