2nd Thessalonians Chapter 2 verse 9 Holy Bible

Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 9. - The apostle resumes his description of the man of sin. Even him; not in the original, but necessary for the sense. Whose coming. The use of the same term, parousia, employed to denote the coming of Christ exhibits the counterpart of the man of sin. Is after the working - according to the energy - of Satan. Satan is the agent who works in the man of sin; he being the organ or instrument of Satan. With all power and signs and lying wonders. The adjective "lying" ought to be rendered as a substantive, and applied to all three: "With all powers and signs and wonders of falsehood;" whose origin, nature, and purpose is falsehood. Here, also, the counterpart to Christ is manifest; for the same terms - "powers," "signs," and "wonders," are employed to denote his miracles (Acts 2:22; Hebrews 2:4). The miracles of Christ were miracles of truth; the miracles of the man of sin would be miracles of falsehood. There does not seem to be any essential difference between powers, signs, and wonders; but the words are employed as a mere rhetorical enumeration. It is not to be supposed that the man of sin will be enabled to perform real miracles; they are the wonders of falsehood; but still by them his followers will be deceived (comp. Matthew 24:24).

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(9) Even him, whose coming.--The "even him" does not stand in the Greek; and "whose" might, again, be rendered by for his own, or perhaps "though his own." The purpose of the verses following is not merely to describe Antichrist more fully, but to compare word for word his coming with that which will annihilate him. Again is used of Antichrist a peculiar word consecrated to the Christ: "coming" (literally presence), being the word used in 2Thessalonians 2:8, as well as 2Thessalonians 2:1, and often. In spite of the sham being well got up, it will be seen to be a sham.Is . . . with all power.--"Is:" St. Paul sees the future as present. The predicate is not "after the working," but "in all power," &c. The advent of Antichrist will be in (i.e., surrounded with, accompanied by) all kinds of miracles, "according to the working of Satan:" i.e., not only wrought by Satan, but up to the full capacity of Satan to work them. The word "lying" (literally, of falsehood) should go with all three names, "all counterfeit power and signs and wonders." The three words are piled up to heighten the terror of the description; if you press them they mean that there will be a display of power, to attest Antichrist's doctrine (signs), and to keep men spellbound in admiration of him (wonders). Antichrist, like Christ (1Timothy 6:15), has one to support him--Satan instead of God; he, like Christ (Luke 21:25), will have his miracles--but miracles of trickery, not of truth.