Fathers

2 Thessalonians 2

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Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

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What the Fathers say

2 Thessalonians 2:4

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"And exalteth himself against all that is called God or is worshiped." For he will not introduce idolatry, but will be a kind of opponent to God; he will abolish all the gods, and will order men to worship him instead of God, and he will be seated in the temple of God, not that in Jerusalem only, but also in every Church. "Setting himself forth," he says; he does not say, saying it, but endeavoring to show it. For he will perform great works, and will show wonderful signs.

Homily on 2 Thessalonians 3 ↗

Cyril of Jerusalem

Who opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God, or that is worshipped; (against every God; Antichrist forsooth will abhor the idols,) so that he seateth himself in the temple of God. What temple then? He means, the Temple of the Jews which has been destroyed. For God forbid that it should be the one in which we are! Why say we this? That we may not be supposed to favour ourselves. …

Catechetical Lectures, Lecture 15 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

"Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped." He will not lead people to idol worship; on the contrary, he will reject all gods and all objects of their veneration, or idols, and will declare himself alone to be god. "So that he will sit in the temple of God as God." It is not said: in the Jerusalem temple specifically, but simply: "in the temple," in every temple of God. …

Commentary on 2 Thessalonians ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: `This will be he who is called Antichrist,' exalting himself," as the apostle says, "above all that is called God, and that is worshipped." The Lord, declaring that this same it is that will seek his own glory, not the glory of the Father, says to the Jews: "I am come in my Father's name, and ye have not received me; another will come in his own name, him ye will receive." He intimated that they would receive Antichrist, who will seek the glory of his own name, puffed up, not solid; …

Tractates On John 29.8 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, "who opposes", he explains what he said before. And first, he shows how he will be the man of sin; second, how he will be the son of perdition, at "and then that wicked one shall be revealed." And first, he foretells his wrongdoing; second, he gives the cause for it, at "and now." And first, he describes the wrongdoing; second, he says that he is not announcing a new teaching, at "do you not remember." And first, he sets out the wrongdoing; second, the sign of it, at "so that." Now his wrongdoing has two sides to …

Commentary on 2 Thessalonians ↗

Bonaventure

In the second mystery, that of the punishment of crimes, the Antichrist is represented by Nemrod who was the first to make himself emperor, and under whose command a tower was built that was to reach up to heaven. By this it may be seen that the Antichrist would be filled with the greatest pride, to the point of being "exalted above all that is called God."

Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 15 ↗