Teks -- 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (NET)

2:7 For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way,

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: 2Th 2:7 - For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work

For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work ( to gar mustērion ēdē energeitai tēs anomias ).

See note on 1Th 2:13 for energeitai . The genitive tēs anomias (lawlessness) describes to mustērion (note emphatic position of both). This mystery (mustērion secret, from mustēs , an initiate, mueō , to wink or blink) means here the secret purpose of lawlessness already at work, the only instance of this usage in the N.T. where it is used of the kingdom of God (Mat 13:11), of God (1Co 2:1) and God’ s will (Eph 1:9), of Christ (Eph 3:4), of the gospel (Eph 6:9), of faith (1Ti 3:9), of godliness (1Ti 3:16), of the seven stars (Rev 1:20), of the woman (Rev 17:7). But this secret will be "revealed"and then we shall understand clearly what Paul’ s meaning is here.

Robertson: 2Th 2:7 - Until he be taken out of the way

Until he be taken out of the way ( heōs ek mesou genētai ).

Usual construction with heōs for the future (aorist middle subjunctive, genētai ). Note absence of an as often in N.T. and the Koiné‚ . Paul uses heōs only here and 1Co 4:5. When the obstacle is removed then the mystery of lawlessness will be revealed in plain outline.

Vincent: 2Th 2:7 - Mystery of iniquity

Mystery of iniquity ( μυστήριον τῆς ἀνομίας )

Better, of lawlessness . The phrase is unique in N.T. and o lxx. Mystery is found in various combinations, as mystery of the kingdom of heaven , Mat 13:11 : of God, 1Co 2:1 : of his will , Eph 1:9 : of Christ, Eph 3:4 : of the gospel, Eph 6:19 : of faith, 1Ti 3:9 : of godliness, 1Ti 3:16 : of the seven stars Rev 1:20 : of the woman , Rev 17:7. A mystery does not lie in the obscurity of a thing, but in its secrecy. It is not in the thing, but envelops it. Applied to a truth, it signifies a truth once hidden but now revealed or to be revealed; a truth which without special revelation would be unknown. It is almost universally found in connection with words signifying publication or revelation. See on Mat 13:11. The mystery of lawlessness is the mass of lawlessness yet hidden, but which is to reveal itself in the person and power of Antichrist. The position of the word is emphatic, emphasizing the concealed character of the evil power.

Vincent: 2Th 2:7 - Only

Only ( μόνον )

The sentence is elliptical: " only we must wait," or " only it must work in secret, until he that letteth," etc. For a similar instance see Gal 2:10. The collocation of A.V. is wrong.

Vincent: 2Th 2:7 - Letteth

Letteth ( κατέχων )

The same word as restraineth , 2Th 2:6. Let is old English for hinder , prevent . Often in Chaucer.

" May I him lette of that?" (prevent him from it).

Troil . and Cress . ii . 732 .

" And bothe in love y-like sore they brente (burned)

That noon or alle hir (their) frendes might hit lette."

Legend of Good Women , 731 .

So Shakespeare:

" What lets but one may enter?"

Two Gentlemen of Verona , iii . 1 .

" I'll make a ghost of him that lets me."

Hamlet i . 4 .

" The flesh resisteth the work of the Holy Ghost in our hearts, and lets it." - Latimer, Serm .

Wesley: 2Th 2:7 - He will surely be revealed; for the mystery

The deep, secret power of iniquity, just opposite to the power of godliness, already worketh. It began with the love of honour, and the desire of power; and is completed in the entire subversion of the gospel of Christ. This mystery of iniquity is not wholly confined to the Romish church, but extends itself to others also. It seems to consist of, Human inventions added to the written word. Mere outside performances put in the room of faith and love. Other mediators besides the man Christ Jesus. The two last branches, together with idolatry and bloodshed, are the direct consequences of the former; namely, the adding to the word of God.

Wesley: 2Th 2:7 - Already worketh

In the church.

Wesley: 2Th 2:7 - Only he that restraineth

That is, the potentate who successively has Rome in his power. The emperors, heathen or Christian; the kings, Goths or Lombards; the Carolingian or German emperors.

JFB: 2Th 2:7 - the mystery of iniquity

The counterwork to "the mystery of godliness" (1Ti 3:16). Anti-Christianity latently working, as distinguished from its final open manifestation. "Mystery" in Scripture means, not what remains always a secret, but that which is for a while hidden, but in due time manifested (compare Eph 3:4-5). Satan will resort to a mode of opposition more conformed to the then imminent "appearing" and "presence" of the Saviour, and will anticipate Him with a last effort to maintain the dominion of the world [DE BURGH], just as at His first advent he rushed into open opposition, by taking possession of the bodies of men. "Iniquity," Greek, "lawlessness"; defiant rejection of God's law (compare Note, see on Zec 5:9, Zec 5:10). "Wickedness" (translated by the Septuagint by the same Greek, meaning "lawlessness," which Paul employs here), embodied there as a woman, answers to "the mystery of iniquity," here embodied finally in "the man of sin": as the former was ultimately banished for ever from the Holy Land to her own congenial soil, Babylon, so iniquity and the man of sin shall fall before Michael and the Lord Himself, who shall appear as the Deliverer of His people (Dan 12:1-3; Zec 14:3-9). Compare Mat 12:43. The Jewish nation dispossessed of the evil spirit, the demon of idolatry being cast out through the Babylonian captivity, receives ultimately a worse form of the evil spirit, Christ-opposing self-righteousness. Also, the Christian Church in course of time taken possession of by the demon of Romish idolatry, then dispossessed of it by the Reformation, then its house "garnished" by hypocrisy, secularity, and rationalism, but "swept empty" of living faith, then finally apostatizing and repossessed by "the man of sin," and outwardly destroyed for a brief time (though even then Christ shall have witnesses for Him among both the Jews, Zec 13:9, and Gentiles, Mat 28:20), when Christ shall suddenly come (Dan 11:32-45; Luk 18:7-8).

JFB: 2Th 2:7 - already

(2Jo 1:9-10; Col 2:18-23; 1Ti 4:1); compare "even now already" (1Jo 2:18; 1Jo 4:3) as distinguished from "in his own time" of being revealed hereafter. Antiquity, it appears from hence, is not a justification for unscriptural usages or dogmas, since these were "already," even in Paul's time, beginning to spring up: the written word is the only sure test. "Judaism infecting Christianity is the fuel; the mystery of iniquity is the spark." "It is one and the same impurity diffusing itself over many ages" [BENGEL].

JFB: 2Th 2:7 - only he who now letteth will let

The italicized words are not in the Greek. Therefore, translate rather, "only (that is, the continuance of the MYSTERY of iniquity-working will be only) until he who now withholdeth (the same Greek as in 2Th 2:6) be taken out of the way." "Only (waiting, Heb 10:13) until he," &c. Then it will work no longer in mystery, but in open manifestation.

Clarke: 2Th 2:7 - For the mystery of iniquity doth already work

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work - There is a system of corrupt doctrine, which will lead to the general apostasy, already in existence, but it is a mystery; it is as yet hidden; it dare not show itself, because of that which hindereth or withholdeth. But when that which now restraineth shall be taken out of the way, then shall that wicked one be revealed-it will then be manifest who he is, and what he is. See the observations at the end of this chapter (note).

Calvin: 2Th 2:7 - . The mystery of iniquity // Only now withholding

7.. The mystery of iniquity. This is opposed to revelation; for as Satan had not yet gathered so much strength, as that Antichrist could openly oppress the Church, he says that he is carrying on secretly and clandestinely ⁶⁵⁸ what he would do openly in his own time. He was therefore at that time secretly laying the foundations on which he would afterwards rear the edifice, as actually took place. And this tends to confirm more fully what I have already stated, that it is not one individual that is represented under the term Antichrist, but one kingdom, which extends itself through many ages. In the same sense, John says that Antichrist will come, but that there were already many in his time. (1Jo 2:18.) For he admonishes those who were then living to be on their guard against that deadly pestilence, which was at that time shooting up in various forms. For sects were rising up which were the seeds, as it were, of that unhappy weed which has well-nigh choked and destroyed God’s entire tillage. ⁶⁵⁹ But although Paul conveys the idea of a secret manner of working, yet he has made use of the term mystery rather than any other, alluding to the mystery of salvation, of which he speaks elsewhere, (Col 1:26,) for he carefully insists on the struggle of repugnancy between the Son of God and this son of perdition

Only now withholding. While he makes both statements in reference to one person — that he will hold supremacy for a time, and that he will shortly be taken out of the way, I have no doubt that he refers to Antichrist; and the participle withholding must be explained in the future tense. ⁶⁶⁰ For he has, in my opinion, added this for the consolation of believers — that the reign of Antichrist will be temporary, the limits of it having been assigned to it by God; for believers might object — “Of what avail is it that the gospel is preached, if Satan is now hatching a tyranny that he is to exercise for ever?” He accordingly exhorts to patience, because God afflicts his Church only for a time, that he may one day afford it deliverance; and, on the other hand, the perpetuity of Christ’s reign must be considered, in order that believers may repose in it.

Defender: 2Th 2:7 - letteth

The Holy Spirit, through the true Church "letteth" (that is, delays or hinders) the revelation of the son of perdition. In effect, He will be "taken out of the way" when all those He indwells and guides are caught up to meet the Lord. Of course, since He is omnipresent, He will still be present and working on earth, though not through the church.

Defender: 2Th 2:7 - let

The English word "let" is derived from the Old English laetan, which, in turn, came from the ancient Teutonic. Our modern word, "late," is from the same source, which is the original meaning of laetan. Thus, this word, as used in this verse, meant "make late" or "delay." By a strange permutation of language meanings, it has, in more recent times, come to mean "permit," almost the opposite of its original meaning."

TSK: 2Th 2:7 - the mystery // doth // he who

the mystery : 1Ti 3:16; Rev 17:5, Rev 17:7

doth : Act 20:29; Col 2:18-23; 2Ti 2:17, 2Ti 2:18; 1Jo 2:18, 1Jo 4:3

he who : 2Th 2:6

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 2Th 2:7 - For the mystery of iniquity doth already work // Only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work the way was prepared by degrees for the man of sin, before he came actually to be revealed, or constituted in his complete existence; and this was by the working of the mystery of iniquity. A mystery is something in general which is abstruse, intricate, and not easily discerned. And there are mysteries in doctrine, and in practice; mysteries of godliness, and mysteries of iniquity; mysteries of the kingdom of God, and of the devil’ s kingdom. So there are the deep things of God, 1Co 2:10 , and the depths of Satan, Rev 2:24 . The mystery ushering in the man of sin is a mystery of iniquity. It is not open sin and wickedness, but dissembled piety, specious errors, wickedness under a form of godliness cunningly managed, that is here meant: see the book called The Mystery of Jesuitism, or the Provincial Letters. And it is a mystery that worketh; it doth exert and put forth itself, but secretly, as a mole which worketh under ground. And its working is not against the being, providence, and attributes of God, or natural religion; but to undermine Christianity in the peculiar doctrines, worship, and practice of it. In doctrines are brought in privily damnable heresies, 2Pe 2:1 . In worship, inventions and commandments of men, under pretences of greater reverence, devotion, and humility, Col 2:22,23 . In practice, dispensations to moral impieties under colour of service to the catholic church. And this mystery, saith our apostle, already worketh; in the false doctrines of the false teachers of his time, in the traditions and inventions of men obtruding themselves into the worship of God in his time, in the affectation of pre-eminence in the church in his time, and making merchandise of the gospel in his time, and gain godliness; and in mingling philosophical notions with the simplicity of the gospel, and gratifying the flesh under a form of godliness, and pretence of gospel liberty. And it was not among the heathen, or the Jews, but among the professors of Christianity, that this mystery was then working, as I suppose the apostle meaneth. And when the man of sin was fully revealed all these corruptions did centre in him, as sinks in the common sewer; the lesser antichrists in the great antichrist.

Only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way: the idolatries and persecutions of the heathen emperors must be taken out of the way, to make way for those that arise under a Christian, or rather antichristian, state, the dragon giving his seat, spirit, and power to the beast. And the power that was in the Roman emperor, whether heathen or Christian, must be taken out of the way to make room for the exaltation of this man of sin. For notwithstanding all corruptions; in doctrine, worship, or practice which might be introduced before, yet he is not fully revealed till he hath his jurisdiction and secular power also in his hand. And then this mystery of iniquity is arrived to its height; which St. John saw written in the forehead of the great whore, Rev 17:5 : Mystery, Babylon the great, & c., and which, some have said, was written anciently in the pope’ s mitre.

Haydock: 2Th 2:7 - The mystery of iniquity already worketh // That he who now holdeth, do hold

The mystery of iniquity already worketh, [8] or is now wrought, by the precursors of antichrist; i.e. by infidels and heretics. For, as St. John says, there are many antichrists, precursors to the great antichrist, and enemies of Christ. (1 John chap. ii.) (Witham) ---

That he who now holdeth, do hold. That is, let each one remain in the faith which he has received of us, and let him not permit himself to be deceived by any discourse, as coming from us. Or rather, let those who shall then be in the world keep their faith, remaining firm in their belief and attachment to the Church of Christ, until antichrist, that man of iniquity, shall be taken away. (Calmet) ---

According to others, it is an admonition to the faithful not to be beguiled during this day of trial by such, as under the garb of religion, and with an ostentatious parade of zeal for the holy Scriptures, seek to deceive them. When the mystery of sin shall be revealed, then shall we plainly discover that apostacy from the Catholic Church is the obvious and certain road to a dereliction of all religious principle; yes, to antichristianism and to atheism. (Haydock)

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[BIBLIOGRAPHY]

Mysterium jam operatur iniquitatis, Greek: to musteroin ede energeitai.

Gill: 2Th 2:7 - For the mystery of iniquity doth already work // only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work,.... Or "the mystery of that wicked one", as the Syriac; meaning either antichrist himself, and the spirit of antichrist, which were already in the world, 1Jo 2:18, "mystery" being one of the names of antichrist, Rev 17:5 and anciently this word was engraven on the mitres of the popes of Rome: or the evil doctrines and practices of antichrist may be intended; for as the doctrine of the Gospel is called a mystery, and the mystery of godliness; so the doctrines and practices of antichrist may be called the mystery of iniquity, especially as they were now secretly spread, imbibed, and practised: the foundations of it were now laying in the church by false teachers; for errors and heresies of every sort, respecting the person and offices of Christ, and in opposition to them, were now broached; idolatry, and holding communion with idolaters, now obtained; worshipping of angels was used by some; and superstition and will worship, worship after the commandments of men, were practised; days, and months, and years, distinguished by Jews and Pagans, and difference of meats, were observed; celibacy and virginity began to be admired and commended; dominion and magistracy were despised, and church authority contemned, and many, as Diotrephes, loved to have the pre-eminence; and the doctrine of justification by the works of the law was industriously spread, and zealously preached and received; all which laid the foundation, and are the life and soul of popery:

only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way; that is, the Roman empire and Roman emperors, and which were by degrees entirely removed, and so made way for the revelation of this wicked one: and which was done partly by Constantine the emperor receiving the Christian faith, whereby the Roman empire as Pagan ceased; and by increasing the riches of the church, and feeding the pride, ambition, and covetousness of the bishops, especially the bishop of Rome; and next by removing the seat of the empire from Rome to Byzantium, which he called Constantinople: here the Greek emperors continued in succession, and neither they themselves, nor even their exarchs, resided at Rome, but at Ravenna; so that way was made for antichrist to come to his seat, and there was nothing to rival and eclipse the grandeur, power, and glory of the Roman popes: and that which let was also taken out of the way, by the division of the empire, by Theodosius, giving to his elder son Arcadius, the eastern, and to the younger, Honorius, the western parts of it: the eastern empire was in process of time seized upon and possessed by Mahomet and the Saracens; and the western empire was overrun by the Goths, Vandals, and Huns, and became extinct about the year 476, in Augustulus, the last of the Roman emperors, who was obliged to abdicate the government by Odoacer king of the Heruli; when the kingdom of the Lombards took place in Italy, and afterwards that was translated to Charles the great, king of the French; so that there was nothing more of the Roman empire remaining than the bare name, as at this day; and by this means the popes of Rome got to the height of their power and glory, which is meant by the revelation of the man of sin.