Catholic Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 2

"Stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

The Man of Lawlessness

Someone has been claiming that the day of the Lord has already come, causing alarm among the Thessalonians. Paul corrects this firmly. That day will not come until the rebellion occurs first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction who exalts himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, who sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Something is currently holding him back; the secret power of lawlessness is already at work but is restrained until the restrainer is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming.

The passage is one of the most debated in the NT. The Catechism treats it as a reference to the supreme religious deception before Christ's return, when a false messiah claims to solve humanity's problems at the price of apostasy from the truth (CCC 675). The restrainer and the man of lawlessness have been interpreted variously throughout Church history. What is clear is the outcome: the Lord destroys him with the breath of his mouth. The power of the antichrist, however great, is nothing before the word of Christ.

Stand Firm

Paul calls the Thessalonians to thanksgiving and to standing firm: God chose them from the beginning to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called them to this through Paul's Gospel, that they might share in the glory of the Lord Jesus. Stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. The Catechism identifies this as the foundational text for the Catholic understanding of Tradition alongside Scripture: the apostolic teaching was transmitted both orally and in writing, and both forms constitute the one Deposit of Faith (CCC 83).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings passed on to you. In a generation of religious innovation and spiritual novelty, this is the counter-cultural command: not the newest thing, but the handed-on thing. The Tradition is not a museum piece. It is the living deposit of apostolic faith that the Spirit has preserved and that the Church guards. Hold it fast.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you will overthrow every lawless power with the breath of your mouth. Until then, let us stand firm and hold fast to everything that has been handed on to us by your apostles. Sanctify us through your Spirit and bring us to share in your glory. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

2
The Man of Lawlessness
1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. 4 He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
 
5 Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you? 6 And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.
 
9 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, 10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. 11 For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, 12 in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.
Stand Firm
 
13 But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning * 2:13 Or God has chosen you as the firstfruits to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth. 14 To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.
 
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.

*2:13 2:13 Or God has chosen you as the firstfruits

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