They received not the love of the truth 2thessalonians 2:11-12

CLEAR PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE OUR STUDY GOD DOES NOT TEMPT MEN TO SIN JAMES 1:13 WITH GOD THERE IS NO VARIATION JAMES 1:17 IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE - HEB 6:18 GOD DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED - 1TIMOTHY 2:4 ENCOURAGEMENT CONCERNING THE DAY OF THE LORD CHAPTER 1 - PERSECUTION OF SAINTS WITHIN THE PLAN OF GOD CHAPTER 2 - APOSTASY WITHIN THE PLAN OF GOD 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NASB95) DELUDING INFLUENCE 2 THESS 2:11

CONNECTION TO THE CONTEXT Chapter 1 The Day of the Lord Warns them of increased persecution, but Encourages them with the promise of punishment for the persecutors Assures them persecution fits within the Divine Plan Chapter 2 The Day of the Lord Has not passed, is not near Warns of coming apostasy Warns of corrupting influences Emphasizes this apostasy is within the Divine Plan DELUDING INFLUENCE 2 THESS 2:11

2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (NASB95) WHY WAS THE “DELUSION” SENT? 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (NASB95) “BECAUSE THEY DID NOT RECEIVED THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH - VS. 10 THE TRUTH WAS ATTAINABLE THE TEXT DESCRIBES A CLASS OF PEOPLE WHO REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH received - “to indicate approval or conviction by accepting, be receptive of, be open to, approve, accept, of things (BDAG)

2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (NASB95) WHY WAS THE “DELUSION” SENT? 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (NASB95) The activity of God described in the text is His response to their hostility to His truth no hint of individual predestination a class of people “those who perish” does not describe a situation in which God acts to prevent men from learning the truth or being saved by it.

2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (NASB95) WHY WAS THE “DELUSION” SENT? 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (NASB95) “God ensures that this delusion, which those who are perishing have effectively chosen for themselves, is complete. The following verse provides the reason. (Wanamaker, C. A. (1990). The Epistles to the Thessalonians: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 262).)

2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NASB95) WHAT IS THE “DELUDING INFLUENCE” The term literally translates as the “working of error” or the “activity of error” “And because of this God sends them error’s working so that they believe the lie in order that they all may be judged…” (Lenski) “And on this account God is sending to them the working of error” (Alford) this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NASB95)

2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NASB95) WHAT IS THE “DELUDING INFLUENCE” “working of error” is grammatically and contextually parallel to the “working of Satan” in vs. 9 Rather than introducing some new delusion into the context Paul is looking at the same corrupting influences from a different perspective What does this apostasy, the working of Satan, etc. say about the power and sovereignty of God? According to Paul it affirms it this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NASB95)

2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NASB95) IN WHAT SENSE DID GOD SEND THE “WORKING OF ERROR” In the sense that God allows men to choose their own fate In the sense that the Gospel serves two functions - Jn 3:36 In the sense that God’s ultimate judgment is withheld for the time being 2PET 3:1-9 this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NASB95)

PROOF OF CONCEPT - PHARAOH The question is not if God hardened his heart, but how did God harden his heart Did God force him to disobey? Did God simply give a command and allow Pharaoh’s own will to operate freely? The Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Exodus 4:21 (NASB95)

PROOF OF CONCEPT - PHARAOH He utilized commands that the pride of Pharaoh rejected - Ex 7:1-4, 6:1-2 He utilized mercy toward Egypt - Ex 8:15 He utilized blessings toward those Pharaoh despised - Ex 9:7 The Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Exodus 4:21 (NASB95)

PROOF OF CONCEPT - PHARAOH Through Pharaoh’s stubbornness, the power of God was magnified - Ex 9:13-17, Josh 4:10 The penalty for rejecting God’s commandments was clearly shown - Ex 14:26-31 The sovereignty of God was manifest - Ex 15:1-7,13-18 The Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Exodus 4:21 (NASB95)