2 Tessalonicesi 2:4-14

4 l’avversario, colui che s’innalza sopra tutto quello che è chiamato Dio od oggetto di culto; fino al punto da porsi a sedere nel tempio di Dio, mostrando se stesso e dicendo ch’egli è Dio.

5 Non vi ricordate che quand’ero ancora presso di voi io vi dicevo queste cose?

6 E ora voi sapete quel che lo ritiene ond’egli sia manifestato a suo tempo.

7 Poiché il mistero dell’empietà è già all’opra: soltanto v’è chi ora lo ritiene e lo riterrà finché sia tolto di mezzo.

8 E allora sarà manifestato l’empio, che il Signor Gesù distruggerà col soffio della sua bocca, e annienterà con l’apparizione della sua venuta.

9 La venuta di quell’empio avrà luogo, per l’azione efficace di Satana, con ogni sorta di opere potenti, di segni e di prodigi bugiardi;

10 e con ogni sorta d’inganno d’iniquità a danno di quelli che periscono perché non hanno aperto il cuore all’amor della verità per esser salvati.

11 E perciò Iddio manda loro efficacia d’errore onde credano alla menzogna;

12 affinché tutti quelli che non han creduto alla verità, ma si son compiaciuti nell’iniquità, siano giudicati.

13 Ma noi siamo in obbligo di render del continuo grazie di voi a Dio, fratelli amati dal Signore, perché Iddio fin dal principio vi ha eletti a salvezza mediante la santificazione nello Spirito e la fede nella verità.

14 A questo Egli vi ha pure chiamati per mezzo del nostro Evangelo, onde giungiate a ottenere la gloria del Signor nostro Gesù Cristo.

2 Tessalonicesi 2:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 THESSALONIANS 2

In this chapter the apostle guards against a notion, as if the second coming of Christ was at hand; declares that, previous to it, there must be a great apostasy, and a revelation of antichrist; comforts the saints against fears of being included in this defection; exhorts them to stand fast in the faith, and closes this chapter with petitions for them. He entreats them in a most tender and solemn manner not to imagine that the day of Christ was at hand, and that they would not be disturbed and moved at it; and points unto the several ways, and cautions against them, they might be imposed upon and deceived by men with respect to it, 2Th 2:1,2 and assigns his reasons why it could not be yet, because before this time there was to be a general apostasy, and antichrist must appear; whom from his character, he calls the man of sin, and from his end, the son of perdition; and describes him as an opposer of God, an exalter of himself above all that is called God, as sitting in the temple of God and declaring himself to be God, 2Th 2:3,4 of which things he had told them before, 2Th 2:5 nor were they ignorant of what at present hindered the revelation of the man of sin, who was then in being, and was working and growing up apace; only there was something (the Roman empire) which hindered, and would continue to do so, until the fixed time of his revelation was up, 2Th 2:6,7 when be should be manifest; though he should not always continue, being to be consumed and destroyed by the breath of Christ's mouth, and the splendour of his coming, 2Th 2:8 and the appearance of antichrist in the world, being a matter of considerable importance, it is described by being after the working of Satan, and as attended with lying and false miracles, and with all deceitful and unrighteous doctrines and practices; which reprobate men would be left to give into, as a punishment of their not receiving cordially the truth of the Gospel; upon which account God would give them to such judicial blindness, as to give credit to a lie, which would bring on their final damnation, they not believing the truth, but taking pleasure in unrighteousness, 2Th 2:9-12, but lest this account of things should be discouraging to the saints at Thessalonica, the apostle styles them brethren; asserts them to be the beloved of the Lord; gives an instance of it, for which he gives thanks, namely, their election of God; the date of which was from everlasting; the means sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth; the end salvation by Jesus Christ; and the evidence of which was their effectual calling by the Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of Christ, 2Th 2:13,14 and then he exhorts them to stand fast in the doctrines that had been taught them, either in an epistolary way, or by the ministry of the word, 2Th 2:15 and concludes the chapter with petitions for them made to God the Father, and to Christ who had loved and comforted them, and given them good hope of everlasting things; that they might be comforted more and more, and be established in every good doctrine and practice, 2Th 2:16,17.