SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:7
Porque ya est obrando el misterio de iniquidad, solamente que el que ahora domina, dominar hasta que sea quitado;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Thessalonians 2:7
Verse 7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work] There is a system of corrupt doctrine, which will lead to the general apostasy, already in existence, but it is a mystery; it is as yet hidden; it dare not show itself, because of that which hindereth or withholdeth. But when that which now restraineth shall be taken out of the way, then shall that wicked one be revealed-it will then be manifest who he is, and what he is. See the observations at the end of this chapter.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work , &c.] Or the mystery of that wicked one, as the Syriac; meaning either antichrist himself, and the spirit of antichrist, which were already in the world, ( John 2:18 4:2), mystery being one of the names of antichrist, ( Revelation 17:5) and anciently this word was engraven on the mitres of the popes of Rome: or the evil doctrines and practices of antichrist may be intended; for as the doctrine of the Gospel is called a mystery, and the mystery of godliness; so the doctrines and practices of antichrist may be called the mystery of iniquity, especially as they were now secretly spread, imbibed, and practised: the foundations of it were now laying in the church by false teachers; for errors and heresies of every sort, respecting the person and offices of Christ, and in opposition to them, were now broached; idolatry, and holding communion with idolaters, now obtained; worshipping of angels was used by some; and superstition and will worship, worship after the commandments of men, were practised; days, and months, and years, distinguished by Jews and Pagans, and difference of meats, were observed; celibacy and virginity began to be admired and commended; dominion and magistracy were despised, and church authority contemned, and many, as Diotrephes, loved to have the pre-eminence; and the doctrine of justification by the works of the law was industriously spread, and zealously preached and received; all which laid the foundation, and are the life and soul of popery: only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way ; that is, the Roman empire and Roman emperors, and which were by degrees entirely removed, and so made way for the revelation of this wicked one: and which was done partly by Constantine the emperor receiving the Christian faith, whereby the Roman empire as Pagan ceased; and by increasing the riches of the church, and feeding the pride, ambition, and covetousness of the bishops, especially the bishop of Rome; and next by removing the seat of the empire from Rome to Byzantium, which he called Constantinople: here the Greek emperors continued in succession, and neither they themselves, nor even their exarchs, resided at Rome, but at Ravenna; so that way was made for antichrist to come to his seat, and there was nothing to rival and eclipse the grandeur, power, and glory of the Roman popes: and that which let was also taken out of the way, by the division of the empire, by Theodosius, giving to his elder son Arcadius, the eastern, and to the younger, Honorius, the western parts of it: the eastern empire was in process of time seized upon and possessed by Mahomet and the Saracens; and the western empire was overrun by the Goths, Vandals, and Huns, and became extinct about the year 476, in Augustulus, the last of the Roman emperors, who was obliged to abdicate the government by Odoacer king of the Heruli; when the kingdom of the Lombards took place in Italy, and afterwards that was translated to Charles the great, king of the French; so that there was nothing more of the Roman empire remaining than the bare name, as at this day; and by this means the popes of Rome got to the height of their power and glory, which is meant by the revelation of the man of sin.
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
το 3588 γαρ 1063 μυστηριον 3466 ηδη 2235 ενεργειται 1754 5731 της 3588 ανομιας 458 μονον 3440 ο 3588 κατεχων 2722 5723 αρτι 737 εως 2193 εκ 1537 μεσου 3319 γενηται 1096 5638
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. Mystery of iniquity (musthrion thv anomiav). Better, of lawlessness. The phrase is unique in N.T. and o LXX. Mystery is found in various combinations, as mystery of the kingdom of heaven, Matthew xiii. 11; of God, 1 Cor. ii. 1: of his will, Eph. i. 9: of Christ, Eph. iii. 4: of the gospel, Eph. vi. 19: of faith, 1 Tim. iii. 9: of godliness, 1 Tim. iii. 16: of the seven stars Apoc. i. 20: of the woman, Apoc. xvii. 7. A mystery does not lie in the obscurity of a thing, but in its secrecy. It is not in the thing, but envelops it. Applied to a truth, it signifies a truth once hidden but now revealed or to be revealed; a truth which without special revelation would be unknown. It is almost universally found in connection with words signifying publication or revelation. See on Matt. xiii. 11. The mystery of lawlessness is the mass of lawlessness yet hidden, but which is to reveal itself in the person and power of Antichrist. The position of the word is emphatic, emphasising the concealed character of the evil power.
Only (monon). The sentence is elliptical: "only we must wait," or "only it must work in secret, until he that letteth," etc. For a similar instance see Gal. ii. 10. The collocation of A.V. is wrong.
Letteth (katecwn). The same word as restraineth, ver. 6. Let is old English for hipder, prevent. Often in Chaucer.
"May I him lette of that?" (prevent him from it). Troil. and Cress.ii. 732.
"And bothe in love y-like sore they brente (burned) That noon or alle hir (their) frendes might hit lette." Legend of Good Women, 731.
So Shakespeare:
"What lets but one may enter?" Two Gentlemen of Verona, iii. 1.
"I'll make a ghost of him that lets me." Hamlet i. 4.
"The flesh resisteth the work of the Holy Ghost in our hearts, and lets it." - Latimer, Serm.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:7 {For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work} (to gar musterion ede energeitai tes anomias). See #1Th 2:13 for energeitai. The genitive tes anomias (lawlessness) describes to musterion (note emphatic position of both). this mystery (musterion secret, from mustes, an initiate, muew, to wink or blink) means here the secret purpose of lawlessness already at work, the only instance of this usage in the N.T. where it is used of the kingdom of God (#Mt 13:11), of God (#1Co 2:1) and God's will (#Eph 1:9), of Christ (#Eph 3:4), of the gospel (#Eph 6:9), of faith (#1Ti 3:9), of godliness (#1Ti 3:16), of the seven stars (#Re 1:20), of the woman (#Re 17:7). But this secret will be "revealed" and qen we shall understand clearly what Paul's meaning is here. {Until he be taken out of the way} (hews ek mesou genetai). Usual construction with hews for the future (aorist middle subjunctive, genetai). Note absence of an as often in N.T. and the koin. Paul uses hews only here and #1Co 4:5. When the obstacle is removed qen the mystery of lawlessness will be revealed in plain outline.
