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Pt.3 2Thessalonians 2:3 the departure What the Bible says Prior to the KJV we have a few translations into English before the 1600's Wycliffe – 1380 AD [That] No man deceive you in any manner. For but dissension come first [For no but departing away, or dissension, shall come first], and the man of sin be showed, the son of perdition, Cranmar 1539 AD Let no man deceaue you by eny meanes for the lord shall not come excepte ther come a departynge fyrst Coverdale – 1535 AD Let noman disceaue you by eny meanes. For the LORDE commeth not, excepte the departynge come first, and that that Man of synne be opened, euen the sonne of perdicion
Tyndale
- 1534 AD. Let no ma deceave you by eny
meanes for the lorde commeth not excepte ther come a departynge fyrst and
that that synfnll man be opened ye sonne of perdicion
Great Bible
- 1540 For the Lorde shall not come excepte ther come a departynge fyrst
and that sinfull man be opened, the sonne of perdicyon.
Jerome who wrote the Vulgate had the word depart. All translate it as this, but what does departure mean? Latin Vulgate early 5th century version of the Bible in Latin novissimis temporibus discedent quidam a fide in last times depart some from faith The Latin Vulgate, using the Douay Rheims as a guide says,
{2:3} Nequis vos seducat ullo modo: quoniam nisi venerit discessio
primum, et revelatus fuerit homo peccati, filius perditionis
The word ‘discessio’ in this verse has been understood in the Catholic Church to refer to the great apostasy, which occurs during the tribulation. Even in earlier translations speak of a departure that is spiritual not physical (such as making it the rapture) The KJV translation had more language scholars than any other translation prior. 2 Thess 2:3 in today’s Bibles The Greek New Testament NA27 apostasía NKJV for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, (that day shall not come was added for readability) Apostasía –falling away, not taken (Interlinear Transliterated Bible) ISB rebellion Berean bible until the rebellion comes Christian Standard Bible For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. Geneva - for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, Darby - except there come a falling away first JB Philips -That day will not come before there arises a definite rejection of God and the appearance of the lawless man Young’s if the falling away may not come first, Douey Reims -there come a revolt first, Contemporary English version people will rebel against God. Treasury of scripture knowledge that there shall be a departure from the faith, ASV except the falling away come first Holman, NASB, ASV unless the apostasy comes first NASU unless the apostasy comes first TLB there will be a time of great rebellion against God Amplified Bible unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians] NIV that day will not come until the rebellion occurs There is a reason for the majority view (though being part of a majority does not always mean you are right), they understand what it means. I can’t be deceived because I’m a Christian! The majority of commentators in church history agree with an apostasy as the departure. that the churches will be in a state of APOSTASY BEFORE and AT the return of Jesus Christ. Only then can the antichrist become public. Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary- Henry Alford Knatchbull connects ὅτι with ἐξαπατήσῃ, and supplies ἐνέστηκεν after it: but this is very harsh) unless there have come the apostasy first (of which he had told them when present, see ver. 5: and probably with a further reference still to our Lord’s prophecy in Matthew 24:10-12 . Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers A falling away. —A great change in the purpose of the sentence will be felt directly “ the” is substituted for “a.” Only one insignificant MS. omits the definite article; the same article in our version is vigorously rendered “that” before “man of sin.” In both cases the purpose is by no means to utter a new, strange prophecy, or to add to the knowledge of the readers, but to remind them of careful teaching given during the first few weeks after their conversion. “That falling away” must undoubtedly imply that the persons so apostatising had formerly held (or, perhaps, still professed to hold) the Christian faith: men cannot fall from ground which they never occupied. This vast and dreadful Apostasy (see Luke 18:8 ), so clearly and prominently taught of to the ancient Church, and so mysterious to us, is further defined by the following words, as the Apocalypse or Manifestation of the Man of Sin. Meyer's NT Commentary ἀποστασία ] a later Greek form for the older ἀπόστασις. See Lobeck, ad Phryn. p. 528. The expression is to be left in its absoluteness, not, with Chrysostom, Theodoret, Theophylact, Augustin (de civitate dei, xx. 21), and Bolten, to be taken as abstractum pro concreto, so that Antichrist himself is to be understood. But not apostasy in the political sense, but entirely religious apostasy—that is, a falling away from God and true religion—can have been meant by ἀποστασία. (1) What is said of the ἄνθρωτος τῆς ἁμαρτίας in direct internal connection with the apostasy, (2) the characteristic of the ἀποστασία, 2 Thessalonians 2:3 , by ἀνομία, 2 Thessalonians 2:7 , and (3) the constant biblical usage, constrain us to this view. Comp. LXX. 2 Chronicles 29:19 ; Jeremiah 2:19 ; 1Ma 2:15 , etc.; Acts 21:21 ; 1 Timothy 4:1 . Barnes notes A statement of the truth that he would not soon appear, and of the characteristics of a great apostasy which must intervene before his advent; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 .
"for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man
of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 2 Thess 2:3[For that day shall not
come, except there come a falling away first] Until an apostasy apostasia
(NT:640) shall have occurred-the great apostasy. There is scarcely any
passage of the New Testament which has given occasion to greater diversity
of opinion than this. Though the reference seems to be plain, and there is
scarcely any prophecy of the Bible apparently more obvious and easy in its
general interpretation; yet it is proper to mention some of the opinions
which have been entertained of it.... Benson Commentary 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 . Let no man deceive you by any means — By any of these ways fore-mentioned, or any other; forthat day shall not come, unless a falling away, η αποστασια, the apostacy, come first — The article here is emphatical, denoting both that this was to be a great apostacy, the apostacy, by way of eminence, (the general, grand departure of the whole visible church into idolatrous worship,) and that the Thessalonians had been already apprized of its coming. Although the Greek word here used often signifies the rebellion of subjects against the supreme power of the country where they live, or the revolt of soldiers against their general, or the hostile separation of one part of a nation from another; yet in Scripture it commonly signifies a departure, either in whole or in part, from a religious faith or obedience formerly professed, Acts 21:21 ; Hebrews 3:12 . Here it denotes the defection of the disciples of Christ from the true faith and worship of God, enjoined in the gospel. Accordingly, the apostle, foretelling this very defection, ( 1 Timothy 4:1 ,) says, αποστησονται τινες, some shall apostatize from the faith. See the note on that verse. And that man of sin — The head of this apostacy, given up to all sin himself, ( Revelation 13:5-6 ,) and a ringleader of others unto sin, 2 Thessalonians 2:12 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:14 . In this part of the chapter, the apostle shows that he did not mean to teach that that event would soon happen, by stating that before that there would occur a most melancholy apostasy, which would require a considerable time before it was matured. (a) That day would not come until there should be a great apostasy, and a revelation of the man of sin; 2 Thessalonians 2:3 . Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges The Church was in danger of falling into mischievous deception ( 2 Thessalonians 2:3 ). That they may “prove the prophesyings” addressed to them on this subject ( 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 ), the Apostle gives them a token or omen of the Second Coming, which indeed he had already supplied in his previous ministry ( 2 Thessalonians 2:5 ). He foresees that before Christ’s return in judgement there must be a supreme manifestation of evil ( 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 ). This development, as he indicates, will be twofold—producing (1) within the Church “the apostasy;” and (2) the “revelation” of “the Man of Lawlessness” (or “Sin”), a personage in whom the sin of humanity will be consummated, reaching its furthest possibilities and taking on an absolutely Satanic character ( 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 ). Clarkes Commentary Except there come a falling away first - We have the original word αποστασια in our word apostasy; and by this term we understand a dereliction of the essential principles of religious truth - either a total abandonment of Christianity itself, or such a corruption of its doctrines as renders the whole system completely inefficient to salvation. But what this apostasy means is a question which has not yet, and perhaps never will be, answered to general satisfaction. Expositor's Bible Commentary He says it will not come till the falling away, or apostasy, has come first. The Authorised Version says "a" falling away, but that is wrong. The falling away was something familiar to the Apostle and his readers; he was not introducing them to any new thought. But a falling away of whom? or from what? Some have suggested, of the members of the Christian Church from Christ, but it is quite plain from the whole passage, and especially from 2 Thessalonians 2:12 f., that the Apostle is contemplating a series of events in which the Church has no part but as a spectator. But the "apostasy" is clearly a religious defection; though the word itself does not necessarily imply as much, the description of the falling away does; and if it be not of Christians, it must be of the Jews; the Apostle could not conceive of the heathen "who know not God" as falling away from Him. This apostasy reaches its height, finds its representative and hero, in the man of sin, or, as some MSS. have it, the man of lawlessness. Gaebelein's Annotated Bible The false teachers were deceiving them. Before the day of the Lord can come there must be the falling away first and the man of sin, the son of perdition, must be revealed. No such conditions need to be fulfilled before the Lord comes for His saints. But before the age closes with the visible manifestation of the Lord from heaven these two solemn things must be on the earth. A falling away from the God-given faith has been going on throughout this Christian age. But that is not the apostasy of which the apostle speaks. The complete apostasy means that the entire faith will be abandoned by Christendom, even as our Lord indicated when He said, “Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find the faith on the earth?” That this present age closes in apostasy is more than once mentioned by the Spirit of God. See 1Timothy 4:1-3 ; 2Timothy 3:1-5 ; 2Peter 2:1-22 ; Jude. Evidences to that effect are abundant in our own days. The destructive Bible criticism rejecting inspiration and revelation, the denial of the person and work of Christ and of every other article, denials which are rapidly increasing, made the way for this final apostasy. The many cults in which Satanic powers are manifested, under the garb of angels of light, such as Christian Science, Spiritism, Theosophy, etc., are also harbingers of the time of which the apostle writes. Satan is surely actively at work to bring about this apostasy, and his ministers are transformed as the ministers of righteousness ( 2Corinthians 11:15 ), advocating reform, better living, but denying and antagonizing the doctrines of Christ. We shall hear later that this final apostasy is held back from its full manifestation by One who restraineth; only when He is taken out of the way can this predicted apostasy and renunciation of Christianity come with its leader, the man of sin. James Gray - Concise Bible Commentary That which is to take place is (1) “a falling away,” an apostasy in Christendom, and (2), the revelation of “the man of sin” (or lawlessness). Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary a falling away—rather as the Greek, "the falling away," or "apostasy," namely, the one of which "I told you" before (2Th 2:5), "when I was yet with you," and of which the Lord gave some intimation (Mt 24:10-12; Joh 5:43). Good News Translation For the Day will not come until the final Rebellion takes place and the Wicked One appears, Lange Commentary on the Holy Scriptures …according to universal biblical usage it denotes apostasy from the faith or from God [Acts 21:21. Comp. 1 Tim. 4:1; Sept. Jer. 29:32.—J. L.]. HOFMANN, correctly: 2Th 1 having commended their steadfastness in the faith, the apostasy can only be one from the faith in Christ; and this is acknowledged also by CALVIN. Indeed, the article denotes that apostasy known to the Thessalonians by oral instruction from the prophets; comp. Dan. 8:23; 11:30; the spreading apostasy from the faith. Then in ἀνομία of 2Th 2:1 we find an intimation of the further result, that the revolt from God leads to the rejection of all Divine order. Matthew Henry's Commentary A general apostasy, there would come a falling away first, v. 3. By this apostasy we are not to understand a defection in the state, or from civil government, but in spiritual or religious matters, from sound doctrine, instituted worship and church government, and a holy life. The apostle speaks of some very great apostasy, not only of some converted Jews or Gentiles, but such as should be very general, though gradual, and should give occasion to the revelation of rise of antichrist, that man of sin. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament Except the falling away come first ean (NT:1421) mee (NT:3319) elthee (NT:2034) hee (NT:3543) apostasia (NT:640) prooton (NT:4360). Negative condition of the third class, undetermined with prospect of determination and the aorist subjunctive. Apostasia (NT:640) is the late form of [apostasis] and is our word "apostasy." Plutarch uses it of political revolt and it occurs in 1 Macc. 2:15 about Antiochus Epiphanes who was enforcing the apostasy from Judaism to Hellenism. In Josh 22:22 it occurs for rebellion against the Lord. It seems clear that the word here means a religious revolt and the use of the definite article hee (NT:3543) seems to mean that Paul had spoken to the Thessalonians about it. The only other New Testament use of the word is in Acts 21:21 where it means apostasy from Moses. It is not clear whether Paul means revolt of the Jews from God, of Gentiles from God, of Christians from God, or of the apostasy that includes all classes within and without the body of Christians. But it is to be first prooton (NT:4360) before Christ comes again. Note this adverb when only two events are compared (cf. Acts 1:1). Vincent's Word Studies of the New Testament - Falling away apostasia (NT:640). Only here and Acts 21:21. Compare the Septuagint, Josh 22:22; 2 Chron 29:19. Barnes' Notes [For that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first] Until an apostasy apostasia (NT:640) shall have occurred-the great apostasy. There is scarcely any passage of the New Testament which has given occasion to greater diversity of opinion than this. Though the reference seems to be plain, and there is scarcely any prophecy of the Bible apparently more obvious and easy in its general interpretation;… The word rendered "falling away" apostasia (NT:640), apostasy), is of so general a character, that it may be applied to any departure from the faith as it was received in the time of the apostles. It occurs in the New Testament only here and in Acts xxi. 21, where it is rendered "to forsake"-"thou teachest all the Jews which are among us to forsake Moses"-apostasy from Moses- apostasian (NT:640) apo (NT:569) Moouseoos (NT:3432). The word means a departing from, or a defection; see the verb used in 1 Tim 4:1, " Some shall depart from the faith"-aposteesontai (NT:862 a); compare the notes on that passage; see also Heb 3:12; Luke 8:13; Acts 5:37. The reference here is evidently to some general falling away, or to some great religious apostasy that was to occur, and which would be under one head, leader, or dynasty, and which would involve many in the same departure from the faith, and in the same destruction. The use of the article here, "the apostasy" (Greek), Erasmus remarks, "signifies that great and before-predicted apostasy." It is evidently emphatic, showing that there had been a reference to this before, or that they understood well that there was to be such an apostasy. Meyer’s New Testament commentary that the day of the Lord was now to dawn; for the apostasy and the appearance of Antichrist must precede it…. But not apostasy in the political sense, but entirely religious apostasy—that is, a falling away from God and true religion—can have been meant by ἀποστασία. Matthew Poole’s Commentary For that doth shall not come, except there come a falling away first; there is a supplement in our translation, for in the Greek it is only, for, except there come a falling away first, & c., or an apostacy, a recession, a departing, or a standing off, as the world imports; so that apostacy may be either good, when it is from evil to good, or evil, when it is from good to evil: it is always used in this latter sense in Scripture. Phiilip Schaff In order to remove the misunderstanding and allay the anxieties regarding our Lord’s coming which had arisen from the First Epistle, Paul proceeds now to explain that previous to that great event certain others must occur. Especially he reminds the Thessalonians that the apostasy must first be developed, and that time must be allowed for the mystery of lawlessness to mature until it should finally culminate in the appearance of the Lawless One. Pulpit Commentary For (that day shall not come). The bracketed words are not in the original, but are correctly supplied for the completion of the sense. Except there come a falling away; or, the apostasy; namely, that apostasy about which the apostle, when in Thessalonica, had instructed his readers. The falling away here alluded to is evidently religious, not political. Hence it cannot be the revolt of the Jews from the Romans, or any of those revolts and disturbances which then occurred in the political world. Nor must we conceive that the man of sin himself is here meant; for this apostasy precedes his coming - prepares the way for his advent; it is not the result, but the cause, of his appearance. The word, then, is to be taken generally to denote that remarkable "falling away" from Christianity concerning which Paul had instructed the Thessalonians (comp. 1 Timothy 4:1-3). William Burkitt expository note, 2. A general apostasy or defection of the visible church from the faith of Christianity, must be before Christ's coming to judgment ;Abbott New testament commentary 2Th 2:3. A failing away; an apostasy.--Be revealed; openly appear.Knox Translation Do not let anyone find the means of leading you astray. The apostasy must come first; the champion of wickedness must appear first, destined to inherit perdition.[2]Webster Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealedWeymouth New Testament Let no one in any way deceive you, for that day cannot come without the coming of the apostasy first, and the appearing of the man of sin, Thomas Haweis New Testament Let no man deceive you in any way: because that cannot be till the apostasy come first, Young's Literal Translation let not any one deceive you in any manner, because -- if the falling away may not come first, and the man of sin be revealed -- the son of the destruction, John Wesley New Testament Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come, unless the falling away come first, Godbey New Testament Let no one deceive you in any way: because unless there may first be an apostasy and the man of lawlessness may be revealed, A few Early church writers on 2 Thessalonians 2:3 To say that no one wrote of the apostasy in the early church is not accurate Ireneaus wrote of those who apostasize in his time, as did the Bible. Why did so few write on this scripture, it wasn’t an issue like it is in the latter days of Churches dispensation. Ireneaus: This he does, in order that they who do [now] worship the devil by means of many abominations, may serve himself by this one idol, of whom the apostle thus speaks in the second Epistle to the Thessalonians: Unless there shall come a failing away first, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he sits in the temple of God, showing himself as if he were God. Against Heresies (Book V, Chapter 25) Basil of Caesarea To the Alexandrians. Letter 139 Has the last hour come, and is the falling away thus coming upon us, that now the lawless one may be revealed, the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God and is worshipped? The Didache which is also an early church document warns against apostasy through the deception of false prophets in the last days “in the last days the false prophets and corrupters shall multiply, and the sheep will be turned into wolves, and love will be turned into hate. As lawlessness increases.” Quoting these does not mean I endorse them, it simply is cited to show some did speak of an apostasy.
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