2 2 He showeth that the day of the Lord shall not come, till there be a departure from the faith, 3 and that Antichrist be revealed, 8 whose destruction he setteth out, 15 and thereupon exhorteth to constancy.
1 Now [a]we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our [b]assembling unto him,
2 [c]That ye be not suddenly moved from your mind, nor troubled neither by [d]spirit, nor by [e]word, nor by [f]letter, as it were from us, as though the day of Christ were at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: [g]for that day shall not come, except there come a departing first, and that [h]that man of sin be disclosed, even the son of perdition.
4 Which is an adversary, and [i]exalteth himself against all that is called God, or that is worshipped: [j]so that he doth sit as God in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 [k]Remember ye not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know [l]what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time.
7 [m]For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: [n]only he which now [o]withholdeth, shall let till he be taken out of the way.
8 [p]And then shall [q]that wicked man be revealed, (A)whom the Lord shall [r]consume with the [s]Spirit of his mouth, and shall abolish with the brightness of his coming,
9 [t]Even him whose coming is by the effectual working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and [u]lying wonders,
10 And in all deceivableness of unrighteousness, among them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And therefore God shall send them [v]strong delusion, that they should believe lies,
12 That all they might be damned which believed not the truth, but [w]had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 [x]But we ought to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through [y]sanctification of the Spirit, and the [z]faith of truth,
14 Whereunto he called you by our [aa]Gospel, to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 [ab]Therefore, brethren, stand fast and keep the instructions, which ye have been taught, either by word, or by our Epistle.
16 Now the same Jesus Christ our Lord, and our God, even the Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every word and good work.
Footnotes
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1 The second part of the Epistle, containing an excellent prophecy of the state of the Church, which shall be from the Apostles’ times unto the latter day of judgment.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1 If we think earnestly upon that immeasurable glory, which we shall be partakers of with Christ, it will be an excellent remedy for us against wavering, and impatience, so that neither the glistering of the world shall allure us, nor the dreadful sight of the cross dismay us.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:2 We must take heed of false prophets, especially in this matter, which go about to deceive, and that for the most part, after three sorts: for either they brag of fained prophetical revelations, or they bring conjectures and reasons of their own, or use counterfeit writings.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:2 By dreams and fables, which men pretend to be spiritual revelations.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Either by word of mouth, or by books written.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Either by forged letters, or falsely glossed upon.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 The Apostle foretelleth that before the coming of the Lord, there shall be a throne set up clean contrary to Christ’s glory, wherein that wicked man shall sit, and transfer all things that appertain to God, to himself, and many shall fall away from God to him.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 By speaking of one, he pointed out the body of the tyrannous and persecuting Church.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:4 All men know who he is that saith he can shut up heaven and open it at his pleasure, and took upon him to be Lord and master above all Kings and Princes, before whom Kings and Princes fall down and worship, honoring that Antichrist as a god.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:4 He foretelleth that Antichrist, (that is, whosoever he be that shall occupy that seat that falleth away from God) shall not reign without the Church, but in the very bosom of the Church.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:5 This prophecy was continually declared to the Ancient Church, but it was neglected of them that followed.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:6 What hindereth and stayeth.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Even in the Apostles’ time the first foundations of the Apostolical seat were laid, but yet so, that they deceived men.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7 He foretelleth that when the empire of Rome is taken away, the seat that falleth away from God shall succeed and shall hold his place, as the old writers, Tertullian, Chrysostomes and Jerome do expound it.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7 He which is now in authority and ruleth all, to wit, the Roman Empire.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 That wickedness shall at length be detected by the word of the Lord, and utterly be abolished by Christ’s coming.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Word for word, that lawless fellow: that is to say, he that shall tread God’s law clean underfoot.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Bring to nought.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 With his word: for the true Ministers of the word are as a mouth, whereby the Lord breatheth out that mighty and everlasting word, which shall break his enemies in sunder, as it were an iron rod.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9 He foretelleth that Satan will bestow all his might and power, and use all false miracles that he can to establish that seat, and that with great success, because the wickedness of the world doeth so deserve it: yet so, that only the unfaithful shall perish through his deceit.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Which are partly false, and partly wrought to establish a falsehood.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11 A most mighty working to deceive them.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:12 They liked lies so well, that they had pleasure in them which is the greatest madness that may be.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 The elect shall stand steadfast and safe from all these mischiefs. Now election is known by these testimonies: Faith is gathered by sanctification: faith, by that that we accord unto the truth: truth by calling through the preaching of the Gospel: from whence we come at length to a certain hope of glorification.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 To sanctify you.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Faith which layeth hold not upon lies, but upon the truth of God, which is the Gospel.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:14 By our preaching.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15 The conclusion remaineth then, that we continue in the doctrine which was delivered unto us by the mouth and writings of the Apostles, through the free good will of God, which comforteth us with an invincible hope, and also in all godliness our whole life long.