TOUCHING THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (υπερ της παρουσιας του Κυριου (ημων) Ιησου Χριστου). For ερωτωμεν, to beseech, see on 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:12. Hυπερ originally meant over, in behalf of, instead of, but here it is used like περ, around, concerning as in 2 Thessalonia... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE END THAT (εις το). One of Paul's favourite idioms for purpose, εις το and the infinitive.YE BE NOT QUICKLY SHAKEN (μη ταχεως σαλευθηνα υμας). First aorist passive infinitive of σαλευω, old verb to agitate, to cause to totter like a reed (Matthew 11:7), the earth (Hebrews 12:26). Usual ne... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NO MAN BEGUILE YOU IN ANY WISE (μη τις υμας εξαπατηση κατα μηδενα τροπον). First aorist active subjunctive of εξαπαταω (old verb to deceive, strengthened form of simple verb απαταω) with double negative (μη τισ, μηδενα) in accord with regular Greek idiom as in 1 Corinthians 16:11 rather than... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT OPPOSETH AND EXALTETH HIMSELF (ο αντικειμενος κα υπεραιρομενος). Like John's Antichrist this one opposes (αντι-) Christ and exalts himself (direct middle of υπεραιρω, old verb to lift oneself upABOVE others, only here and 2 Corinthians 12:7 in N.T.), but not Satan, but an agent of Satan... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I WAS YET WITH YOU (ετ ων προς υμας). The present participle takes the time of the verb ελεγον (imperfect active),I USED TO TELL YOU THESE THINGS . So Paul recalls their memory of his words and leaves us without the clue to his idea. We know that one of the charges against him was that Jes... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH RESTRAINETH (το κατεχον).AND NOW YOU KNOW (κα νυν οιδατε), says Paul in this cryptic apocalyptic passage. Unfortunately we do not know what Paul means byTHAT WHICH RESTRAINS (holds back, κατεχον), neuter here and masculine in verse 2 Thessalonians 2:7 ο κατεχων. "This impersonal pr... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE MYSTERY OF LAWLESSNESS DOTH ALREADY WORK (το γαρ μυστηριον ηδη ενεργειτα της ανομιας). See 1 Thessalonians 2:13 for ενεργειτα. The genitive της ανομιας (lawlessness) describes το μυστηριον (note emphatic position of both). This mystery (μυστηριον secret, from μυστης, an initiate, μυεω, to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEN (κα τοτε). Emphatic note of time,THEN when the restraining one (ο κατεχων) is taken out of the way, then θε λαwλεσς ονε (ο ανομος), the man of sin, the man of perdition, will be revealed.WHOM THE LORD [JESUS] SHALL SLAY (ον ο κυριος [Ιησουσ] ανελε). Whether Jesus is genuine or not, h... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE COMING IS (ου εστιν η παρουσια). Refers to ον in verse 2 Thessalonians 2:8. The Antichrist has his παρουσια also. Deissmann (_Light from the Ancient East_, pp. 374, 378) notes an inscription at Epidaurus in which "Asclepius manifested his Παρουσια." Antiochus Epiphanes is called _the manife... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH ALL DECEIT OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (εν παση απατη αδικιας). This pastmaster of trickery will have at his command all the energy and skill of Satan to mislead and deceive. How many illustrations lie along the pathway of Christian history.FOR THEM THAT ARE PERISHING (τοις απολλυμενοις). Dative ca... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR THIS REASON GOD SENDETH THEM (κα δια τουτο πεμπε αυτοις ο θεος). Futuristic (prophetic) present of the time when the lawless one is revealed. Here is the definite judicial act of God (Milligan) who gives the wicked over to the evil which they have deliberately chosen (Romans 1:24; Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE JUDGED (ινα κριθωσιν παντες). First aorist passive subjunctive of κρινω, to sift, to judge, with ινα. Ultimate purpose, almost result, of the preceding obstinate resistance to the truth and "the judicial infatuation which overtakes them" (Lightfoot), now final punishment. C... [ Continue Reading ]
See 2 Thessalonians 1:3 for same beginning.BELOVED OF THE LORD (ηγαπημενο υπο κυριου). Perfect passive participle of αγαπαω with υπο and the ablative as in 1 Thessalonians 1:4, only here κυριου instead of θεου, the Lord Jesus rather than God the Father.BECAUSE THAT GOD CHOSE YOU (οτ ειλατο υμας... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREUNTO (εις ο). The goal, that is the final salvation (σωτηρια). Through our gospel (δια του ευαγγελιου ημων). God called the Thessalonians through Paul's preaching as he calls men now through the heralds of the Cross as GodCHOSE (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:24).TO THE OBTAIN... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEN (αρα ουν). Accordingly then. The illative αρα is supported (Ellicott) by the collective ουν as in 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Galatians 6:10, etc. Here is the practical conclusion from God's elective purpose in such a world crisis.STAND FAST (στηκετε). Present imperative active of the late pre... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GOD OUR FATHER (κα [ο] θεος ο πατηρ ημων). It is uncertain whether the first article ο is genuine as it is absent in B D. Usually Paul has the Father before Christ except here, 2 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 1:1.WHICH LOVED US (ο αγαπησας ημας). This singular articular participle refers to... [ Continue Reading ]
COMFORT AND STABLISH (παρακαλεσα κα στηριξα). First aorist active optative of wish for the future of two common verbs παρακαλεω (see on 1 Thessalonians 3:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:14) and στεριζω (see on 1 Thessalonians 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:13). God is the God ofCOMFORT (2 Cor... [ Continue Reading ]