Cu. I] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. 65
is emphatic, emphasising the concealed character of the evil power.
Only (uevov). The sentence is elliptical: “only we must wait,” or “ only it must work in secret, until he that letteth,” etc. For a similar instance see Gal. ii. 10. The collocation of A. V. is wrong.
Letteth (xaréywv). The same word as restraineth, ver. 6. Let is old English for hinder, prevent. Often in Chaucer.
‘¢ May I him lette of that ?’’ (prevent him from it). Troil. and Cress. ii. 732.
‘¢ And bothe in love y-like sore they brente (burned) That noon of alle hir (their) frendes might hit lette.”’ Legend of Good Women, 731.
So Shakespeare :
‘¢ What lets but one may enter?’ Two Gent. of Verona, iii. 1.
‘¢7’l] make a ghost of him that lets me.’’ Ham. i. 4.
‘“‘ The flesh resisteth the work of the Holy Ghost in our hearts, and lets it.°? — Latimer, Serm.
8. Consume (avede?). Better, slay, as Matt. ii. 16; L. xxii. 2; Acts v. 338.
Spirit (7vevpare). Better, breath. TIvedua, almost always: translated spirit, is from arveiv to breathe or blow. Frequent in class. in this sense. Comp. J. iii. 8; Heb. i. 7. UXX, Ps. exlvii. 7; Ep. of Jer. 61. Philo says: “ The spirit of God signifies, in one sense, the air, the third element; and it is used in this sense in the beginning of Genesis . . .. for air, being light, is borne up, and uses water as its basis. In the other sense it is the pure wisdom in which every wise man participates” (De Gigantibus, 5). See on Rom. viii. 4.
Shall destroy (xarapyjoet). See on cumbereth, L,. xiii, 7; and make without effect, Rom. iii. 3. VOL. Iv. —5
66 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cx. IL
With the brightness (77 émipaveta). See on 1 Tim. vi 14. Rev. correctly, manifestation. See LXX, Esth. v. 1; Amos v. 22; 2 Mace. ii. 21; 3 Mace. ii. 9. In class. (but late) of deities appearing to a worshipper (Plut. Themistocles, 30): of the sudden appearance of an enemy (Polyb. i. 54, 2): of a manifestation of Providence (Diod. Sic. i. 15): of the heathen gods assuming shape and appearing in order to work mischief (Just. Mart. Apol. i. 5). In N. T. of the parousia. See 1 Tim. vi. 14; 2 Tim. i. 10; iv. 1, 8; Tit. ii. 18. In 2 Tim. i. 10, of Christ’s historical manifestation. So émidaive, Tit. ii. 11; iii. 4. Only here in Paul.
Coming (aapovoias). Or presence, which is the original meaning. In N. T. with a few exceptions, of the second coming of Christ. The combination manifestation of his pres- ence (only here) appears to emphasise the resistless power of the Son of man, not (as Lightfoot) his splendor and glory. The mere appearing of his presence suffices to destroy his adversary.
9. After the working of Satan. The sense is that the coming of Antichrist proclaims itself to be according to the working of Satan by means of power, signs, etc. "Evépyera
P°. power in exercise, used only of superhuman power. See Colie2); ti, 12,
Signs and lying wonders (onpelos Kal tépaciy wevdous). Lit. signs and wonders of a lie. Of a lie characterises the three words, power, signs, wonders. All bear the stamp of fraud. For signs and wonders see on Matt. xxiv. 24, and mighty works, Matt. xi. 20.
10. Deceivableness of unrighteousness (amdry adixlas). Better deceit of unrighteousness; which is characteristic of unrighteousness and is employed by it.
11. Strong delusion (évépyeav rAdvns). Rev., literally and correctly, a working of error. See on working ver. 9.
Cu. I.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. 67
The phrase is unique in N. T. It means an active power of
misleading. For widvn error which shows itself in action, see onl TRS in’: ‘
A lie (7@ wevder). Properly, the lie. The article gives the generic sense, falsehood in all its forms. Comp. J. viii. 44; Rom. i. 25; Eph. iv. 25. Comp. the contrast of truth and unrighteousness in ver. 12. All wrongdoing has an ele- ment of falsity.