Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Thessalonians 2:12

12 That they all might be damned , who believed not the truth , but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

That they all might be damned, or condemned. The Greek is judged, but often translated as in the Text; the simple Verb being taken for the compound; so Ioh. 3.17. 1 Cor. 11.29. Iude 4. Its true a man may be judged and not condemned, but the judgment of the wicked is condemnation; and damnation is here mentioned either as the event, or the effect of their believing Lies, or as the purpose of God in sending them strong delusions. They are first justly punish'd with spiritual judgment, and then eternal, and God is just in both, whence we see that there are some Errors in judgment which are damnable. As we read 2 Pet. 2.1. of damnable heresies, or heresies of destruction; such are many in the Romish Church; and the Apostle speaks of such, Col. 2.19. not holding the head, &c. not meant of a total rejection of Christ, but of voluntary Humility, and worshipping of Angels mingled with the true Worship of the Gospel; and such cannot be saved.

Where we have a farther description of these Persons who are to be damned, which is added by the Apostle either to clear Gods Justice, as in sending them strong delusions to believe a lye, so also in their condemnation, or to assign the cause why they believed a lye, is because they believed not the Truth. Those will easily be brought to believe a lye, who believe not the Truth; and the belief here mentioned is that of assent, yet such an assent as is operative and practical, which they had not; for it was said before, they received not the Truth in the love of it.

2. Because they had pleasure in unrighteousness. Did not only practise, but had great complacence and contentment of mind in it, as the Greek word imports, and so had rather believe a false doctrine, which will countenance their practise, than the Truth which doth condemn it. See Prov. 10.23. Rom. 1. last. By unrighteousness, some Expositions understand false Doctrine, or Error, because it is set in opposition here to Truth, as sin is set in opposition to it, Ioh. 8.45. and that the Apostle hath peculiar reference to the corrupt Doctrines of Simon Magus and the Nicolaitans, that gave liberty to the Lusts of the Flesh. But why not rather to the Doctrines of the Man of Sin, which he had been before speaking of? I rather take the word in the largest sence, so all sin in unrighteousness; and the Apostle St. Iohn saith, all unrighteousness is sin, 1 Ioh. 5.17, where unrighteousness is exprest by [non-Latin text not transcribed] a word which imports transgression of the Law, as in this Text by [non-Latin text not transcribed], a word which signifies injustice. So that we see here an erroneous Mind, and a vicious life going together. And when sin is come to this height, that men take pleasure in it, it makes them ripe for damnation. And how well these things agree to the Antichristian Church, let men consider and judge.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] ▪ judged.