The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Thessalonians — Section 28

Theesalonioo, had told them of these things: tianity were being laid. Thus the apoe&le he had instructed them concerning the warned the Ephesie.ns that false tee.chera nature of the apostasy and the coming of would arise from among themselves; to the man of sin ; so thot, as already observed, Timothy he writes of those perilo• times this description, so obscnre to us, woe not which were then present : and, in hie obscure to the Tbessalonians,-they pos- Epistles, mention is made of false practic,·s 1essed the key t.o its interpretation. and doctrines, such as the worahip of angela, Ver. 6.-And now. The particle "now" abstinence from meats, bodily mortifloatione, has been variously interpreted. Some con- and the honour conferred on celibacy. 9o nect it with the restraining inf111~nce: also John, in his First Epistle, refera to this "And ye know what now withhol<leth:" working of this antichristian power when but if so, there would have been a different he says, "Little children, it is the last time: arrnngement of the words in the original. and as ye have heard that antichrist shall Others consider it as a mere particle of come,even now are there many antichrists. ... transition : "Now, to pBBB over to another Every spirit that confesscth not that Jesus subject;" but there is no transition, the Christ is come in the flesh is not of God : apostle continues his description of the me.n and this is tl ,at spirit of e.ntichrist, whereof of sin. It is rather to be consi<lered as a ye have heard that it should come: and particle of time: "Now ye know, because even now e.lready is it in the world" (1 John you have been instructed on this point." ii. 18; iv. 3). "Antichrist does not step on Ye know; Paul having told them when he the scene suddenly without any prepara- was at 'l'hessalonica. What withholdeth; tions: on the contrary, a stream of anti- hinderetb. The hiudrance does not refer christian sentiment and conduct pervades to the prevention of the apostle from speak- the whole history of the world" (Olshaueen). ing freely on this subject, lest he should Only he that now letteth ; or, restraineth, involve himself in political difficulties; nor the old meaning of the word "let." Will to any delay in the coming of Christ: but let. These words are not in the original, to a restraint upon the appearance of the and ought to be omitted. Until he be taken me.n of sin: "Ye know what prevents his out of the way, The whole clause ought to open manifeste.tion.n That he; namely, the be rendere<l, "The mystery of lawlessneu man of sin. Might be revealed in hill time; is already working, only until he who re- literally, in his season; in his proper time, stmineth is removed : " when that takes the time appointed by God. Events were place, when the restraining in.flnence is not yet ripe for his appee.re.noe. Just BB removed, the mystery of lawlessness will no there was a •• fulnese of time" when Christ longer work secretly, but will be openly should appear (Ga.I. iv. 4), so there was a mnuifested. "fulness of time" when the me.n of sin Ver. 8.-And then; namely, so IOOD. as should be revealed; there was e. series of he that restr;lineth is ta.ken ont of the way. events going on which would culminate in Shall that Wicked ; or, that lawla, OM, in hie revelotion. The nature of this restrain- whom tl1e mystery of lawlel!Sllese is realized; ing or withholding influence will after- not different from, but the same with, the wards be considered; whatever it WBS, the "man of sin, the son of perdition." Be ThessaloniallB were formerly explicitly in- revealed; appear unveiled in all his naked formed. deformity. No longer working secr,,tly, but Ver. 7.-For the mystery. "Mystery" openly, and in an undisguised form: no here denotes something which we.s unknown longer the mystery, but tLe revelation of or seoret before it was revealed (comp. lawlessness. The apostle now interrupts Eph. iii. 3-5). So also one of the names his description of the man of sin by an- of Babylon, the eee.t of the e.ntiohristinn nouncing his doom. Whom the Lord; or, power, is Mystery (Rev. xvii. 8). Of ini- as the best-attested manuscripts read, whom quity; rather, of lawlessness; namely, this /lie Lord Jesus. Sh.e.11 oonsume; or mther, apostasy which shall precede the coming of shall slay (R. V.). With the spirit (or, breath) the mo.n of sin. The genitive here is that of hill mouth. Various interpretations have of apposition-" thnt mystery which is h"v• been given to this clause. Some refer it to lessness," whose essence and sphere of the Word of Goel, and others to the Holy operation is l11wlessness. Doth already Spirit, and BUppose that lhe oonveraion of work; or, ill already working. The mystery the world is here predicted : but this is of iniquity even now works in secret; but evidently an erroneous interpretation, a.s the mlln of sin hilll sell' will not appear the doo1n of antichrist is here announoed. until the restroinin'=' power be removed. OtheN refer the term t.o a ory or wor<l, aud l~ven at the time the apostle wrote the think thai the sentence of condemnation deeds of apostasy wore already sown ; the pronounced by the Lord Jesus on the wioked le;lven of hlwlessness was fermenting inside 1s intended. But the words are to be taken Christianity; the foundations of a m.lse OhriJt. literally 1111 a description of the pow~ and  26 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE TRESSALONIANS. [on. n. 1-17.