II. The first chapter had encouraged the Thessalonians under persecution by the thought of the _reality_ of the Advent. The author has not in the least changed his opinion about the Advent since writing the First Epistle. It is still a matter of most practical comfort: “a very present help.” But no... [ Continue Reading ]
BRETHREN. — The Apostles have won a hearing for the true Advent doctrine by their sympathetic treatment of it in the former chapter; now they soften their correction of the false doctrine by using tender names. BY THE COMING. — Literally, _for the sake of the coming,_ just as in English we adjure p... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT SOON SHAKEN. — The meaning would be clearer if we inserted “so” before “soon,” for it does not mean vaguely that they were for the future not to be lightly shaken, but (as in Galatians 1:6) that they had already been shaken, and that in an unconscionably short time since their first teaching on... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NO MAN... BY ANY MEANS. — “Whatever device they may adopt — spirit, letter, or what not — they are deceivers or deceived; do not be duped by them.” The form of warning is a mark of St. Paul’s style. (Comp. 1 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:6) FOR... EXCEPT. — The words between are rightly supplie... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCURSUS ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE PROPHECY, 2 Thessalonians 2:3 IN order to deal fairly with this difficult passage, it will be necessary sternly to exclude from our view all other passages of the New Testament which speak of a final manifestation of evil, and, reviewing the words simply as they... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO OPPOSETH AND EXALTETH HIMSELF. — The original continues a quasi-substantival form: — “the opposer and exalter of himself” — well-known descriptions (doubtless) of the Antichrist; several of the details are drawn directly from the description of Antiochus in Daniel 11. Being merely descriptive ep... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER YE NOT. — A rebuke of the same character as Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 6:19, and, like those, levelled at ignorance of what in apostolic days were thought the six fundamental points of Christian teaching (Hebrews 5:12; Hebrews 6:1). The doctrine of Antichrist would naturally form part of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW YE KNOW. — Not “now, because of what I have just said,” for nothing has yet been said in the Letter from which the Thessalonians could gather what withheld the premature manifestation of the Man of Sin. The word “now” is not used exactly in a temporal sense, but as introducing another item.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. — Logically, the “for” belongs to the clause “he that letteth;” thus:” For, although the mystery is already at work, the wicked one will not be revealed until he that now withholds shall disappear.” THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY DOTH ALREADY WORK. — Both “mystery” and “iniquity” have the article in t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEN. — Then at length, when the obstructor is gone, two things shall happen: (1) the Lawless One shall be revealed, and (2) then the Lord will come and destroy him. The purpose with which St. Paul began this chapter was to show relatively the date of our Lord’s Advent; but he is now so engrosse... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN HIM, WHOSE COMING. — The “even him” does not stand in the Greek; and “whose” might, again, be rendered by _for his own,_ or perhaps “though his own.” The purpose of the verses following is not merely to describe Antichrist more fully, but to compare word for word his coming with that which will... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WITH ALL DECEIVABLENESS. — “Deceivableness” does not mean “readiness to _be deceived,”_ but, according to old English usage, has an active meaning; the words include and expand the list just given “in all sham power and signs and wonders, and, in fact, in every iniquitous fraud.” IN THEM THAT PE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR THIS CAUSE — _i.e._, because they did not care whether things were true or not. This verse is not a mere repetition of 2 Thessalonians 2:9. _There_ we were told of external dangers which would attend Antichrist’s coming for them that perish: because they had not cared for truth, therefore th... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY ALL. — This is God’s purpose in making them believe the lie — “in order that, one and all, they might be judged.” He who desireth not the death of a sinner, now is said actually to lay plans with the intention of judging him: such are the bold self-contradictions of the Bible! It must not,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE ARE BOUND. — This may be called a recurrence to the subject dropped at 2 Thessalonians 1:3. The pronoun is somewhat emphatic. It might have seemed more natural to have sharpened the contrast between the Thessalonian Christians and the unhappy people just mentioned by beginning “But you.” It i... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREUNTO. — From the neuter gender of the relative in the Greek we see that the antecedent in St. Paul’s mind is not exactly “belief of truth,” nor exactly “sanctification of spirit,” nor yet exactly “salvation,” but the general state of life which is compounded of these three notions — “to which t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, BRETHREN, STAND FAST. — Such an exhortation is, in itself, conclusive against a theory of irreversible predestination. “Because God chose you from eternity, and called you in time, therefore stand your ground.” If it were impossible for them to quit their ground, it would be needless to e... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW. — Better, _And,_ connecting closely the prayer with the exhortation, just as in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. “Again,” says St. Chrysostom, “prayer after advice: this is to help in earnest.” The word “Himself,” as in the passage cited, contrasts the Almighty power of our Lord with the partial instructi... [ Continue Reading ]
COMFORT YOUR HEARTS... — “Comfort,” in reference to the “unending comfort” of 2 Thessalonians 2:16; and “stablish,” in reference to the “good hope in grace.” The “heart” needs comfort as the seat of emotions. “In every good word and work” (it should be, _work and word_) means in the maintenance of e... [ Continue Reading ]