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2:1 Now we beseech you,
brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 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.
2:3 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; 2:4 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.
2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these
things? 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be
revealed in his time.
2:7 For the mystery of
iniquity doth already work: only he who now
letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2:8 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: 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2:10 And
with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved.
2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie: 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed
not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2:13 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: 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our
gospel, to the obtaining of
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye
have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2:16 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, 2:17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in
every good word and work.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Thessalonians
Book: 2 Thessalonians
Chapter: 2
Overview:
Cautions against the error that the time of
Christ's coming
was just at
Hand. There would first be a general apostasy 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 apostasy; an exhortation
to stedfastness, and
Prayer for them.
(13-17)
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.
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.
13-15 When we hear of the apostasy 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.
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.