THE SECOND EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS

         In this Epistle St. Paul admonishes the Thessalonians to be
         constant in the faith of Christ and not to be terrified by
         the insinuations of false teachers telling them that the
         day of judgment was near at hand, as there must come many
         signs and wonders before it. He bids them to hold firm the
         traditions received from him, whether by word, or by
         epistle, and shews them how they may be certain of his
         letters by the manner he writes.

         2 Thessalonians Chapter 1

         He gives thanks to God for their faith and constancy and
         prays for their advancement in all good.

         1:1. Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy, to the church of the
         Thessalonians. In God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

         1:2. Grace unto you: and peace from God our Father and from
         the Lord Jesus Christ.

         1:3. We are bound to give thanks always to God for you,
         brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith groweth
         exceedingly and the charity of every one of you towards
         each other aboundeth.

         1:4. So that we ourselves also glory in you in the churches
         of God, for your patience and faith, and in all your
         persecutions and tribulations: which you endure

         1:5. For an example of the just judgment of God, that you
         may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which also
         you suffer.

         1:6. Seeing it is a just thing with God to repay
         tribulation to them that trouble you:

         1:7. And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the
         Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with the angels of
         his power:

         1:8. In a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know
         not God and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
         Christ.

         1:9. Who shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction,
         from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his power:

         1:10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints and
         to be made wonderful in all them who have believed; because
         our testimony was believed upon you in that day.

         1:11. Wherefore also we pray always for you: That our God
         would make you worthy of his vocation and fulfil all the
         good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith in
         power:

         1:12. That the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in
         you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and
         of the Lord Jesus Christ.

         2 Thessalonians Chapter 2

         The day of the Lord is not to come till the man of sin be
         revealed. The apostle's traditions are to be observed.

         2:1. And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our
         Lord Jesus Christ and of our gathering together unto him:

         2:2. That you be not easily moved from your sense nor be
         terrified, neither by spirit nor by word nor by epistle. as
         sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand.

         2:3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for unless there
         come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the
         son of perdition

         A revolt... This revolt, or falling off, is generally
         understood, by the ancient fathers, of a revolt from the
         Roman empire, which was first to be destroyed, before the
         coming of Antichrist. It may, perhaps, be understood also
         of a revolt of many nations from the Catholic Church; which
         has, in part, happened already, by means of Mahomet,
         Luther, &c., and it may be supposed, will be more general
         in the days of the Antichrist. The man of sin...  Here must
         be meant some particular man, as is evident from the
         frequent repetition of the Greek article �, the man of sin,
         the son of perdition, the adversary or opposer. It agrees
         to the wicked and great Antichrist, who will come before
         the end of the world.

         2:4. Who opposeth and is lifted up above all that is called
         God or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple
         of God, shewing himself as if he were God.

         In the temple... Either that of Jerusalem which some think
         he will rebuild; or in some Christian church, which he will
         pervert to his own worship: as Mahomet has done by the
         churches of the east.

         2:5. Remember you not that, when I was yet with you, I told
         you these things?

         2:6. And now you know what withholdeth, that he may be
         revealed in his time.

         2:7. For the mystery of iniquity already worketh: only that
         he who now holdeth do hold, until he be taken out of the
         way.

         2:8. And then that wicked one shall be revealed: whom the
         Lord Jesus shall kill with the spirit of his mouth and
         shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: him

         2:9. Whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in
         all power and signs and lying wonders:

         2:10. And in all seduction of iniquity to them that perish:
         because they receive not the love of the truth, that they
         might be saved. Therefore God shall send them the operation
         of error, to believe lying:

         God shall send...  That is God shall suffer them to be
         deceived by lying wonders, and false miracles, in
         punishment of their not entertaining the love of truth.

         2:11. That all may be judged who have not believed the
         truth but have consented to iniquity.

         2:12. But we ought to give thanks to God always for you,
         brethren, beloved of God, for that God hath chosen you
         firstfruits unto salvation, in sanctification of the spirit
         and faith of the truth:

         2:13. Whereunto also he hath called you by our gospel, unto
         the purchasing of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

         2:14. Therefore, brethren, stand fast: and hold the
         traditions, which you have learned, whether by word or by
         our epistle.

         Traditions... See here that the unwritten traditions are no
         less to be received than their epistles.

         2:15. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God and our
         Father, who hath loved us and hath given us everlasting
         consolation and good hope in grace,

         2:16. Exhort your hearts and confirm you in every good work
         and word.

         2 Thessalonians Chapter 3

         He begs their prayers and warns them against idleness.

         3:1. For the rest, brethren, pray for us that the word of
         God may run and may be glorified, even as among you:

         May run... That is, may spread itself, and have free
         course.

         3:2. And that we may be delivered from importunate and evil
         men: for all men have not faith.

         3:3. But God is faithful, who will strengthen and keep you
         from evil.

         3:4. And we have confidence concerning you in the Lord that
         the things which we command, you both do and will do.

         3:5. And the Lord direct your hearts, in the charity of God
         and the patience of Christ.

         3:6. And we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord
         Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every
         brother walking disorderly and not according to the
         tradition which they have received of us.

         3:7. For yourselves know how you ought to imitate us. For
         we were not disorderly among you.

         3:8. Neither did we eat any man's bread for nothing: but in
         labour and in toil we worked night and day, lest we should
         be chargeable to any of you.

         3:9. Not as if we had not power: but that we might give
         ourselves a pattern unto you, to imitate us.

         3:10. For also, when we were with you, this we declared to
         you: that, if any man will not work, neither let him eat.

         3:11. For we have heard there are some among you who walk
         disorderly: working not at all, but curiously meddling.

         3:12. Now we charge them that are such and beseech them by
         the Lord Jesus Christ that, working with silence, they
         would eat their own bread.

         3:13. But you, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

         3:14. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle,
         note that man and do not keep company with him, that he may
         be ashamed.

         3:15. Yet do not esteem him as an enemy but admonish him as
         a brother.

         3:16. Now the Lord of peace himself give you everlasting
         peace in every place. The Lord be with you all.

         3:17. The salutation of Paul with my own hand: which is the
         sign in every epistle. So I write.

         3:18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
         Amen.

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