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2
Thessalonians Chapter Two
2 Thessalonians 2
In answering this error, and in guarding them from the
wily efforts of seducers, he puts everything in its place here by appealing to
precious truths of which he had already spoken. Their gathering together unto
Christ in the air was a demonstration of the impossibility of the day of the
Lord being already come.
Moreover with regard to this last he presents two considerations:
first, the day could not be already come, since Christians were not yet
gathered to the Lord, and they were to come with Him; second, the wicked one
who has then to be judged had not yet appeared, so that the judgment could not
be executed.
The apostle had already instructed the Thessalonians with
regard to this wicked one, when at Thessalonica; and in the former epistle he
had taught them concerning the rapture of the church. In order that the Lord
should come in judgment, iniquity must have reached its height, and open
opposition to God have been manifested. But the truth had another and more
precious side: the saints were to be in the same position as Christ, to be
gathered together unto Him, before He could manifest Himself in glory to those
outside. But these truths require a more connected examination.
Their gathering together unto Christ before the
manifestation was a truth known to the Thessalonians; it is not revealed here,
it is used as an argument. The Lord Jesus was coming, but it was impossible
that He should be without His church in the glory. The King would indeed punish
His rebellious subjects; but, before doing so, He would bring to Himself those
who had been faithful to Him amid the unfaithful, in order to bring them back
with Him and publicly to honour them in the midst of the rebels. But the
apostle here speaks only of the rapture itself, and he adjures them only by
that truth not to allow themselves to be shaken in mind as though the day were
come. What an assured truth must this have been to Christians, since the
apostle could appeal to it as to a known point, on which the heart could rest!
The relationship of the church to Christ, its being necessarily in the same
position with Him rendered the idea that the day was already come a mere folly.
In the second place, the already known fact is asserted,
that the apostacy must previously take place, and then the man of sin be
revealed. Solemn truth! Everything takes its place. The forms and the name of
Christianity have long been maintained; true Christians have been disowned; but
now there should be a public renunciation of the faith-an apostacy. True
Christians should have their true place in heaven. But, besides this, there
should be a person who would fully realise in sin the character of man without
God. He is the man of sin. He does his own will-it is but Adam fully developed;
and incited by the enemy, he opposes himself to God (it is open enmity against
God), and he exalts himself above all that bears the name of God; he assumes
the place of God in His temple. So that there is apostacy, that is, the open
renunciation of Christianity in general, and an individual who concentrates in
his own person (as to the principles of iniquity) the opposition that is made
against God.
It will be noticed that the character of the wicked one is religious
here, or rather anti-religious. The apostle does not speak of a secular power
of the world, whatever its iniquity may be. The man of sin assumes a religious
character. He exalts himself against the true God, but he shews himself as [1] in the temple of God. Observe here that the
sphere is on earth. It is not a god for faith. He shews himself as a god for
the earth. The profession of Christianity has been abandoned. Sin then
characterises an individual, a man, who fills up the measure of the apostacy of
human nature, and, as a man, proclaims his independence of God. The principle
of sin in man is his own will. He arises, as we have already seen, out of the
rejection of Christianity. In this respect also evil is at its height.
This man of sin exalts himself above God, and, sitting as
God in the temple of God, he defies the God of Israel. This last feature gives
his formal character. He is in conflict with God, as placing himself publicly
in this position-shewing himself as God in the temple of God. It is the God of
Israel who will take vengeance on him.
Christianity, Judaism, natural religion, all are
rejected. Man takes a place there on earth, exalting himself above it all, in
opposition to God; and, in particular, arrogating to himself (for man needs a
God, needs something to worship) the place and the honours of God, and of the
God of Israel. [2] These verses present the wicked one in
connection with the state of man, and with the different relationships in which
man has stood towards God. In them all he shews himself as apostate, and then
he assumes the place of God Himself-the first object of human ambition, as its
attainment was the first suggestion of Satan.
In that which follows, we see not the condition itself of
apostacy with regard to the different positions in which God had placed man,
but simply man unrestrained, and the work of Satan. The man is but the vessel
of the enemy's power.
Man in whom is the fullness of the Godhead, the Lord
Jesus, and man filled with the energy of Satan, are opposed to each other.
Before, it was man forsaking God, wicked, and exalting himself. Here, it is
opposition against God on the part of man, unrestrained, and inspired by Satan
himself. Consequently we have (not the wicked one, but) the lawless--the
unbridled-one. The principle is the same, for sin is lawlessness. (See 1 John
3:4-Greek.) But in this first case man is viewed in his departure from God, and
in his guiltiness; in the second, as acknowledging none but himself.
To this condition in which all restraint will be removed,
a barrier has yet existed.
The apostle had already told them of the apostacy, and of
the manifestation of the man of sin. He now says that the Thessalonians ought
to know the hindrance that existed to his progress and his manifestation before
the appointed time. He does not say that he had told them, but they ought to
know it. Knowing the character of the wicked one, the barrier revealed itself.
The main point here is that it was a barrier. The principle of the evil was
already at work: a barrier alone prevented its development. Its character when
developed, would be unbridled will which exalts and opposes itself. [3]
Unbridled self-will being the principle of the evil, that which bridles this
will is the barrier. Now it exalts itself above all that bears the name of God,
or to which homage is paid: that which hinders it therefore is the power of God
acting in government here below as authorized by Him. The grossest abuse of
power still bears this last character. Christ could say to Pilate, "Thou
couldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above."
Wicked as he might be, his power is owned as coming from God. Thus, although
men had rejected and crucified the Son of God, so that their iniquity appeared
to be at its height, the hindrance still existed in full. Afterwards God,
having sent His Spirit, gathers out the church, and, although the mystery of
iniquity began immediately to work mingling the will of men with the worship of
God in Spirit, God had always (He still has) the object of His loving care upon
the earth. The Holy Ghost was here below; the assembly, be its condition what
it might, was still on earth, and God maintained the barrier. And as the porter
had opened the door to Jesus in spite of all obstacles, so He sustains
everything, however great the energy and progress of evil. The evil is bridled:
God is the source of authority on earth. There is one who hinders until he be
taken out of the way. Now when the assembly (the assembly, that is, as composed
of the true members of Christ) is gone, and consequently the Holy Ghost as the
Comforter is no longer dwelling here below, then the apostacy takes place, [4] the
time to remove the hindrance is come, the evil is unbridled, and at length
(without saying how much time it will take) the evil assumes a definite shape
in him who is its head. The beast comes up from the abyss. Satan--not God-gives
him his authority; and in the second beast all the energy of Satan is present.
The man of sin is there.
Here it is an outward and secular power that is spoken
of, but the religious side of Satan's energy.
With regard to the individual instruments who compose the
barrier, they may change every moment, and it was not the object of the Holy
Ghost to name them. He who was the one of them that existed when this epistle
was written would not be so at the present time; to have named him then would
have been of no use to us in the present day. The object was to declare that
the evil which should be judged was already working, that there was no remedy
for it, that it was only a hindrance on God's part which prevented its full
development: a principle of the highest importance with regard to the history
of Christianity.
Whatever form it might take, the apostacy of the men who
would renounce grace would necessarily be more absolute than any other. It is
opposition to the Lord. It has the character of an adversary. The other
principle of human iniquity enters into it, but this is the source of the
"perdition." It is, the rejection of goodness; it is direct enmity.
" That which hinders" is in general only an
instrument, a means, which prevents the manifestation of the man of sin-the
wicked one. So long as the assembly is on earth, the pretension to be God in His
temple cannot take place or at least would have no influence. Satan has his
sphere, and must needs have it, in the mystery of iniquity; but there is no
longer a mystery when the place of God in His temple is openly taken. That
which hinders is therefore still present. But there is a person active in
maintaining this hindrance. Here I think indeed that it is God in the Person of
the Holy Ghost, who, during the time called "the things that are,"
restrains the evil and guards divine authority in the world. As long as that
subsists, the unrestrained exaltation of wickedness cannot take place.
Consequently I do not doubt but that the rapture of the saints is the occasion
of the hindrance being removed and all restraint loosed, although some of the
ways of God are developed before the full manifestation of the evil.
This thought does not rest upon great principles only:
the passage itself supplies elements which shew the state of things when the
power of evil develops itself. 1st, The apostacy has already taken place. This
could hardly be said if the testimony of the assembly still subsisted, as it
had in time past, or even yet more distinctly as being freed from all false and
corrupting elements. 2nd, Authority-as established of God, so far as exercising
a restraint on man's will in God's name-has disappeared from the scene, for the
wicked one exalts himself against all that is called God and to which homage is
paid, and presents himself as God in the temple of God. Compare Psalm 82, where
God stands among the gods (the judges) to judge them before He inherits the
nations. Before that solemn hour when God will judge the judges of the earth,
this wicked one, despising all authority that comes from Him, sets himself up
as God: and that on the earth, where the judgment will be manifested. And then,
3rdly, in place of the Holy Ghost and His power manifested on the earth, we
find the power of Satan, and with precisely the same tokens that bore witness
to the Person of Christ. So that the passage itself, whether as to man or as to
the enemy, gives us (in the three points of which we have spoken) the full
confirmation of that which we have ventured to set forth.
The assembly, the powers ordained by God upon the earth,
the Holy Ghost present here as the Comforter in lieu of Christ, have all (as
regards the manifestation of the government and the work of God) given place to
the self-willed unbridled man, and to the power of the enemy. In saying this we
speak of the sphere of this prophecy, which moreover embraces that of the public
testimony of God on earth.
Definitively then we have man here in his own nature-as
it has displayed itself by forsaking God--in the full pursuit of his own will
in rebellion against God; the willful man, developed as the result of apostacy
from the position of grace in which the assembly stood, and in contempt of all
the governmental authority of God on the earth. And since that authority had
shewn itself directly and properly in Judea, this contempt and the spirit of
rebellion in man, who exalts himself above everything, but who cannot be
heavenly (heaven, and all pretension to heaven, is given up by man, and lost by
Satan), display themselves by man taking the place of God in His temple under
the most advanced form of Jewish apostacy and blasphemy. At the same time Satan
acts-God having loosed his bridle-with a power (a lying power indeed, but)
which gives the same testimony before men as that which the works of Christ did
to the Saviour; and also with all the skill that iniquity possesses to deceive.
It is in the wicked, the lawless one, that Satan works these things. Our
consideration of the development of the latter part of this solemn scene will
come (God willing) in the Book of Revelation. We may add, that there we have
this wicked one as the false Messiah, and as prophet, in the form of his
kingdom-two horns like a lamb. He had been cast down from heaven where he had
been anti-priest, and now takes up Christ's titles on earth of king and
prophet. In Daniel 11 he is seen as king; here, as the unbridled man, and in
particular as the result [5] and
the manifestation of Satan's power. In a word, instead of the assembly, the
apostacy; instead of the Holy Ghost, Satan; and, instead of the authority of
God as a restraint upon evil, the unbridled man setting himself up as God on
the earth.
Another circumstance, already mentioned, demands
particular attention. I have said that he presents himself as the Messiah (that
is to say, in His two characters as king and prophet, which are His earthly
characters). In heaven Satan has then nothing more to do; he has been cast out
from thence, so that there is no imitation of the Lord's high-priesthood. In
that respect Satan had, in his own person, acted another part. He was
previously in heaven the accuser of the brethren. But, at the time of which we
are speaking, the assembly is on high, and the accuser of the brethren is cast
out never to return there. In a man inspired by him he makes himself prophet
and king. And in this character he does the same things (in falsehood) as those
by which God had sanctioned the mission of Christ before men. (Compare Acts
2:22) In a Greek the words are identical. [6] I
would also recall here another solemn fact in order to complete this picture.
In the history of Elijah we find that the proof of the divinity of Baal, or
that of Jehovah, is made to rest upon the fact of their respective servants
bringing down fire from heaven. Now in Revelation 3 we learn that the second
beast brings down fire from heaven in the sight of men. So that we find here
the marvelous works that sanctioned the Lord's mission, and there that which proved
Jehovah to be the true and only God. And Satan performs both in order to
deceive men.
This may give us an idea of the state in which they will
be; and it indicates also that these things will take place in relation with
the Jews, under the double aspect of their connection with Jehovah and their
rejection of Christ and reception of Antichrist.
Thus, thank God, the truth is abundantly confirmed, that
these things do not relate to the assembly, but to those who, having had
opportunity to profit by the truth, have rejected it, and loved iniquity.
Neither does it relate to the heathen, but only to those among whom the truth
has been set forth. [7] They
refused it and God sends a lie, and an efficacious lie, that they may believe
it. He does this in judgment: He did the same thing with the nations (Rom.
1:24, 26, 28); He did it also with the Jews (Is. 6:9, 10); He does it here with
nominal Christians. But it does relate to the Jews as a nation that rejected
the truth-the testimony of the Holy Ghost (Acts 7)-but still more to Christians
(in name); in short to all those who will have had the truth presented to them.
With nominal Christians this has necessarily the
character of apostacy, or at least it is connected with this apostacy, and is
consequent upon it; as verse 3 teaches us, the apostacy takes place, and then
the man of sin is revealed.#
In connection with his character of the man of sin he
presents himself without restraint in the temple of God, shewing himself that
he is God. [8] In
relation to the lying power of Satan and his efficient work, he presents
himself in the character of Christ-he is the Antichrist, assuming consequently
a Jewish character. It is not only the pride of man exalting itself against
God, but the power of Satan in man deceiving men and the Jews in particular, by
a false Christ; so that it it were possible, the very elect would be deceived.
We may remark that all these characters are precisely the opposite of
Christ-falsehood instead of truth, iniquity instead of righteousness, perdition
instead of salvation.
It is to a power like this, of lies and destruction that
man-having forsaken Christianity and exalted himself in pride against God-will
be given up. The apostacy (that is to say, the renunciation of Christianity)
will be the occasion of this evil; Judea and the Jews, the scene in which it
ripens and develops itself in a positive way.
The Antichrist will deny the Father and the Son (that is,
Christianity); he will deny that Jesus is the Christ (that is, Jewish
unbelief). With the burden upon him of sin against Christianity, grace, and the
presence of the Holy Ghost, he will ally himself with Jewish unbelief, in order
that there may be not only the full expression of human pride, but also for a
time the Satanic influence of a false Christ, who will strengthen the throne of
Satan among the Gentiles occupied by the first beast to whom the authority of
the dragon has been given. He will also set up his own subordinate throne over
the Jews, as being the Messiah, whom their unbelief is expecting; while at the
same time he will bring in idolatry, the unclean spirit long gone out who then
returns to his house which is devoid of God.
And now, with regard to his destruction (whom the Lord
Jesus will consume with the spirit of His mouth and destroy with the
manifestation of His presence, or of His coming), the first of these means
characterises the judgment; it is the word of truth applied in judgment
according to the power of God. In the Revelation, it says that the sword
proceeds out of His mouth. Here He is not spoken of in the character of a man
of war, as in Revelation 19. The spirit of His mouth is that inward and divine
power which kindles and executes the judgment. It is not an instrument, it is
the divine source of power which executes its purpose by a word. (compare
Isa.33:33) But there is another aspect of this judgment. The Lord, the man
Jesus, will return. His return has two parts-the return into the air to take
His assembly to Himself, and the public manifestation in glory of His return.
In the first verse of our chapter we have read of His
return and our gathering together unto Him. Here, verse 8, is the manifestation
of His presence publicly in creation. At the time of this public manifestation
of His coming He destroys the whole work and power of the wicked one. It is the
Man formerly obedient and humbling Himself on the earth, exalted of God, and
become Lord of all, who destroys the lawless man that has exalted himself above
everything and made himself as God, instead of being, obedient to God.
This evil--on the side of Satan's influence-was already
working in the apostle's time; only it was bridled and kept back, until that
which restrained it should no longer be on the scene. Then should the wicked
one be revealed. To sum up, the taking away of the assembly, and the apostacy,
were first necessary; and then this man should present himself as an
unbelieving Jew, [9] and
the power of Satan would be displayed in him.
Now this Satanic influence was for those who had rejected
the truth. Of the Thessalonians--to whom he had given these explanations
respecting the day which they fancied was come-the apostle thought very
differently. God had chosen these "brethren beloved of the Lord "
from the beginning for salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and
belief of the truth, to which He had called them by Paul's gospel (and that of
His companions), and to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus. How
different was this from the visitations of the day of the Lord, and the
circumstances of which the apostle had spoken! They were numbered among those
who should be the companions in that day of the Lord Jesus Himself.
[1]
"As God" is to be left out before "sitteth," in chapter
2:4.
[2] In 1
John 2 we find the double character of the Antichrist as regards Christianity
and Judaism. He denies the Father and the Son, rejects Christianity; he denies
that Jesus is the Christ, which is Jewish unbelief. His power is the working of
Satan, as we find here. As man he sets up to be God. So that his impiousness is
manifested in every way. As the question is more upon the earth, it is the God
of the earth, the man withal from heaven, who judges him.
[3] Note
this point. All was ready and complete in the apostle's time, only restrained.
So Christ was ready to judge. Only the patience of God waits, in the accepted
time.
[4] The
principle of this may be widely at work individually, as in 1 John 2, it had
begun, but the open public manifestation was to come. Jude gives the creeping
in to produce corruption John, the going out which characterises the
Antichrist.
[5] We
may remark that the apostacy develops itself under the three forms in which man
has been in relationship with God; Nature-it is the man of sin unrestrained,
who exalts himself; Judaism-he sits as God in the temple of God;
Christianity-it is to this that the term apostacy is directly applied in the
passage before us.
[6] Only
the word for "miracle" or "power" is plural in Acts 2.
[7] I
only allude here to the connection between the renunciation of Christianity and
the development of apostate Judaism, which are linked together in the rejection
of the true Christ, and the denial of the Father and the Son-features given in
1 John as characteristic of the Antichrist. But I am persuaded that the more we
examine the word, the more we shall see (perhaps with surprise) that this fact
is confirmed. Moreover the turning back to Judaism, and the tendency to
idolatry by the introduction of other mediators and patrons, and the losing
sight of our union with the Head, and thus of the perfection and deliverance
from the law which are ours in Christ, have, at all times, characterised the
mystery of iniquity and the principle of apostacy. The apostle had incessantly
to combat this. That of which we spoke above is but its full manifestation.
[8] This
is the culminating point in his character as an apostate who has renounced
grace. The ninth and following verses develop his positive and deceitful
activity by which he seeks to win men. This explains the mixture (which,
moreover, generally resists) of atheism in will, and superstition
[9] I do
not say that his first appearance will be the apostacy of Judaism; I do not
think it will be. He will present himself to them as being the Christ, but
according to the hopes and passions of the Jews. But afterwards it will be an
apostacy even from Judaism, as had partially been the case in the days of the
Maccabees-a fact which the Spirit uses in Daniel 11, as a figure precursive of
the time of Antichrist. He is from his first appearance an unbeliever and the
enemy of God, an apostate as to the assembly, and denying that Jesus is the
Christ. We are taught positively by John, that the rejection of Christianity
and Jewish unbelief are united in the Antichrist. It appears that apostacy with
regard to Christianity and Jewish unbelief are connected and go together; and
afterwards Jewish apostacy and open rebellion against God, which, causing the
cry of the remnant, brings in the Lord, and all is ended. Now the apostle
(chap. 2:3, 4) presents the complete picture of man's iniquity, developed when
apostacy from the grace of the gospel had taken place (he exalts himself even
to the making himself God), without touching the Jewish side or the manifested
power of Satan. These verses shew us the man of sin is the result of the
apostacy which will break out in the midst of Christendom. Verse 9 begins to
teach us in addition, that the coming of this wicked one is also in immediate
connection with a mighty display of the energy of Satan, who deceives by means
of marvelous works and a strong delusion to which God gives men up, and of
which we have spoken in the text. It is man and Satan here, with enough to shew
its connection with Judaism in the last days (even as the mystery of iniquity
was linked with Judaism in the days of the apostles, although it is not the
occasion of giving the details of the Jewish development of the evil. We must
look for these details elsewhere, where they are in their place, as in Daniel.
The Apocalypse and 1 John furnish us with the means of connecting them: we do
but allude here to this connection.
── John Darby《Synopsis of 2 Thessalonians》
2 Thessalonians 2
Chapter Contents
Cautions against the error that the time of Christ's
coming was just at hand. There would first be a general apostacy from the
faith, and a revealing of the antichristian man of sin. (1-4) His destruction,
and that of those who obey him. (5-12) The security of the Thessalonians from
apostacy; an exhortation to stedfastness, and prayer for them. (13-17)
Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
(Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)
If errors arise among Christians, we should set them
right; and good men will be careful to suppress errors which rise from
mistaking their words and actions. We have a cunning adversary, who watches to
do mischief, and will promote errors, even by the words of Scripture. Whatever
uncertainty we are in, or whatever mistakes may arise about the time of
Christ's coming, that coming itself is certain. This has been the faith and
hope of all Christians, in all ages of the church; it was the faith and hope of
the Old Testament saints. All believers shall be gathered together to Christ,
to be with him, and to be happy in his presence for ever. We should firmly
believe the second coming of Christ; but there was danger lest the
Thessalonians, being mistaken as to the time, should question the truth or
certainty of the thing itself. False doctrines are like the winds that toss the
water to and fro; and they unsettle the minds of men, which are as unstable as
water. It is enough for us to know that our Lord will come, and will gather all
his saints unto him. A reason why they should not expect the coming of Christ,
as at hand, is given. There would be a general falling away first, such as
would occasion the rise of antichrist, that man of sin. There have been great
disputes who or what is intended by this man of sin and son of perdition. The
man of sin not only practises wickedness, but also promotes and commands sin
and wickedness in others; and is the son of perdition, because he is devoted to
certain destruction, and is the instrument to destroy many others, both in soul
and body. As God was in the temple of old, and worshipped there, and is in and
with his church now; so the antichrist here mentioned, is a usurper of God's
authority in the Christian church, who claims Divine honours.
Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12
(Read 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12)
Something hindered or withheld the man of sin. It is
supposed to be the power of the Roman empire, which the apostle did not mention
more plainly at that time. Corruption of doctrine and worship came in by degrees,
and the usurping of power was gradual; thus the mystery of iniquity prevailed.
Superstition and idolatry were advanced by pretended devotion, and bigotry and
persecution were promoted by pretended zeal for God and his glory. This mystery
of iniquity was even then begun; while the apostles were yet living, persons
pretended zeal for Christ, but really opposed him. The fall or ruin of the
antichristian state is declared. The pure word of God, with the Spirit of God,
will discover this mystery of iniquity, and in due time it shall be destroyed
by the brightness of Christ's coming. Signs and wonders, visions and miracles,
are pretended; but they are false signs to support false doctrines; and lying
wonders, or only pretended miracles, to cheat the people; and the diabolical
deceits with which the antichristian state has been supported, are notorious.
The persons are described, who are his willing subjects. Their sin is this;
They did not love the truth, and therefore did not believe it; and they were pleased
with false notions. God leaves them to themselves, then sin will follow of
course, and spiritual judgments here, and eternal punishments hereafter. These
prophecies have, in a great measure, come to pass, and confirm the truth of the
Scriptures. This passage exactly agrees with the system of popery, as it
prevails in the Romish church, and under the Romish popes. But though the son
of perdition has been revealed, though he has opposed and exalted himself above
all that is called God, or that is worshipped; and has spoken and acted as if
he were a god upon earth, and has proclaimed his insolent pride, and supported
his delusions, by lying miracles and all kinds of frauds; still the Lord has
not yet fully destroyed him with the brightness of his coming; that and other
prophecies remain to be fulfilled before the end shall come.
Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15
(Read 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15)
When we hear of the apostacy of many, it is a great
comfort and joy, that there is a remnant according to the election of grace,
which does and shall persevere; especially we should rejoice, if we have reason
to hope that we are of that number. The preservation of the saints, is because
God loved them with an everlasting love, from the beginning of the world. The
end and the means must not be separated. Faith and holiness must be joined
together as well as holiness and happiness. The outward call of God is by the
gospel; and this is rendered effectual by the inward working of the Spirit. The
belief of the truth brings the sinner to rely on Christ, and so to love and
obey him; it is sealed by the Holy Spirit upon his heart. We have no certain
proof of any thing having been delivered by the apostles, more than what we
find contained in the Holy Scriptures. Let us then stand fast in the doctrines
taught by the apostles, and reject all additions, and vain traditions.
Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17
(Read 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17)
We may and should direct our prayers, not only to God the
Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, but also to our Lord Jesus Christ
himself. And we should pray in his name unto God, not only as his Father, but
as our Father in and through him. The love of God in Christ Jesus, is the
spring and fountain of all the good we have or hope for. There is good reason
for strong consolations, because the saints have good hope through grace. The
free grace and mercy of God are what they hope for, and what their hopes are
founded on, and not any worth or merit of their own. The more pleasure we take
in the word, and works, and ways of God, the more likely we shall be to
persevere therein. But, if we are wavering in faith, and of a doubtful mind,
halting and faltering in our duty, no wonder that we are strangers to the joys
of religion.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 2
Thessalonians》
2 Thessalonians 2
Verse 1
[1] Now
we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our
gathering together unto him,
Our gathering together to him — In the clouds.
Verse 2
[2] 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.
Be not shaken in mind — In judgment.
Or terrified — As
those easily are who are immoderately fond of knowing future things. Neither by
any pretended revelation from the Spirit, nor by pretence of any word spoken by
me.
Verse 3
[3] 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;
Unless the falling away — From the pure faith of the gospel, come first. This began even in the
apostolic age. But the man of sin, the son of perdition - Eminently so called,
is not come yet. However, in many respects, the Pope has an indisputable claim
to those titles. He is, in an emphatical sense, the man of sin, as he increases
all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled, the son of
perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his
opposers and followers, destroyed innumerable souls, and will himself perish
everlastingly. He it is that opposeth himself to the emperor, once his rightful
sovereign; and that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped - Commanding angels, and putting kings under his feet, both of whom
are called gods in scripture; claiming the highest power, the highest honour;
suffering himself, not once only, to be styled God or vice-god. Indeed no less
is implied in his ordinary title, "Most Holy Lord," or, "Most
Holy Father." So that he sitteth - Enthroned.
In the temple of God — Mentioned Revelation 11:1.
Declaring himself that he is God — Claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone.
Verse 6
[6] And
now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
And now ye know — By
what I told you when I was with you.
That which restraineth — The power of the Roman emperors. When this is taken away, the wicked one
will be revealed.
In his time —
His appointed season, and not before.
Verse 7
[7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way.
He will surely be revealed; for the mystery -
The deep, secret power of iniquity, just opposite to the power of godliness,
already worketh. It began with the love of honour, and the desire of power; and
is completed in the entire subversion of the gospel of Christ. This mystery of
iniquity is not wholly confined to the Romish church, but extends itself to
others also. It seems to consist of, 1. Human inventions added to the written
word. 2. Mere outside performances put in the room of faith and love. 3. Other
mediators besides the man Christ Jesus. The two last branches, together with
idolatry and bloodshed, are the direct consequences of the former; namely, the
adding to the word of God.
Already worketh — In
the church.
Only he that restraineth — That is, the potentate who successively has Rome in his power. The
emperors, heathen or Christian; the kings, Goths or Lombards; the Carolingian
or German emperors.
Verse 8
[8] 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:
And then —
When every prince and power that restrains is taken away.
Will that wicked one — Emphatically so called, be revealed. Whom the Lord will soon consume
with the spirit of his mouth - His immediate power.
And destroy —
With the very first appearance of his glory.
Verse 10
[10] And
with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Because they received not the love of the
truth — Therefore God suffered them to fall into
that "strong delusion."
Verse 11
[11] And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a
lie:
Therefore God shall send them — That is, judicially permit to come upon them, strong delusion.
Verse 12
[12] That
they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
That they all may be condemned — That is, the consequence of which will be, that they all will be
condemned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness -
That is, who believed not the truth, because they loved sin.
Verse 13
[13] 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:
God hath from the beginning — Of your hearing the gospel.
Chosen you to salvation — Taken you out of the world, and placed you in the way to glory.
Verse 14
[14]
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
To which —
Faith and holiness.
He hath called you by our gospel — That which we preached, accompanied with the power of his Spirit.
Verse 15
[15]
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been
taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Hold —
Without adding to, or diminishing from, the traditions which ye have been
taught - The truths which I have delivered to you.
Whether by word or by our epistle — He preached before he wrote. And he had written concerning this in his
former epistle.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 2 Thessalonians》
Chapter 2. The Time of Coming Again
Belief in the
Truth
Saved and Sanctified
I. Do Not
Become Easily Unsettled
II. Signs of the
Lord's Coming
III. Hold to
the Teachings
── Chih-Hsin
Chang《An Outline of
The New Testament》
Chapter Two General Review
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To examine what is revealed about the "man of sin" whom the Lord will destroy at His coming 2) To consider how those who do not have a love for the truth are setting themselves up to be deceived by the man of sin 3) To discern why God will send a strong delusion to some that they will believe a lie SUMMARY
Evidently Paul received word that some of the Thessalonians had theimpression that the day of Christ had come, that is, it was near athand. To reassure them such was not the case, he reminds them of thosethings he had told them while he was still with them. That is, Christwill not come until the falling away occurs, and the man of sin is revealed (1-3). Paul then describes this man of sin and explains that he is currently hindered from being revealed. When that which restrains him is removed, the man of sin will become apparent, whom theLord will destroy with His coming (4-8). The coming of the lawless oneis further described, whose coming will be according to the working with Satan. With all power, signs, and lying wonders, he will deceive those who do not have a love for the truth. Indeed, God will also senda strong delusion to those who do not love the truth, that they might believe the lie and be condemned for taking pleasure in unrighteousnessinstead of believing the truth (9-12). As for the Thessalonians themselves, Paul is ever thankful that God haschosen them for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, having called them by the gospel to obtain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (13-14). He therefore exhorts them to stand fast and hold to the traditions taught by word or epistle, and prays that Jesus and God the Father will comfort their hearts and establish them in every good word and work (15-17). OUTLINE
I. ENLIGHTENMENT ABOUT THE COMING OF THE LORD (1-12)
A. DO NOT BE TROUBLED (1-2) 1. Concerning the coming of the Lord, and our gathering to Him (1) 2. By false reports, as though the day of Christ has come (2) B. THE APOSTASY MUST COME FIRST (3-12) 1. The Day of Christ will not come until... a. A falling away comes first (3a ) b. The man of sin (lawlessness) is revealed (3-4) 1) The son of perdition (3c ) 2) Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God and that is worshipped (4a ) 3) He sits as God in the temple of God that he is God (4b) -- As Paul told them while he was with them (5) 2. The man of sin is being restrained (6-7) a. They knew what it was that was restraining him (6a ) b. He will be revealed in his own time (6b) c. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work (7a ) d. But the one who restrains will do so until taken out of the way (7b) 3. When the lawless one is revealed (8-12) a. The Lord will... 1) Consume him with the breath of His mouth (8a ) 2) Destroy him with the brightness of His coming (8b) b. The coming of the lawless one... 1) Will be according to the working of Satan (9a ) 2) With all power, signs, and lying wonders (9b) 3) With all unrighteous deception among those who perish (10a ) a) Because they did not receive the love of the truth (10b) b) That they might be saved (10c ) c. For this reason... 1) God will send them a strong delusion (11a ) a) That they should believe the lie (11b) b) That they may be condemned (12a ) 2) Because they did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (12b) II. STEADFASTNESS ENCOURAGED (13-17)
A. THANKSGIVING AND A CALL TO STEADFASTNESS (13-15) 1. Bound always to give thanks to God (13a ) a. Who from the beginning chose them for salvation (13b) 1) Through sanctification by the Spirit (13c ) 2) And belief in the truth (13d) b. To which He called them (14a ) 1) By the gospel (14b) 2) For the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (14c ) 2. Stand fast and hold the traditions which they were taught (15a ) a. Whether by word (15b) b. Or by his epistle (15c ) B. PAUL'S PRAYER FOR THE THESSALONIANS (16-17) 1. May the Lord Jesus Himself, and our God and Father (16a ) a. Who loved us (16b) b. Who has given us... (16c ) 1) Everlasting consolation 2) Good hope by grace 2. Comfort your hearts (17a ) 3. Establish you in every good word and work (17b) REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Enlightenment about the coming of the Lord (1-12) - Steadfastness encouraged (13-17) 2) What two related things does Paul now address them? (1)
- The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ - Our gathering together to Him 3) About what did he not want them to be troubled? (2)
- As though the day of Christ had come 4) What two things must happen before that Day comes? (3)
- The falling away - The man of sin is revealed