Estudo de 2 Tessalonicenses 2:7 – Comentado e Explicado

Porque o mistério da iniqüidade já está em ação, apenas esperando o desaparecimento daquele que o detém.
2 Tessalonicenses 2:7

Comentário de Albert Barnes

For the mystery of iniquity – On the meaning of the word mystery, see the notes on Romans 11:25 ; compare 1 Corinthians 2:7 ; Ephesians 1:9 ; Ephesians 3:3 ; Colossians 1:26 . It means properly what is hidden or concealed; not necessarily that which is unintelligible. The “mystery of iniquity” seems here to refer to some hidden or concealed depravity – some form of sin which was working secretly and silently, and which had not yet developed itself. Any secret sources of iniquity in the church – anything that tended to corrupt its doctrines, and to destroy the simplicity of the faith of the gospel, would correspond with the meaning of the word. Doddridge correctly supposes that this may refer to the pride and ambition of some ministers, the factious temper of some Christians, the imposing’ of unauthorized severities, the worship of angels, etc.

Doth already work – There are elements of these corruptions already existing in the church. Dr. Newton maintains that the foundations of popery were laid in the apostle’s days, and that the superstructure was raised by degrees; and this is entirely in accordance with the statements of the apostle Paul. In his own time, he says, there were things which, if not restrained, would expand and ripen into that apostasy. He has not told as particularly to what he refers, but there are several intimations in his writings, as well as in other parts of the New Testament, that even in the apostolic age there existed the elements of those corruptions which were afterward developed and imbodied in the papacy. Even then, says Dr. Newton, “idolatry was stealing into the church 1 Corinthians 10:14 , and a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels.” ( Colossians 2:18 ; see, however, my note on that passage.) “There existed strife and divisions 1 Corinthians 3:3 , an adulterating and handling the word of God deceitfully 2 Corinthians 2:17 ; 2 Corinthians 4:2 , a gain of godliness, teaching of things for filthy lucre’s sake 1 Timothy 6:5 ; Titus 1:11 , a vain observation of festivals Galatians 4:10 , a vain distinction of meats 1 Corinthians 8:8 , a neglecting of the body Colossians 2:23 , traditions, and commandments, and doctrines of men Colossians 2:8 , Colossians 2:22 ; compare 3 John 1:9 , “Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence.” These things constituted the elements of the corruptions which were afterward developed in the papacy, and which are imbodied in that system. An eye that could see all, would even then have perceived that if there were no restraint, these incipient corruptions would grow up into that system, and would be expanded into all the corruptions and arrogant claims which have ever characterized it; compare 1 John 4:3 .

Only he who now letteth – Who now hinders, or restrains – ?? ?ate´??? ho katecho¯nThis is the same word which is used in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 , and rendered “withholdeth,” except that it is there in the neuter gender. There can be no doubt that there is reference to the same restraining power, or the same power under the control of an individual; but what that was, is not quite certain. It was some power which operated as a check on the growing corruptions then existing, and which prevented their full development, but which was to be removed at no distant period, and whose removal would give an opportunity for these corruptions to develop themselves, and for the full revelation of the man of sin. Such a supposition as that the civil power of Rome was such a restraint, operating to prevent the assumption of the ecclesiastical claims of supremacy which afterward characterized the papacy, will correspond with all that is necessarily implied in the language.

Will let, until he be taken out of the way – This will be an effectual check on these corruptions, preventing their full development, until it is removed, and then the man of sin will appear. The supposition which will best suit this language is, that there was then some civil restraint, preventing the development of existing corruptions, but that there would be a removal, or withdrawing of that restraint; and that then the tendency of the existing corruptions would be seen. It is evident, as Oldshausen remarks, that this resisting or restraining power must be something out of the church, and distinguished from the anti-Christian tendency itself; yon der Kirche und vom Antichristenthum. It is necessary, therefore, to understand this of the restraints of civil power. Was there, then, any fact in history which will accord with this interpretation? The belief among the primitive Christians was, that what hindered the rise of the man of sin was the Roman empire, and therefore “they prayed for its peace and welfare, as knowing that when the Roman empire should be dissolved and broken in pieces, the empire of the man of sin would be raised on its ruins.”

Dr. Newton. How this revolution was effected, may be seen by the statement of Machiavel. “The emperor of Rome, quitting Rome to dwell at Constantinople” (in the fourth century, under Constantine), “the Roman empire began to decline, but the church of Rome augmented as fast. Nevertheless, until the coming in of the Lombards, all Italy being under the dominion of either emperors or kings, the bishops assumed no more power than what was due to their doctrine and manners; in civil affairs they were subject to the civil power. But Theodoric, king of the Goths, fixing his seat at Ravenna, was that which advanced their interest, and made them more considerable in Italy, for there being no other prince left in Rome, the Romans were forced for protection to pay greater allegiance to the Pope. The Lombards having invaded and reduced Italy into several cantons, the Pope took the opportunity, and began to hold up his head. For being, as it were, governor and principal of Rome, the emperor of Constantinople and the Lombards bare him a respect, so that the Romans (by mediation of their Pope) began to treat and confederate with Longinus (the emperor’s lieutenant), and the Lombards, not as subjects, but as equals and companions; which said custom continuing, and the Pope’s entering into alliance sometimes with the Lombards, and sometimes with the Greeks, contracted great reputation to their dignity.” (History of Florence, B. i., p. 6, of the English translation.) A more extended quotation on the same subject, may be seen in Newton on the Prophecies, pp. 407,408. To anyone acquainted with the decline and fall of the Roman empire, nothing can be more manifest than the correspondence of the facts in history respecting the rise of the papacy, and the statement of the apostle Paul here. The simple facts are these:

(1) There were early corruptions in the church at Rome, as there were elsewhere, but peculiarly there, as Rome was the seat of philosophy and of power.

(2) there were great efforts made by the bishop of Rome to increase his authority, and there was a steady approximation to what he subsequently claimed – that of being Universal Bishop.

(3) there was a constant tendency to yield to him deference and respect in all matters.

(4) this was kept in check as long as Rome was the seat of the imperial power. Had that power remained there, it would have been impossible for the Roman Bishop ever to have obtained the civil and ecclesiastical eminence which he ultimately did. Rome could not have had two heads, both claiming and exercising supreme power; and there never could have been a “revelation of the man of sin.”

(5) Constantine removed the seat of empire to Constantinople; and this removal or “taking away” of the only restraint on the ambitious projects of the Roman bishops, gave all the opportunity which could be desired for the growth of the papal power. In all history there cannot, probably, be found a series of events corresponding more accurately with a prophetic statement than this; and there is every evidence, therefore, that these are the events to which the Spirit of inspiration referred.

Comentário de E.W. Bullinger

mistério . App-193.

iniqüidade = ilegalidade. App-128.

trabalho = trabalhar ativamente, como 1 Tessalonicenses 2:13 .

letteth = segura rápido. Grego. katecho, como 2 Tessalonicenses 2: 6 . Forneça as elipses ” há alguém que se mantém firme” , em vez de repetir o verbo ” vai deixar “. Mas o katecho é um verbo transitivo, e um objeto também deve ser fornecido. Veja todas as ocorrências: 2 Tessalonicenses 2: 6 . Se o sujeito é Satanás, o objeto deve ser sua posição nos céus ( Efésios 6:12 ), dos quais ele será expulso por Michael ( Apocalipse 12: 7-9 ).

fora do caminho = fora do (grego. ek) no meio. Compare a mesma expressão em Atos 17:33 ; Atos 23:10 . 1 Coríntios 5: 2 . 2 Coríntios 6:17 . Colossenses 2:14 .

Comentário de John Calvin

7) O mistério da iniqüidade . Isso se opõe à revelação; pois como Satanás ainda não havia reunido tanta força, como o Anticristo poderia oprimir abertamente a Igreja, ele diz que está realizando secretamente e clandestinamente (658) o que faria abertamente em seu próprio tempo. Ele estava, portanto, naquele momento, secretamente, lançando as bases sobre as quais iria depois erguer o edifício, como realmente ocorreu. E isso tende a confirmar mais completamente o que eu já afirmei, que não é um indivíduo representado sob o termo Anticristo, mas um reino, que se estende por muitas eras. No mesmo sentido, João diz que o anticristo virá, mas que já havia muitos em seu tempo. ( 1 João 2:18 .) Pois ele admoesta aqueles que estavam vivendo para ficarem de guarda contra aquela peste perniciosa, que naquele tempo estava disparando de várias formas. Pois se levantavam seitas que eram as sementes daquela erva infeliz que quase sufocou e destruiu toda a lavoura de Deus. (659) Mas, embora Paulo transmita a ideia de uma maneira secreta de trabalhar, ele fez uso do termo mistério em vez de qualquer outro, aludindo ao mistério da salvação, do qual ele fala em outros lugares ( Colossenses 1:26 ). pois ele insiste cuidadosamente na luta de repugnância entre o Filho de Deus e este filho da perdição

Somente agora retendo . Enquanto ele faz as duas declarações em referência a uma pessoa – que ele manterá a supremacia por um tempo e que em breve será retirado do caminho, não tenho dúvida de que ele se refere ao Anticristo; e a retenção do particípio deve ser explicada no tempo futuro. (660) Pois ele, na minha opinião, acrescentou isso para o consolo dos crentes – que o reinado do Anticristo será temporário, e os limites dele foram atribuídos a ele por Deus; pois os crentes podem objetar: “De que serve o evangelho ser pregado, se Satanás está agora chocando uma tirania que ele deve exercer para sempre?” Ele exorta, portanto, à paciência, porque Deus aflige sua Igreja apenas por um tempo, para que um dia ele possa pagar por ela; e, por outro lado, a perpetuidade do reinado de Cristo deve ser considerada, a fim de que os crentes possam repousar nele.

Comentário de Adam Clarke

Pois o mistério da iniqüidade já funciona – Existe um sistema de doutrina corrupta, que levará à apostasia geral, já existente, mas é um mistério; ainda está escondido; não se atreve a mostrar-se, por causa daquilo que atrapalha ou retém. Mas quando o que agora restringe deve ser tirado do caminho, então aquele iníquo será revelado – será manifesto quem ele é e o que ele é. Veja as observações no final deste capítulo (nota).

Comentário de Scofield

mistério

(Veja Scofield “ Mateus 13:11 “) .

Comentário de John Wesley

Pois o mistério da iniqüidade já opera: somente aquele que agora deixa, até que seja tirado do caminho.

Ele certamente será revelado; para o mistério – O poder profundo e secreto da iniqüidade, exatamente oposto ao poder da piedade, já funciona. Tudo começou com o amor à honra e o desejo de poder; e é completado em toda a subversão do evangelho de Cristo. Esse mistério de iniqüidade não está totalmente confinado à igreja romana, mas se estende a outros também. Parece consistir em: 1. Invenções humanas adicionadas à palavra escrita2. Meras performances externas colocadas na sala da fé e do amor3. Outros mediadores além do homem Cristo Jesus. Os dois últimos ramos, juntamente com a idolatria e o derramamento de sangue, são as conseqüências diretas do primeiro; a saber, a adição à palavra de Deus.

Já trabalha – Na igreja.

Somente aquele que restringe – Ou seja, o potentado que sucessivamente tem Roma em seu poder. Os imperadores, pagãos ou cristãos; os reis, godos ou lombardos; os imperadores carolíngios ou alemães.