ACC ~ 2 Thessalonians 2 v11

GOD’S HIDDEN JUDGMENT. AUGUSTINE: We can recount many other events clearly showing that from a hidden judgment of God comes perversity of heart, with the result that refusal to hear the truth leads to commission of sin, and this sin is also punishment for preceding sin. For to believe a lie and not believe the truth is indeed sin, but it comes from the blindness of heart which by a hidden but just judgment of God is also punishment for sin. We see this also in what the apostle says to the Thessalonians, “For they have not received the love of truth, that they might be saved. Therefore God sends them a misleading influence that they may believe falsehood.” AGAINST JULIAN 5.3.12.

THE WILLINGNESS TO REPENT. CYPRIAN: Not to recognize sins lest penance follow is the wrath of God, as it is written, “And the Lord gave to them the spirit of a deep sleep,” lest they actually return and be cured and healed by their lamentations and just satisfactions after their sins. The apostle Paul in his epistle states and says, “For they have not received the love of truth that they might be saved. Therefore God will send them a misleading influence that they may believe falsehood, that all may be judged who have not believed the truth but have preferred wickedness.” The first degree of happiness is not to sin; the second, to recognize the sins committed. LETTERS 59.13.

THE HIDDEN COUNSEL OF HIS WISDOM. FULGENTIUS OF RUSPE: Sometimes by the hidden and incomprehensible judgment of God, the bad angels are permitted to make certain things to test the good and seduce the evil. Now the bad angels themselves do not create what they produce, but they are permitted to bring forth certain things, because these already exist hidden in the heart of God, things which we cannot see. Similarly, the devil was not able to create serpents or frogs, although with God’s permission he produced them, just as he was not the creator of the fire when, to test Job, he, with fire falling from heaven, consumed his sheep together with the shepherds. Nor was he the creator of the wind, when a wicked wind blowing out of the desert, struck the four corners of the house and crushed all the children of holy Job in one simultaneous ruin. The omnipotent God alone created the various natures, that is, the elements of this world. In secret and hidden places, God places certain seeds of things, hidden to us but visible to the angels. From these, as the nature of the work and its own proper time require, by the hidden counsel of his wisdom, God either commands that certain things be produced by the good angels or permits them to be shown through the bad angels. By permitting these latter things, God shows how much power he has given to the holy angels when he has given the ability to do certain things in the material creation even to the wicked angels. … So it is [that] the blessed apostle, speaking of the Antichrist, says, “And thus the lawless one will be revealed.” LETTERS TO SCARILA 10.46.

ORTHODOX CONFESSION. JOHN OF DAMASCUS: One should know that the Antichrist must come. Antichrist, to be sure, is everyone who does not confess that the Son of God came in the flesh, is perfect God and became perfect man while at the same time he was God. In a peculiar and special sense, however, he who is to come at the consummation of the world is called Antichrist. So, it is first necessary for the gospel to have been preached to all the Gentiles, as the Lord said, and then God shall proceed to the conviction of the impious Jews. … “Because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to let them believe what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” THE ORTHODOX FAITH 4.26.

REASSURANCE 2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-17

OVERVIEW: Paul here describes the means of salvation: belief in the truth, loyalty to tradition and a sure hope for the future (CHRYSOSTOM). It is this steadfastness in clinging to approved tradition against all innovation and novelty, against heresy itself, that is our assurance of salvation (AMBROSE, BASIL). Further, it is the knowledge that God has chosen us and the certainty that we are beloved of God that provide the basis for our perseverance in discipline and charity (AMBROSIASTER). Indeed, God chose us because he foreknew that we would be steadfast and true (PELAGIUS). The sanctification of Christians comes through Father, Son and Holy Spirit together (AMBROSE). The faithful traditions of the church are gathered into the creed (CYRIL OF JERUSALEM).

2 Thess