ANNOTATIONS ON THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS.

THE ARGUMENT AND ANALYSIS.

The Apostle being hindered from coming to the Thessalonians, according to his desire and promise, to supply the want of his presence, writes this Epistle to them; wherein he comforts them in their afflictions, especially by arguments drawn from the righteous judgment of God, and the certain expectation of his second coming; the signs whereof he foretells, and with divers godly precepts, both to fly the company of disorderly persons, and to give him notice of such, to exercise his Apostolical power upon them, with prayers and salutations, he concludes his Epistle.

The parts whereof are three, answerable to the Chapters;

1. Pathetical, expressing great love to the Thessalonians, and joy for their faith and perseverance, chap. 1.

2. Prophetical, describing the state of the Church, and the Revelation of Antichrist, the man of sin, before the day of the Lord come, chap. 2.

3. Parenetical, persuading them by his example to labor in their callings, and to shun idleness, as also to avoid and censure those who showed themselves refractory to his godly and wholesome admonitions, chap. 3.

CHAPTER 1

Vers. 1. {In God our Father} As God is in his Church by his special grace, so the Church also is in God by his power supporting it, as the Apostle speaks, Acts 17.28. In whom we live. Or the meaning is, which by faith relies on God our Father; or which is gathered by God our Father, ἐν being often taken for διὰ.

V. 3. {We are bound, &c.} See 1 Thes. 1.2, 3.

{your faith groweth exceedingly} There is no surer argument of the sincerity of our faith and charity, than the growth of both, and our proficiency in Christianity: we may not stand at a stay, but go on forward in our holy race. In particular, our faith grows, and is increased either in regard of the object, when we apprehend more profound mysteries of faith than before; or, in regard of the subject, when we are more confirmed in those mysteries we apprehended before, and give a more full assent thereunto, without any staggering or doubting. Our charity increases either intensively, by a greater fervor of our affection to God and our brethren; or extensively, by doing good to more, and more and more abounding in works of mercy.

V. 4. {faith in all your persecutions} Your confidence in God, that he will enable you to bear them, and graciously reward you who suffer for his name’s sake.

V. 5. {a manifest token} He opens here the fountain of all true comfort, to wit, that in afflictions which we suffer of the wicked for righteousness’ sake, we may behold, as it were in a glass, the testimony of that judgment to come, and the issue thereof, which will be most acceptable, and desirable unto us, but most dreadful to God’s enemies.

{counted worthy} He says not, that we may be worthy, for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy the glory which shall be revealed, Rom. 8.18. but we shall be by God in his great mercy accounted worthy, and that for Christ’s sake, in whose quarrel we suffer, Digni dignatione Dei, non dignitate nostrâ.

{for which ye also suffer} This he says, not that the faithful conceive, that they merited this kingdom by their sufferings, but because they knew that they should never attain it, unless they patiently submitted to God’s good pleasure, and willingly endured all sorts of persecution for the testimony of a good conscience. For we must, through many tribulations, enter into the Kingdom of God, Acts 14.22.

V. 6. {righteous thing with God} It is most agreeable to justice, that wicked persecutors should not go unpunished, but receive according to their works; and it is just also, that they who have unjustly suffered of the wicked in this world, should be righted in another world, and greatly rewarded by God; partly because they suffer for his cause, partly because he has promised them such a reward, Matth. 5.10, 12.

{tribulation} Gr. affliction.

{trouble} Gr. afflict.

V. 7. {troubled} Gr. afflicted.

{when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from} Gr. in the revelation of the Lord Jesus from. See 1 Thes. 4.16.

{his mighty angels} Gr. the angels of his power.

V. 8. {taking} Or, yeelding.

{know not God} Which know not God in Christ: for there is no knowledge of God unto salvation without the Gospel of Christ. Most fearful therefore is the case of all infidels, who are utterly ignorant of, or willfully reject the Gospel; as also of all such Christians in name, who have received the knowledge of the Gospel, but yield not obedience thereunto; for though they deny not Christ in their words, yet they deny him in their works, Tit. 1.16.

V. 9. {everlasting destruction} Not only the fire of hell is everlasting, as the Origenists themselves confessed, being convinced by the express words of our Savior, Matth. 25.41. but the damned shall be everlastingly tormented in it, Jude 7. Rev. 14.10.

{from the presence of the Lord} The punishment of the damned is twofold, the punishment of sense, set forth by flaming fire; the punishment of loss expressed in these words, From the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power.

V. 10. {glorified in his Saints} Not only in himself, but in his Saints also, whose glory, as it comes from him, so it redounds also to him, Rom. 11.36.

{admired in all them} When the world shall see them, who are accounted the offscourings of all things in the world, then shine as stars for evermore, in whose brightness and conformity to the glorious body of Christ, his infinite goodness and mercy shall be then admired of all.

V. 11. {count} Or, vouchsafe.

{of this calling} By calling, he means not the very act of calling, but that whereunto they are called, to wit, the glory of that heavenly kingdom, so is the word taken, Eph. 4.4. Phil. 3.14.

CHAPTER 2

Vers. 1. {By the coming of our Lord} A kind of religious adjuration; the meaning whereof is, As truly as you look for the coming of the Lord; or, I beseech you, by that dear account that you make of the coming of our Lord, and of that glory which we shall enjoy by, and in him. So the preposition ὑπὲρ, is used by the Poet, Il. μ. ὑπὲρ πατρὸς ἢ μητρὸς ἠϋκομοῖο λίσσω.

V. 2. {shaken in mind} Gr. moved from our minde. The word σαλευθῆναι, properly signifies to be tossed in the sea with a tempest: and his meaning is, that they should not be transported by any violent blast of false doctrine from the truth of the Gospel, or from their right sense and judgment.

{neither by spirit} We must take heed of false Prophets, who go about to deceive for the most part after three sorts; for either they brag of feigned visions, and prophetical revelations, or by conjectures and sophistical reasons of their own, or they use counterfeit writings; with which three the Apostle meets in this verse; the first he taxes in the first, by spirit; the second in the next, by word, the third in the last, by letter, as it were, from us. (Although some conceive, and not improbably, that the false apostles forged not any letter of the Apostle, but falsely glossed upon some passages in the former Epistle to the Thessalonians, from thence inferring erroneously, that the Apostle should intimate, that the day of judgment was then at hand.)

V. 3. {falling away first} Some understand by the word Ἀποστασία, a falling away of many kingdoms from the Roman Empire; but the word Apostasy in the New Testament, is taken for a falling away from the truth of doctrine, and the purity of the Gospel: and such a kind of general and universal revolt, and defection from true faith, love, and obedience to the Gospel of Christ, is foretold to come to pass in the latter days, by the Apostle, 1 Tim. 4.1.

{man of sin} An Hebraism, signifying, a man notoriously sinful, and a lost son, or a son of perdition, such an one as Judas is termed, John 17.12.

V. 4. {exalteth himself above} Not only above all that are called gods, that is, kings and princes, to whom that style is given; but also above the true God, crossing and contradicting his Word and ordinance, and opposing Christ, and his doctrine, and offices; whence he has his name Antichrist, although he shall pretend nothing less; therefore also two horns are attributed to him, like the horns of the Lamb, Rev. 13.11.

{is worshipped} ἢ σέβασμα; the Greek word does signify that which is held in the highest degree of reverence; whether religious or civil, as is the majesty of kings.

{he as God} He shall be honored with the honor that is due unto God, he shall be carried upon the shoulders of men, and waited upon by kings and princes; he shall take to himself the supreme authority and prerogative which appertains to God, and not stick at the very title of God, and be adored upon the altar at his consecration. See Concil. Later. sess. 4. Tu es alter Deus in terra: and Extravat. Jo. 22. in glos. Dominus Deus noster Papa.

{sitteth in the Temple of God} That is, reigns and domineers. In the phrase the Apostle alludes to Ezeck. 28.2. By the Temple of God, he means the assembly of men, which sometimes were the spiritual Temple of God; that is, his undoubted true Church, and still bears that title. Saint Augustine and others interpret εἰς τὸν ναὸν, not in the Temple of God, but against the Temple of God; and they conceive hereby to be meant, that antichrist shall rise up against the Church of God. Both ways it may be applied to the antichrist of Rome.

V. 6. {what withholdeth} Or, holdeth. That which now did hinder and keep him back yet at present, until the time prefixed by God. This (by the judgment of Tertullian, Hierome, and Chrysostome, and other ancient Doctors of the Church) was the Roman Empire, which subsisting and flourishing then, withheld the manifestation of antichrist, who shall rise upon the ruins of that Empire, Rev. 13.1, 11. and 17.9, 10, 11.

V. 7. {mystery of iniquity} The word mystery was written on the Pope’s miter. See Casaub. not. in Test. Nov. there the mystery of iniquity is opposed to the mystery of godliness, 1 Tim. 3.16. and it signifies the secret rising of antichristian dominion, whereof some foundations were secretly laid in the Apostles’ times by Satan and his instruments, who by desire of preeminency in the Church, 3 John 9, 10. and by introducing of false and superstitious doctrine, began to build his Romish Babel.

V. 8. {that wicked} In the Greek ἄνομος properly signifies a lawless man, he that holds himself subject to no law; and this title well befits him, who in the Canon Law is said to be solutus omni lege humanâ; and again, nec tous clerus, nec totus mundus potest Papam judicare, aut deponere; and that if he fall into damnable error, and draw thousands of souls after him to perdition, no man may here say, Why does he so? Dist. 40.

{shall consume} The word ἀναλίσκω, does properly signify to waste and consume by little and little, till a thing come to nothing; so shall Christ consume antichrist by little and little, in his own time, and make him lose his power and authority by degrees, in Christendom.

{with the spirit of his mouth} See Esa. 11.4. Hosea 6.5. Revel. 2.16. By the pure preaching of his Gospel, whereby the Spirit of the Lord is powerful in the hearts of men, Esa. 11.4. Heb. 4.12. for the ministers of the Word are as a mouth, whereby the Lord breathes out that mighty and everlasting Word, which shall bruise his enemies, and break them in sunder like a rod of iron.

{destroy} Or, bring to nought.

{brightness of his coming} At the day of judgment, for then he shall come in flaming fire, 2 Thes. 1.8. and then shall the beast, and false prophet be put to death, and cast into the lake of fire, Rev. 19.20.

V. 19. {with} Gr. in.

{lying wonders} Gr. of lie, or, falsehood. Either false and counterfeit signs and wonders, or true signs and wonders, miranda non miracula, wrought by the power of Satan, to confirm erroneous doctrines and lies, and to maintain his servants in their reputation, and purblind men in their false conceits and superstitions: such are Popish miracles (falsely so called) being either lying prodigies, or prodigious lies.

V. 10. {with} Gr. in.

V. 11. {shall} Gr. Tec. doth.

{send them strong delusion} God, by withholding his grace, shall blind their eyes, who willfully shut them against the truth; or for their obdurate malice and incredulity, shall give them over to Satan, to captivate their minds and understandings, and powerfully seduce and deceive them, 1 Kings 22.22. Job 12.26. Esa. 19.14. Ezek. 14.9. Rom. 1.24, 28. 2 Cor. 4.4.

{believe a lie} Forged and false doctrines.

V. 12. {damned} Gr. judged.

{pleasure in unrighteousness} That is, in lies, as appears by the opposition to truth; and most justly are they condemned, who liked lies so well, that they had pleasure in them; which is the greatest madness that may be.

V. 13. {through} Gr. in.

{sanctification of the spirit} Either through the sanctification of your spirit, your hearts being purified by faith; or, through sanctification wrought in you by the Spirit of God.

{and belief of the truth} Faith which lays hold, not upon lies, but upon the truth of God, which is the Gospel.

V. 15. {hold the traditions} The doctrines, precepts, or instructions, which we delivered unto you, either by word of mouth, when I was present with you, or by my letters in my absence; to both yield like credence and obedience.

CHAPTER 3

Vers. 1. {Pray for us} See Ephes. 6.19. Col. 4.3.

{may have free course} Gr. may run.

{and be glorified} As the Word of the Lord is dishonored and condemned when it is either not believed, or not obeyed; so it is glorified, and God by it, when it is mixed with faith and obedience in the hearers, Heb. 4.2.

V. 2. {unreasonable and wicked men} Gr. absurd. Froward and perverse men, both false hypocrites which closely undermine the Gospel, and those public opposers of the truth, which persecute us for the professing of it.

{for all men have not faith} Greek, faith is not of all men. It is no marvel that the Gospel is opposed and hated by so many, seeing that faith is a rare gift of God; notwithstanding the Church shall never be destroyed by the multitude of the wicked, because it is founded upon the faithful promise of God, Mat. 16.18.

{from evil} Or, that evil one. Either from the Devil, that wicked one, his snares and temptations, or from any evil thing that may hurt you.

V. 5. {Into the love} Or, to the love.

{the patient waiting of Christ} Or, the patience of Christ.

V. 6. {In the Name of the Lord} In Christ his behalf.

{withdraw yourselves} Have no familiar communion with such, after due knowledge is taken of them by the Church, and they, being admonished, remain disobedient still. Mat. 18.15, 17. 1 Cor. 5.11.

{walketh disorderly} This may be taken, either in general for all kind of evil carriage and misbehavior, whereby scandal is given to the Church of God; or of that particular disorder, whereof he makes mention verse 11. of those who attend not on their own calling, but curiously inquire into the lives and manners of others, and thrust their sickle into another’s harvest.

V. 7. {follow} Gr. imitate.

V. 8. {for nought} That is, not paying for it, though if he had not paid for it, he had not received it for nought, for the laborer, as our Savior teaches, Mat. 10.10. is worthy of his hire: and they who minister carnal things for spiritual, minister not for nought, but make a gainful exchange. Yet the Apostle, to give a good example of painfulness to others; besides his labors in his ministerial function, for which he might have required due maintenance from the Thessalonians, took pains day and night at his profession, which was tent-making, thereby to supply his wants, and spare the Churches, Acts 18.3.

{chargeable to any of you} The Greek word signifies burdensome; not that indeed the affording comfortable maintenance to their faithful pastors, is, or ought to be accounted a burden to their flocks; but because most men, who are worldly minded, esteem it so.

V. 10. {that if any would not work} He says not, If any do not work, for some would work if they could get any employment; some are not able to work, through age and natural infirmity; yet God forbid that either of these should starve for want of food: but the Apostle forbids any such to be relieved by the charity of the Church, who are in want through their own idleness, who may have work, and are able to perform it, but will not take any pains for their living.

V. 11. {busybodies} There are none more busy in other men’s matters, than they who neglect their own, 1 Pet. 4.15.

V. 12. {eat their own bread} The bread which they earn by their labor, and not that which is given them of alms.

V. 13. {be not weary in well doing} Or, faint. See Gal. 6.9. Take heed that some men’s unworthiness cause not you to be slack in well-doing.

V. 14. {By this Epistle, note that man} Or, signifie that man by an Epistle. Set a brand upon him, as Rom. 16.17. Mark those which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned. Or, give me notice of him by letter, that I may take some course with him.

V. 15. {as an enemy} We must so eschew familiarity with excommunicated persons, that we diligently seek all occasions and means that may be, to bring them again to the right way.

{admonish} Or, instruct.

V. 16. {Lord of peace} Prayers are the seals of all exhortations; wherewith the Apostle concludes all his Epistles.