2Th 2:1
2:1 Now {1} we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord
    Jesus Christ, and [by] our {a} gathering together unto him,

 (1) The second part of the epistle, containing an excellent
     prophecy of the state of the Church, which will be from the
     apostles time to the latter day of judgment.
     (a) If we think earnestly upon that unmeasurable glory
         which we will be partakers of with Christ, it will be
         an excellent remedy for us against wavering and
         impatience, so that neither the glistening of the world
         will allure us, nor the dreadful sight of the cross
         dismay us.

2Th 2:2
2:2 {2} That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled,
    neither by {b} spirit, nor by {c} word, nor by {d} letter as
    from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

 (2) We must take heed of false prophets, especially in this
     matter, who go about to deceive, and that for the most
     part, after three sorts: for either they brag of fake
     prophetical revelations, or they bring conjectures and
     reasons of their own, or use counterfeit writings.
     (b) By dreams and fables, which men pretend to be spiritual
         revelations.
     (c) Either by word of mouth, or by written books.
     (d) Either by forged letter, or falsely commented upon.

2Th 2:3
2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: {3} for [that day shall
    not come], except there come a falling away first, and {e}
    that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 (3) The apostle foretells that before the coming of the Lord,
     there will be a throne set up completely contrary to
     Christ's glory, in which that wicked man will sit, and
     transfer all things that appertain to God to himself: and
     many will fall away from God to him.
     (e) By speaking of one, he singles out the person of the
         tyrannous and persecuting antichrist.

2Th 2:4
2:4 Who opposeth and {f} exalteth himself above all that is
    called God, or that is worshipped; {4} so that he as God
    sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is
    God.

    (f) All men know who he is that says he can shut up heaven
        and open it at his pleasure, and takes upon himself to
        be lord and master above all kings and princes, before
        whom kings and princes fall down and worship, honouring
        that antichrist as a god.
 (4) He foretells that the antichrist (that is, whoever he is
     that will occupy that seat that falls away from God) will
     not reign outside of the Church, but in the very bosom of
     the Church.

2Th 2:5
2:5 {5} Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told
    you these things?

 (5) This prophecy was continually declared to the ancient
     Church, but it was neglected by those that followed.

2Th 2:6
2:6 And now ye know {g} what withholdeth that he might be
    revealed in his time.

    (g) What hinders and stops.

2Th 2:7
2:7 {6} For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: {7} only
    he who now {h} letteth [will let], until he be taken out of
    the way.

 (6) Even in the apostles time the first foundations of the
     apostolic seat were laid, but yet so that they deceived
     men.
 (7) He foretells that when the empire of Rome is taken away,
     the seat that falls away from God will succeed and hold its
     place, as the old writers, Tertullian, Chrysostom, and
     Jerome explain and interpret it.
     (h) He who is now in authority and rules all, that is, the
         Roman Empire.

2Th 2:8
2:8 {8} And then shall {i} that Wicked be revealed, whom the
    Lord shall {k} consume with the {l} spirit of his mouth, and
    shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

 (8) That wickedness will at length be detected by the word of
     the Lord, and will utterly be abolished by Christ's coming.
     (i) Literally, "that lawless fellow", that is to say, he
         that will completely tread upon God's law.
     (k) Bring to nothing.
     (l) With his word, for the true ministers of the word are
         as a mouth, by which the Lord breathes out that mighty
         and everlasting word, which will break his enemies
         apart, as though the word were an iron rod.

2Th 2:9
2:9 {9} [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan
    with all power and signs and {m} lying wonders,

 (9) He foretells that Satan will bestow all his might and
     power, and use all false miracles that he can to establish
     that seat, and that with great success, because the
     wickedness of the world does so deserve it: yet in such a
     way that only the unfaithful will perish through his
     deceit.
     (m) Which are partly false, and partly done to establish a
         falsehood.

2Th 2:11
2:11 And for this cause God shall send them {n} strong delusion,
     that they should believe a lie:

     (n) A most mighty working to deceive them.

2Th 2:12
2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,
     but {o} had pleasure in unrighteousness.

     (o) They liked lies so much that they had pleasure in them,
         which is the greatest madness that may exist.

2Th 2:13
2:13 {10} But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you,
     brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the
     beginning chosen you to salvation through {p}
     sanctification of the Spirit and {q} belief of the truth:

 (10) The elect will stand steadfast and safe from all these
      mischiefs.  Now election is known by these testimonies:
      faith is increased by sanctification: faith, by that which
      we grant to the truth; truth, by calling, through the
      preaching of the Gospel: from where we come at length to a
      certain hope of glorification.
      (p) To sanctify you.
      (q) Faith which does not lay hold upon lies, but upon the
          truth of God, which is the Gospel.

2Th 2:14
2:14 Whereunto he called you by our {r} gospel, to the obtaining
     of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

     (r) By our preaching.

2Th 2:15
2:15 {11} Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the
     traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or
     our epistle.

 (11) The conclusion: it remains then that we continue in the
      doctrine which was delivered to us by the mouth and
      writings of the apostles, through the free good will of
      God, who comforts us with an invincible hope, and that we
      also continue in all godliness our whole life long.