2 Tesalonicenses 2:5-15

5 ¿No os acordáis que cuando estaba con vosotros, os decía esto

6 Y vosotros sabéis qué es lo que lo impide ahora, para que a su tiempo se manifieste

7 Porque ya está obrando el misterio de iniquidad, solamente que el que ahora domina, dominará hasta que sea quitado

8 y entonces será manifestado aquel inicuo, al cual el Señor matará con el Espíritu de su boca, y con la claridad de su venida lo quitará

9 a aquel inicuo, el cual vendrá por operación de Satanás, con grande potencia, y señales, y milagros mentirosos

10 y con todo engaño de iniquidad obrando en los que perecen; por cuanto no recibieron la caridad de la verdad para ser salvos

11 Por tanto, pues, enviará Dios en ellos operación de error, para que crean a la mentira

12 para que sean condenados todos los que no creyeron a la verdad, antes consintieron a la iniquidad

13 Pero nosotros debemos dar siempre gracias a Dios por vosotros, hermanos amados del Señor, de que Dios os haya escogido por primicias de salud, por la santificación del Espíritu y la fe en la verdad

14 a lo cual os llamó por nuestro Evangelio, para alcanzar la gloria de nuestro Señor Jesús el Cristo

15 Así que, hermanos, estad firmes, y retened la doctrina que habéis aprendido, sea por palabra, o por carta nuestra

2 Tesalonicenses 2:5-15 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.