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2 Thessalonians 2:1. We pray to you, brethren, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering to Him, 2 Thessalonians 2:2. do not rush to waver your mind He does not say when the resurrection will take place, but that now it will not follow - that is what he teaches; since there were some deceivers who said that the time had already come for the general death and coming of the Lord. To great consolation, the apostle also said that the faithful would be gathered to Him to be with Him, just as in the first epistle he said that those worthy would be caught up to the Lord immediately after the resurrection. What does the word "pray" mean? That is, we beg you not to waver or deviate from the correct conviction that you have hitherto had. That is, through prophecy. For some, hypocritically explaining the prophecy, deceived the people, speaking about the coming of the Lord. That is, teaching expressed in a living language (orally). nor from a message, as if sent by us, The deceivers confirmed what they said with forged messages, supposedly sent by Paul. as if the day of Christ is already coming. Do not be horrified, he says that the day of the Lord has come, that is, the coming of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Let no one deceive you in any way: Neither as a prophet, nor as a teacher, nor as one writing such things from me. For that day will not come, until the falling away comes first, and the man of sin, the son of perdition, is revealed, There will be no coming of the Lord, he says, if there is no apostasy, that is, the Antichrist. The apostle called it a retreat because that is what it really is: it has the power to turn away many, even the elect, if possible. He also called him “a man of sin” because he would commit all kinds of lawlessness and push others into lawlessness. And he called him “the son of perdition” because he himself would perish. Who is he? Is it already Satan? No, but a certain person who accepted all his power. 2 Thessalonians 2:4. one who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is holy, He will not lead people to idolatry; on the contrary, he will reject all gods and all objects of their veneration, or idols, and declare himself alone to be god. so that in the church of God he will sit as God, It does not say: in the Jerusalem temple itself, but simply: “in the church,” in every church of God. The apostle did not say that he would call himself god, but that he would try to show himself as god. For he will do great things and show signs to tempt everyone. 2 Thessalonians 2:5. Don’t you remember that while I was still with you, I told you this? From this it is clear that the apostle conveyed great secrets to the Thessalonians and not in writing. You see that it is necessary to constantly talk about the same thing, repeat the same words with persistence. So they heard the apostle speaking about this when he was with them, and, however, again they needed confirmation. “I’m not saying anything unusual,” he says, “but it’s the same thing I’ve always said.” The Apostle somewhat shames the Thessalonians, saying: “Don’t you remember?” Have you forgotten so soon? 2 Thessalonians 2:6. And now you know what prevents you from revealing yourself to him in due time. What “does not allow” means an obstacle, something that interferes. What is this? Some argue that this is the grace of the Holy Spirit; others are the Roman state; Saint John Chrysostom agrees with the latter. For until it is destroyed, the Antichrist will not be able to do as he pleases. That’s why Paul said secretly: he did not want to incur unnecessary hostility and useless danger. For if he had said that the Roman state would collapse in a short time, he would have been immediately wiped off the face of the earth as a rebel, and with him all the believers who would have rejoiced at the destruction of such a state. That the apostle is not talking about the grace of the Holy Spirit is clear. Firstly, he would not have said it in secret then, but he would have said it definitely, because even now the Antichrist is held back by the grace of the Holy Spirit, that is, gifts of grace. Then, if the Antichrist were to appear when extraordinary talents had become scarce, then he would have already appeared, because they had long since become scarce. Notice that he also did not say that this would happen soon, but says: “to be revealed to him in due time.” Again the time was left unknown. 2 Thessalonians 2:7. For the mystery of iniquity is already at work, This is what the Apostle calls Nero, who was a prototype of the Antichrist. He was also a lawless man and wanted to be called god. He said it well: “secret.” For, he says, Nero did not rebel against every god as openly and shamelessly as he would rebel. What the apostle says has this meaning: before the time of the Antichrist came, another man was found, a little inferior to him. What is surprising if there is already an Antichrist? The apostle spoke secretly about Nero, not out of slavish fear, but in order to teach us not to incur unnecessary hatred on ourselves when nothing forces us to do so. Only it will not be accomplished until the one who now holds it is taken from the environment. 2 Thessalonians 2:8. And then the lawless one will be revealed, That is, when the Roman state is taken from the environment, then he will come. Because as long as this state is feared, no one will soon submit to the Antichrist. When it is destroyed, then anarchy will reign and he will strive to steal human and divine power. Just as before this state the kingdoms were destroyed, namely: the Median - by the Babylonians, the Babylonian - by the Persians, the Persian - by the Macedonians, the Macedonian - by the Romans; so this last one will be destroyed by the Antichrist. And Daniel conveys this to us with greater clarity (Dan. 2:37–43). By the expression “restraining” (κατέχων) some understood idolatry. When, they say, the restraining error ceases, idolatry is destroyed, then the Antichrist will appear, as the Lord once said: “This Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Others use the word “holding” to describe God’s determination. When, they say, God’s decree, which now restrains the coming of the Antichrist, is fulfilled, and the time appointed for him comes, then he will be revealed. And some, as already said, argued that the Holy Spirit restrains the Antichrist. When He, as a result of human iniquities, is taken from the environment and withdraws, then the lawless one will have a free place to reveal himself. And into his power, says the apostle, he received the mystery of lawlessness. For both the heresy leaders Simon and Nicholas did the works of the Antichrist, and all their followers - Marcion and Montanus, who even called himself a comforter, and Manes and others. But you follow the interpretation of St. John, as it is more true. whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the appearance of His coming He immediately consoles him: “The Lord will kill him.” For just as fire, even before it appears, petrifies and destroys small animals from afar, so Christ, with one command, or breath filled with the Holy Spirit, will kill it, and with one coming “destroy” it, that is, completely destroy it. For as soon as He appears, He will put an end to deception. 2 Thessalonians 2:9. the one whose coming, according to the action of Satan, The Apostle teaches us who the Antichrist is, namely: he is a man who has Satan in him, who will act through him. it will be with all power and signs and lying wonders, That is, he will reveal all his strength, but will have nothing true, on the contrary, everything will be deceptive. “With false miracles,” that is, counterfeit or deceiving those who pay attention to it. Paul predicts this, so that those living at that time will not be deceived. 2 Thessalonians 2:10. and with all unrighteous deception of those who are perishing He will be terrible everywhere with his power, because he will do everything with cruelty in order to deceive people and cause them harm, destroying their salvation. But lest anyone become bewildered, saying: why did God allow him to come, when people must suffer so much harm? the apostle answers: do not be afraid! He will prevail over those who are perishing, who, even if He had not come, would remain unbelievers. because they did not accept the love of the truth for their salvation. He calls Christ the love of truth, for He was both, and came for the sake of both: out of love for people and to reveal the truth. The Apostle hints that the deceiver will have the greatest power among the Jews, for they did not accept Christ, did not believe in Him. Christ tells them about this: “I have come in the name of My Father, and you do not receive Me, but if another comes in his own name, you will receive him” (John 5:43). 2 Thessalonians 2:11. And for this reason God will send them delusion, so that they will believe lies, “He will send,” instead of: he will allow him to come. Look, first they rejected the truth, and then they abandoned God, and the lie took possession of them. “The work of delusion” is what the apostle calls the works of the Antichrist, which he does in order to deceive, or so he called him himself, who acts at the prompting of Satan to deceive many. 2 Thessalonians 2:12. let all be condemned who did not believe the truth, but loved unrighteousness. He did not say: let them receive punishment (for even if the Antichrist had not come, the unbelievers should have been punished); but he says: let them be condemned so that they will not be answered. Will they say that we did not believe in Christ because the disciples preached him as God, and we heard that there is one God, from whom are all things? In this case, how did you believe the Antichrist, who pretends to be God? Christ attributed everything to the Father, but this one does the opposite. But they will say: we saw the signs. And Christ performed many great miracles. In addition, the prophets predicted about Christ that He is the Savior, and that He is the son of lawlessness and destruction. That is why they will be condemned, because, having abandoned the truth, they favored, that is, they liked and willingly surrendered to “untruth,” that is, to the deceiver who uses all injustice against people, who himself is untruth incarnate. 2 Thessalonians 2:13. We must always thank God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, Since the apostle said something terrible that could confuse an unstable soul; now it calms hearts, teaching that all this is terrible for others who are perishing, for whom it was destined. We must thank God for you, because He chose you and loved you. If we give thanks for you, then you should do it much more for yourself. that God from the beginning, through sanctification of the Spirit and faith in the truth, chose you to salvation, Therefore we give thanks that God chose you to Himself and predestined you to salvation, according to foreknowledge that you were worthy. How? “Through the sanctification of the Spirit,” that is, saved by sanctifying the Spirit. Then, so that no one says: so what? Have we contributed anything? the apostle added: “and faith in the truth,” that is, he sanctified us, who brought faith to the truth, that is, to true things. For they believed not just any lie, but the truth itself. In addition, he remembered the faith that follows, since even after sanctification we have great need of it, so that we do not go astray. 2 Thessalonians 2:14. to which I have called you by our gospel, to attain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So that, having heard about faith, they do not become conceited, just like those who brought something in, makes it clear that this too is from God. “To which he called,” he says. For what? that you may be saved by sanctification and faith, so that although you believe, this is the grace of Him who called. For if He had not called you with our gospel, how could you have heard? It is also important if Christ recognizes your salvation as His glory. For the glory of the Lover of mankind is that there should be many who are saved. And who is not zealous for His glory, that is, for his salvation? 2 Thessalonians 2:15. Therefore, brethren, stand steadfast and adhere to the traditions which you have been taught either by our word or by our epistle. From this it is clear that the apostles conveyed much even without letters, through the word, that is, in living language, and not only through letters. Meanwhile, both are equally reliable. Therefore, we must recognize the Church Tradition as reliable. There is Tradition, don’t look for anything else. Here the apostle also shows that there are many who waver in the faith. 2 Thessalonians 2:16. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and our God and Father, who loved us and gave us eternal consolation and good hope in grace, 2 Thessalonians 2:17. May he comfort your hearts and may he strengthen you in every good word and deed. Prayer follows exhortation, for this is truly what helping others consists of. As if the apostle says this: I said: stand; but everything is from God. Where are those who humiliate the Son, because in baptism He is called after the Father? Here, on the contrary: first the apostle named the Son. “He who gave,” he says, “eternal consolation.” What consolation is this? Hope, he says, for the future. She - hope for future blessings - supports our hearts, wavering in temptations. God gave it to us not by merit, but by grace. The apostle said this to humble their arrogance. You see how, through prayer, he approves of their hearts, presenting a guarantee and a sign of God’s providence for them. For if He gave consolation to those who did not work at all, much more will He give it to those who work for their faith. So be in full hope. “May he comfort,” he says, “your hearts and may he strengthen you in every good word and deed,” that is, through every good deed and word. For the consolation of a Christian is to do something useful and pleasing to God. Or: may he confirm you in right dogmas and good deeds, no matter what happens. Such is the consolation. He who is established in faith and life, no matter how much he suffers, endures everything courageously and is not seduced; for the preservation of right dogmas assures him of receiving future benefits; and a good life makes him happy because he suffers not as a villain, but as a servant of God. You might be interested in: