2Th 2:10-12 | JFB | STEP | 10. deceivableness-- rather as Greek, "deceit of (to promote) unrighteousness" ( ). in-- The oldest manuscripts and versions omit "in." Translate, "unto them that are perishing" ( , ; ): the victims of him whose very name describes his perishing nature, "the son of perdition"; in contrast to you whom ( ) "God hath from the beginning chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." because-- literally, "in requital for"; in just retribution for their having no love for the truth which was within their reach (on account of its putting a check on their bad passions), and for their having "pleasure in unrighteousness" ( ; ); they are lost because they loved not, but rejected, the truth which would have saved them. received not-- Greek, "welcomed not"; admitted it not cordially. love of the truth-- not merely love of truth, but love of THE truth (and of, Jesus who is the Truth, in opposition to Satan's "lie," , ; ), can save ( ). We are required not merely to assent to, but to love the truth ( ). The Jews rejected Him who came in His divine Father's name; they will receive Antichrist coming in his own name ( ). Their pleasant sin shall prove their terrible scourge.

‏ 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

10. deceivableness--rather as Greek, "deceit of (to promote) unrighteousness" (2Th 2:12).

in--The oldest manuscripts and versions omit "in." Translate, "unto them that are perishing" (2Co 2:15, 16; 4:3): the victims of him whose very name describes his perishing nature, "the son of perdition"; in contrast to you whom (2Th 2:13) "God hath from the beginning chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."

because--literally, "in requital for"; in just retribution for their having no love for the truth which was within their reach (on account of its putting a check on their bad passions), and for their having "pleasure in unrighteousness" (2Th 2:12; Ro 1:18); they are lost because they loved not, but rejected, the truth which would have saved them.

received not--Greek, "welcomed not"; admitted it not cordially.

love of the truth--not merely love of truth, but love of THE truth (and of, Jesus who is the Truth, in opposition to Satan's "lie," 2Th 2:9, 11; Joh 8:42-44), can save (Ep 4:21). We are required not merely to assent to, but to love the truth (Psa 119:97). The Jews rejected Him who came in His divine Father's name; they will receive Antichrist coming in his own name (Joh 5:43). Their pleasant sin shall prove their terrible scourge.

11. for this cause--because "they received not the love of the truth." The best safeguard against error is "the love of the truth."

shall send--Greek, "sends," or "is sending"; the "delusion" is already beginning. God judicially sends hardness of heart on those who have rejected the truth, and gives them up in righteous judgment to Satan's delusions (Is 6:9, 10; Ro 1:24-26, 28). They first cast off the love of the truth, then God gives them up to Satan's delusions, then they settle down into "believing the lie": an awful climax (1Ki 22:22, 23; Eze 14:9; Job 12:16; Mt 24:5, 11; 1Ti 4:1).

strong delusion--Greek, "the powerful working of error," answering to the energizing "working of Satan" (2Th 2:9); the same expression as is applied to the Holy Ghost's operation in believers: "powerful" or "effectual (energizing) working" (Ep 1:19).

believe a lie--rather, "the lie" which Antichrist tells them, appealing to his miracles as proofs of it ... (2Th 2:9).

12. they all ... damned--rather as Greek, "that all," &c. He here states the general proposition which applies specially to Antichrist's adherents. Not all in the Church of Rome, or other anti-Christian systems, shall be damned, but only "all who believed not the truth," when offered to them, "but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (Ro 1:32; 2:8). Love of unrighteousness being the great obstacle to believing the truth.