2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2:1

BY the coming of our Lord] A kinde of religious adjuration; the meaning whereof is, As truely as you look for the coming of the Lord; or, I beseech you, by that dear account that ye make of the coming of our Lord, and of that glory which we shall enjoy by, and in him. So the Preposition 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is used by the Poet, Il. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

2 Thessalonians 2:2

shaken in minde] Gr. moved from your minde. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, properly signifieth to be tossed in the Sea with a Tempest: and his meaning is, that they should not be transported by any violent blast of false doctrine from the truth of the Gospel, or from their right sense and judgement.

neither by spirit] We must take heed of false prophets, who goabout to deceive for the most part after three sorts; for either they brag of feigned Visions and Propheticall Revelations, or by conjectures and sophisticall reasons of their owne, or they use counterfeit Writings; with which three the Apostle meeteth in this verse; the first he taxeth in the first, by spirit; the second in the next, by word; the third in the last, by letter, as it were, from us. (Although some conceive, and not improbably, that the false Apostles forged not any letter of the Apostle, but fastly glossed upon some passages in the former Epistle to the Thessalonians, from thence inferring erroneously, that the Apostle should intimate, that the day of judgement was then at hand.)

2 Thessalonians 2:3

falling away first] Some understand by the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a falling away of many kingdoms from the Roman Empire; but the word Apostasie in the New Testament, is taken for a falling away from the truth of doctrine, and the purity of the Gospel: and such a kinde of generall and universall revolt, and defection from true saith, love and obedience to the Gospel of Christ, is foretold to come to passe in the later dayes, by the Apostle, 1 Timothy 4:1.

man of sinne] An Hebraisme, signifying, a man notoriously sinfull, and a lost sonne, or a sonne of perdition, such a one as Judas is termed, John 17:12.

2 Thessalonians 2:4

exalteth himself above] Not onely above all that are called gods, that is, Kings and Princes, to whom that style in given; but also above the true God, crossing and contradicting his Word and ordinance, and opposing Christ, and his doctrine, and offices; whence he hath his name Antichrist, although he shall pretend nothing lesse; therefore also two hornes are attributed to him, like the horns of the Lamb, Revelation 13:11.

is worshipped] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Greek word, doth signifie that which is held in the highest degree of reverence, whether religious or civill, as is the Majestie of Kings.

he as God] He shall be honoured with the honour that is due unto God, he shall be carried upon the shoulders of men, and waited upon by Kings and Princes; he shall take to himself the supreme Authority and Prerogative which appertains to God, and not stick at the very Title of God, and be adored upon the Altar at his Consecration. See Concil. Later. ses. 4. Tu es alter Deus in terra: and Extravag. Jo. 22. in glos. Dominus Deus noster Papa.

sitteth in the temple of God] That is, reigneth and domineereth. In the phrase the Apostle alludeth to Ezekiel 28:2. By the Temple of God he meaneth, the Assembly of men which sometimes were the spirituall Temple of God; that is, his undoubted true Church, and still beareth that title. Saint Austine and others, interpret 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not in the Temple of God, but against the Temple of God; and they conceive hereby to be meant, that Antichrist shall rise up against the Church of God. Both wayes it may be applyed to the Antichrist of Rome.

2 Thessalonians 2:6

what withholdeth] Or, holdeth. That which now did hinder and keep him back yet at present, untill the time prefixed by God. This (by the judgement of Tertullian, Hierome, and Chrysostome, and other ancient Doctors of the Church) was the Romane Empire, which subsisting and flourishing then, withheld the manifestation of Antichrist, who should rise upon the ruines of that Empire. Revel. 13. 1, 11. & 17. 9, 10, 11.

2 Thessalonians 2:7

mysterie of iniquitie] The word mysterie was written on the Popes Miter. See Casaub. not. in Test. Nov. there the mysterie of iniquitie is opposed to the mysterie of godlinesse, 1 Timothy 3:16. and it signifyeth the secret rising of Antichristian dominion, whereof some foundations were secretly laid in the Apostles times by Satan and his instruments, who by desire of prehenminency in the Church, 3 John 9. 10. and by introducing of false and superstitious doctrine, began to build his Romish Babel.

2 Thessalonians 2:8

that wicked] In the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, properly signifieth a lawlesse man, he that holdeth himself subject to no law; and this title well befitteth him, who in the Canon Law is said to be solutus omni lege humana; and again, nec totus clerus, nec totus mundus potest Papam judicare, aut deponere; and that if he fall into damnable errour, and draw thousands of souls after him to perdition, no man may here say, Why doth he so? Dist. 40.

shall consume] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, doth properly signifie to waste and consume by little and little, till a thing come to nothing; so shall Christ consume Antichrist by little and little, in his own time, and make him lose his power and authoritie by degrees, in Christendome.

with the spirit of his mouth] See Esa. 11. 4. Hosea 6:5. Revelation 2:16. By the pure preaching of his Gospel, whereby the Spirit of the Lord is powerfull in the hearts of men, Esa. 11. 4. Hebrews 4:12. for the Ministers of the Word are as a mouth, whereby the Lord breatheth out that mightie and everlasting Word, which shall bruise his enemies, and break them in sunder like a rod of iron.

destroy] Or, bring to nought.

brightnesse of his coming] At the day of judgement, for then he shall come in flaming fire, 2 Thessalonians 1:8. and then shall the beast, and false Prophet be put to death, and cast into the Lake of fire, Revelation 19:20.

2 Thessalonians 2:9

with] Gr. in.

lying wonders] Gr. of a lie, or, falshhood. Either false and counterfeit signes and wonders, or true signes and wonders, miranda, non miracula, wrought by the power of Satan, to confirme erroneous doctrines and lies, and to maintain his servants in their reputation, and purblinde men in their false conceits and superstitions: such are Popish miracles (falsly so called) being either lying prodigies, or prodigious lies.

2 Thessalonians 2:10

with] Gr. in.

2 Thessalonians 2:11

shall] Gr. Tec. doth.

send them strong delusion] God, by withholding his grace, shall blinde their eyes, who wilfully shut them against the truth; or for their obdurate malice and incredulity, shall give them over to Satan, to captivate their mindes and understandings, and powerfully seduce and deceive them. 1 Kings 22:22. Job 12:16. Esay 19. 14. Ezekiel 14:9. Romans 1:24; Romans 1:28. 2 Corinthians 4:4.

beleeve a lie] Forged and false doctrines.

2 Thessalonians 2:12

damned] Gr. judged.

pleasure in unrighteousnesse] That is, in lies, as appears by the opposition to truth; and most justly are they condemned, who liked lies so well, that they had pleasure in them; which is the greatest madnesse that may be.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

through] Gr. in.

sanctification of the spirit] Either through the sanctification of your spirit, your hearts being purified by faith; or, through the sanctification wrought in you by the Spirit of God.

and belief of the truth] Faith which layeth hold, not upon lies, but upon the truth of God, which is the Gospel.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

hold the traditions] The doctrines, precepts or instructions, which we delivered unto you, either by word of mouth, when I was present with you, or by my Letters in my absence; to both yeeld like credence and obedience.