2 Thessalonians 2:11

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 2 Thessalonians 2:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:
2 Thessalonians 2:11 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Thessalonians 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, &c.] Or “efficacy of error”, which God may be said to send; and the Alexandrian copy reads, “does send”; because it is not a bare permission but a voluntary one; or it is his will that error should be that truth may be tried, and be illustrated by its contrary, and shine the more through the force of opposition to it; and that those which are on the side of it might be made manifest, as well as that the rejecters of the Gospel might be punished; for the efficacy of error is not to be considered as a sin, of which God cannot be the author, but as a punishment for sin, and to which men are given up, and fall under the power of, because…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“for this cause--because "they received not the love of the truth." The best safeguard against error is "the love of the truth." shall send--Greek, "sends," or "is sending"; the "delusion" is already beginning. God judicially sends hardness of heart on those who have rejected the truth, and gives them up in righteous judgment to Satan's delusions (Isa 6:9-10; Rom 1:24-26, Rom 1:28). They first cast off the love of the truth, then God gives them up to Satan's delusions, then they settle down into "believing the lie": an awful climax (Kg1 22:22-23; Eze 14:9; Job 12:16; Mat 24:5, Mat 24:11; Ti1 4:1). strong delusion--Greek, "the powerful working of error," answering to the energizing "working of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And for this cause - Because they choose error, or their hearts love that more than they do truth. The original reason then of their embracing and adhering to the system was not an arbitrary decree on the part of God, but that they did not love the truth. Hence, he gave them up to this system of error. If a man strongly prefers error to truth, and sin to holiness, it is not wrong to allow him freely to evince his own preference. God shall send them strong delusion - Greek: “energy of deceit;” a Hebraism, meaning strong deceit, The agency of God is here distinctly recognised, in accordance with the uniform statements of the Scriptures, respecting evil; compare Exodus 7:13; Exodus 9:12; Exodus…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Therefore God shall send them - That is, judicially permit to come upon them, strong delusion. 2 Thessalonians 2:12”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:11 As seen elsewhere in Scripture (Exod 9:12; 2 Chr 18:22), God sometimes hands people over to the power of the sin or deception they have desired in place of the truth (Rom 1:24, 26, 28; 11:8).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“for: Psa 81:11, Psa 81:12, Psa 109:17; Isa 29:9-14; Joh 12:39-43; Rom 1:21-25, Rom 1:28 God: Kg1 22:18-22; Ch2 18:18-22; Isa 6:9, Isa 6:10; Eze 14:9 that: Isa 44:20, Isa 66:4; Jer 27:10; Eze 21:29; Mat 24:5, Mat 24:11; Ti1 4:1 2 Thessalonians 2:12”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification