SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:6
Y vosotros sabis qu es lo que lo impide ahora, para que a su tiempo se manifieste.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Thessalonians 2:6
Verse 6. And now ye know what withholdeth] I told you this among other things; I informed you what it was that prevented this man of sin, this son of perdition, from revealing himself fully.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 6. And now ye know what withholdeth , &c.] Or hinders the revelation of the man of sin, or antichrist; by which is meant not the Apostle Paul, though he by his ministry was a very great hinderance of the growth of error, and the spread of evil practices in the churches, and so of the more open appearance of the man of sin in his forerunners; and after his departure from Ephesus, and imprisonment at Rome, and suffering death, there was a great falling off in the churches, and among professors of religion, which made way for the manifestation of antichrist in due time: nor the preaching of the Gospel, in its power and purity, in the several parts of the world; though so long as this obtained, got ground, and gained success, the man of sin could not show his head; and therefore it must, as it did, decline, and was gradually taken away that he might appear: nor the Spirit of God, as the spirit of truth and holiness, though as long as he continued in his gifts and operations of grace in the churches, they were preserved from antichristian doctrine and worship; but when he removed from them, this enemy and adversary of Christ and his Gospel came in like a flood: nor the general defection in ( 2 Thessalonians 2:3) though that was to be previous to the revelation of antichrist, and was to be what would usher him in; nor could he appear until the wickedness of men was come to a pitch, that they would be ready to receive him, and pay homage and worship to him: nor is the decree of God meant, though till the time came fixed by God for his appearance, the decree must be a bar in his way; since as there is a time for every purpose, nothing can come to pass till that time comes: but by that which withheld, let or hindered the open appearance of antichrist, were the Roman empire and emperors; these stood in his way, and while this empire lasted, and the emperors wore the imperial crown, and sat on the throne, and held the government in their hands, the popes could not come at the height of their ambition, dignity, and authority, nor shine in their glory; nor could the whore of Babylon take her seat, and sit upon the seven hills of Rome until the Roman emperor was taken out of the way: this therefore hindered, that he might be revealed in his time . The Ethiopic version renders it, until his time appointed came: wherefore till the time that God had fixed for the appearance of this monster of iniquity, this son of perdition, the Roman empire must continue, and Roman emperors must keep their place and dignity to prevent his appearance sooner: the reason why the apostle expresses this not in plain words, but in an obscure manner, and with so much caution, was, that he might not offend the Roman emperors, and provoke them to a severe persecution of them as seditious persons, that sought the destruction of the empire: the word here used, which is rendered withholdeth, or letteth, as in the next verse, signifies a ruler or governor, and answers to the Hebrew word rx[ , to keep back, or restrain; and which is used of kings, who by their laws and government restrain and withhold people from doing what they would; (see Samuel 9:17 2 Chronicles 14:11) to which the apostle, who well understood the Hebrew language, doubtless had reference; so rx[ rwy , is rendered, a magistrate, in ( Judges 18:7).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-12 - Something hindered or withheld the man of sin. It is supposed to be the power of the Roman empire, which the apostle did not mention mor plainly at that time. Corruption of doctrine and worship came in by degrees, and the usurping of power was gradual; thus the mystery of iniquity prevailed. Superstition and idolatry were advanced by pretended devotion, and bigotry and persecution were promoted by pretended zeal for God and his glory. This mystery of iniquity was eve then begun; while the apostles were yet living, persons pretended zea for Christ, but really opposed him. The fall or ruin of the antichristian state is declared. The pure word of God, with the Spiri of God, will discover this mystery of iniquity, and in due time it shall be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming. Signs an wonders, visions and miracles, are pretended; but they are false sign to support false doctrines; and lying wonders, or only pretende miracles, to cheat the people; and the diabolical deceits with whic the antichristian state has been supported, are notorious. The person are described, who are his willing subjects. Their sin is this; The did not love the truth, and therefore did not believe it; and they wer pleased with false notions. God leaves them to themselves, then sin will follow of course, and spiritual judgments here, and eterna punishments hereafter. These prophecies have, in a great measure, com to pass, and confirm the truth of the Scriptures. This passage exactl agrees with the system of popery, as it prevails in the Romish church and under the Romish popes. But though the son of perdition has bee revealed, though he has opposed and exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; and has spoken and acted as if he were a god upon earth, and has proclaimed his insolent pride, an supported his delusions, by lying miracles and all kinds of frauds still the Lord has not yet fully destroyed him with the brightness of his coming; that and other prophecies remain to be fulfilled before the end shall come.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 νυν 3568 το 3588 κατεχον 2722 5723 οιδατε 1492 5758 εις 1519 το 3588 αποκαλυφθηναι 601 5683 αυτον 846 εν 1722 τω 3588 εαυτου 1438 καιρω 2540
Vincent's NT Word Studies
6. What withholdeth (to katecon). Better restraineth. The verb means to hold fast, as Luke viii. 15: to hold back, as Luke iv. 42. See on Rom. i. 18. He refers to some power which hinders the revelation of the man of sin or Antichrist.
In his time (en tw autou kairw). Better, in his own season, Not before his appointed season.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:6 {That which restraineth} (to katecon). {And now you know} (kai nun oidate), says Paul in this cryptic apocalyptic passage. Unfortunately we do not know what Paul means by {that which restrains} (holds back, katechon), neuter here and masculine in verse #7 ho katecwn. " this impersonal principle or power is capable also of manifesting itself under a personal form" (Milligan). "He is Satan's messiah, an infernal caricature of the true Messiah" (Moffatt). Warfield (_Expositor_, III, iv, pp. 30ff.) suggested that the man of lawlessness is the imperial line with its rage for deification and that the Jewish state was the restraining power. But God overrules all human history and his ultimate purpose is wrought out. {To the end that} (eis to). Another example of eis to and the infinitive for purpose. {In his own season} (en twi autou kairwi). Note autou (his), not heautou (his own), {revealed in his time}, in the time set him by God.
