2:1 Now 1 we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and [by] our a gathering together unto him,
(1) The second part of the epistle, containing an excellent
prophecy of the state of the Church, which will be from the
apostles time to the latter day of judgment.
(a) If we think earnestly upon that unmeasurable glory
which we will be partakers of with Christ, it will be
an excellent remedy for us against wavering and
impatience, so that neither the glistening of the world
will allure us, nor the dreadful sight of the cross
dismay us.
2:22 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled,
neither by b spirit, nor by c word, nor by d letter as
from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
(2) We must take heed of false prophets, especially in this
matter, who go about to deceive, and that for the most
part, after three sorts: for either they brag of fake
prophetical revelations, or they bring conjectures and
reasons of their own, or use counterfeit writings.
(b) By dreams and fables, which men pretend to be spiritual
revelations.
(c) Either by word of mouth, or by written books.
(d) Either by forged letter, or falsely commented upon.
2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: 3 for [that day shall
not come], except there come a falling away first, and e
that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
(3) The apostle foretells that before the coming of the Lord,
there will be a throne set up completely contrary to
Christ's glory, in which that wicked man will sit, and
transfer all things that appertain to God to himself: and
many will fall away from God to him.
(e) By speaking of one, he singles out the person of the
tyrannous and persecuting antichrist.
2:4 Who opposeth and f exalteth himself above all that is
called God, or that is worshipped; 4 so that he as God
sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is
God.
(f) All men know who he is that says he can shut up heaven
and open it at his pleasure, and takes upon himself to
be lord and master above all kings and princes, before
whom kings and princes fall down and worship, honouring
that antichrist as a god.
(4) He foretells that the antichrist (that is, whoever he is
that will occupy that seat that falls away from God) will
not reign outside of the Church, but in the very bosom of
the Church.
2:55 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told
you these things?
(5) This prophecy was continually declared to the ancient
Church, but it was neglected by those that followed.
2:6 And now ye know g what withholdeth that he might be
revealed in his time.
(g) What hinders and stops.
2:76 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: 7 only
he who now h letteth [will let], until he be taken out of
the way.
(6) Even in the apostles time the first foundations of the
apostolic seat were laid, but yet so that they deceived
men.
(7) He foretells that when the empire of Rome is taken away,
the seat that falls away from God will succeed and hold its
place, as the old writers, Tertullian, Chrysostom, and
Jerome explain and interpret it.
(h) He who is now in authority and rules all, that is, the
Roman Empire.
2:88 And then shall i that Wicked be revealed, whom the
Lord shall k consume with the l spirit of his mouth, and
shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
(8) That wickedness will at length be detected by the word of
the Lord, and will utterly be abolished by Christ's coming.
(i) Literally, "that lawless fellow", that is to say, he
that will completely tread upon God's law.
(k) Bring to nothing.
(l) With his word, for the true ministers of the word are
as a mouth, by which the Lord breathes out that mighty
and everlasting word, which will break his enemies
apart, as though the word were an iron rod.
2:99 [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan
with all power and signs and m lying wonders,
(9) He foretells 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 does so deserve it: yet in such a
way that only the unfaithful will perish through his
deceit.
(m) Which are partly false, and partly done to establish a
falsehood.
2:11 And for this cause God shall send them n strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie:
(n) A most mighty working to deceive them.
2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,
but o had pleasure in unrighteousness.
(o) They liked lies so much that they had pleasure in them,
which is the greatest madness that may exist.
2:1310 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 p
sanctification of the Spirit and q belief of the truth:
(10) The elect will stand steadfast and safe from all these
mischiefs. Now election is known by these testimonies:
faith is increased by sanctification: faith, by that which
we grant to the truth; truth, by calling, through the
preaching of the Gospel: from where we come at length to a
certain hope of glorification.
(p) To sanctify you.
(q) Faith which does not lay hold upon lies, but upon the
truth of God, which is the Gospel.
2:14 Whereunto he called you by our r gospel, to the obtaining
of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(r) By our preaching.
2:1511 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the
traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or
our epistle.
(11) The conclusion: it remains then that we continue in the
doctrine which was delivered to us by the mouth and
writings of the apostles, through the free good will of
God, who comforts us with an invincible hope, and that we
also continue in all godliness our whole life long.
