Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin (continued)
John Calvin
I am of opinion, however, that Paul's intention was different from this --- that the doctrine of the gospel would require to be spread hither and thither, until nearly the whole world were convicted of obstinacy and deliberate malice. For there can be no doubt that the Thessalonians had heard from Paul's mouth as to this impediment, of whatever sort it was, for he recalls to their remembrance what he had previously taught in their presence.
Let my readers now consider which of the two is the more probable --- either that Paul declared that the light of the gospel must be diffused through all parts of the earth before God would thus give loose reins to Satan, or that the power of the Roman Empire stood in the way of the rise of Antichrist, inasmuch as he could only break through into a vacant possession. I seem at least to hear Paul discoursing as to the universal call of the Gentiles --- that the grace of God must be offered to all --- that Christ must enlighten the whole world by his gospel, in order that the impiety of men might be the more fully attested and demonstrated. This, therefore, was the delay, until the career of the gospel should be completed, because a gracious invitation to salvation was first in order. 827 Hence he adds, in his time, because vengeance was ripe after grace had been rejected. 828
7. The mystery of iniquity. This is opposed to revelation; for as Satan had not yet gathered so much strength, as that Antichrist could openly oppress the Church, he says that he is carrying on secretly and clandestinely 829 what he would do openly in his own time. He was therefore at that time secretly laying the foundations on which he would afterwards rear the edifice, as actually took place. And this tends to confirm more fully what I have already stated, that it is not one individual that is represented under the term Antichrist, but one kingdom, which extends itself through many ages. In the same sense, John says that Antichrist will come, but that there were already many in his time. (1 John 2:18.) For he admonishes those who were then living to be on their guard against that deadly pestilence, which was at that time shooting up in various forms. For sects were rising up which were the seeds, as it were, of that unhappy weed which has well-nigh choked and destroyed God's entire tillage. 830 But although Paul conveys the idea of a secret manner of working, yet he has made use of the term mystery rather than any other, alluding to the mystery of salvation, of which he speaks elsewhere, (Colossians 1:26,) for he carefully insists on the struggle of repugnancy between the Son of God and this son of perdition
Only now withholding. While he makes both statements in reference to one
827"D'autant que l'ordre que Dieu vouloit tenir, requeroit que le monde premierement fust d'vne liberalite gratuite conuié a salut;" — "Inasmuch as the order that God designed to maintain, required that the world should first of all be invited to salvation by a gracious liberality."
828"La droite saison de la vengeance estoit apres la grace reiette;" — "The right season of vengeance was after grace had been rejected."
829"Et comme par dessous terre;" — "And as it were under ground." 830"Le bon blé que Dieu auoit seme en son champ;" — "The good wheat that God had sown in his field."
CHAPTER 2
person --- that he will hold supremacy for a time, and that he will shortly be taken out of the way, I have no doubt that he refers to Antichrist; and the participle withholding must be explained in the future tense. 831 For he has, in my opinion, added this for the consolation of believers --- that the reign of Antichrist will be temporary, the limits of it having been assigned to it by God; for believers might object --- ``Of what avail is it that the gospel is preached, if Satan is now hatching a tyranny that he is to exercise for ever?'' He accordingly exhorts to patience, because God afflicts his Church only for a time, that he may one day afford it deliverance; and, on the other hand, the perpetuity of Christ's reign must be considered, in order that believers may repose in it.
8 And then will be revealed --- that is, when that impediment ({τὸ} {κατέχον}) shall be removed; for he does not point out the time of revelation as being when he, who now holds the supremacy, will be taken out of the way, but he has an eye to what he had said before. For he had said that there was some hindrance in the way of Antichrist's entering upon an open possession of the kingdom. He afterwards added, that he was already hatching a secret work of impiety. In the third place, he has interspersed consolation, on the ground that this tyranny would come to an end. 832 He now again repeats, that he 833 who was as yet hidden, would be revealed in his time; and the repetition is with this view --- that believers, being furnished with spiritual armor, may, nevertheless, fight vigorously under Christ, 834 and not allow themselves to be overwhelmed, although the deluge of impiety should thus overspread. 835
Whom the Lord. He had foretold the destruction of Antichrist's reign; he now points out the manner of his destruction --- that he will be reduced to nothing by the word of the Lord. It is uncertain, however, whether he speaks of the last appearance of Christ, when he will be manifested from heaven as the Judge. The words, indeed, seem to have this meaning, but Paul does not mean that Christ would accomplish this 836 in one moment. Hence we must understand it in this sense --- that Antichrist would be wholly and in every respect destroyed, 837 when that final day of the restoration of all things shall arrive. Paul, however, intimates that Christ will in the mean time, by the rays which he will emit previously to his advent, put to flight the darkness in which Antichrist will reign, just as the sun, before he is seen by us, chases away the darkness of the night by the pouring forth of his rays. 838
This victory of the word, therefore, will shew itself in this world, for the
831"Faut resoudre ce participe Tenant en vn temps futur Tiendra;" — "We must explain this participle, withholding, in the future tense — He will withhold."
832"Que sa tyrannie deuoit prendre fin quelque fois;" — "That his tyranny must at some time have an end."
833"Ce fils de perdition;" — "This son of perdition." 834"Sous l'enseigne de Christ;" — "Under Christ's banner." 835"Si outrageusement;" — "So outrageously." 836"Cela tout;" — "All this." 837"Descomfit;" — "Defeated." 838"Estendant la vertu de ses rayons tout a l'enuiron;" — "Diffusing the virtue of his rays all around."