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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"And with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that are perishing." Why then, you say, did God permit this to be? and what dispensation is this? And what is the advantage of his coming, if it takes place for the ruin of our race? Fear not, beloved, but hear Him saying, "In them that are perishing," he hath strength, who, even if he had not come, would not have believed. What then is the advantage? That these very men who are perishing will be put to silence. How? …
Cyril of Jerusalem
"And his coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." This means that Satan will use him as his personal instrument. Realizing that his own condemnation will be no longer deferred, he will no longer wage war through his ministers in his usual way, but now openly, in person. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
The Apostle teaches us who the antichrist is, namely: he is a man having Satan within himself, who will act through him. He will reveal all his power, but will have nothing true, on the contrary everything will be deceptive. "With lying wonders," that is, counterfeit or misleading those who pay attention to him. Paul foretells this so that those living at that time will not be deceived.
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
Thus it is that what is obscure in the words of the apostle has given rise to various conjectures. Yet, of one thing there is no doubt, namely, that Paul meant Christ will not come to judge the living and the dead until after his adversary, Antichrist, has come to seduce the souls of the dead. …
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says "him, whose coming", he foretells the Antichrist's power. And concerning this he does two things, for first, he sets out his power to deceive; second, he shows how this power has its cause in God's justice, at "because they do not receive." And the first of these is in three parts, for first, he sets out the one who stands behind this power; second, how he will deceive; third, he describes those who will be deceived. The one who stands behind the power is the Devil, and so Christ will destroy him. …
Translation