Fathers

2 Thessalonians 2

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Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, we ask you not to be quickly shaken in your mind, and not be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as if from us, saying that the day of Christ has already come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. Don’t you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things? Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word or by letter. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.

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What the Fathers say

2 Thessalonians 2:6

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way." One may naturally enquire, what is that which withholdeth, and after that would know, why Paul expresses it so obscurely. What then is it that withholdeth, that is, hindereth him from being revealed? Some indeed say, the grace of the Spirit, but others the Roman empire, to whom I most of all accede. Wherefore? …

Homily on 2 Thessalonians 4 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

That which "restrains" means an obstacle — that which hinders. What is this? Some assert that it is the grace of the Holy Spirit; others — the Roman state, and with the latter Saint John Chrysostom also agrees. For as long as it is not destroyed, the Antichrist will not have the ability to do as he pleases. Therefore Paul also spoke covertly: he did not wish to bring upon himself needless enmity and useless danger. …

Commentary on 2 Thessalonians ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Then as for the words, "And now ye know what withholdeth," i.e., ye know what hindrance or cause of delay there is, "that he might be revealed in his own time;" they show that he was unwilling to make an explicit statement, because he said that they knew. And thus we who have not their knowledge wish and are not able even with pains to understand what the apostle referred to, especially as his meaning is made still more obscure by what he adds. …

The City of God, Book 20 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Above, the Apostle foretold the coming and the wrongdoing of the Antichrist; here he explains the reason for its delay. And first, he shows that they know this cause; second, he sets out this cause in an obscure manner, at "for the mystery." He says, therefore: I say that the man of sin must be revealed. "And now you know what withholds", i.e., what is the cause of his delay. …

Commentary on 2 Thessalonians ↗