II Thessalonians 2:11
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
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 Satan" (Th2 2:9); the same expression as is applied to the Holy Ghost's operation in believers: "powerful" or "effectual (energizing) working" (Eph 1:19). believe a lie--rather, "the lie" which Antichrist tells them, appealing to his miracles as proofs of it . . . (Th2 2:9).
Open source ↗The apostle is very careful to hinder the spreading of an error into which some among them had fallen concerning the coming of Christ, as being very near (Th2 2:1-3). Then he proceeds to confute the error he cautioned them against, by telling them of two great events that were antecedent to the coming of Christ - a general apostasy, and the revelation of antichrist, concerning whom the apostle tells them many remarkable things, about his name, his character, his rise, his fall, his reign, and the sin and ruin of his subjects (Th2 2:4-12). He then comforts them against the terror of this apostasy, and exhorts them to stedfastness (Th2 2:13-15). And concludes with a prayer for them (Th2 2:16, Th2 2:17).
Open source ↗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).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
while they offer false visions for you and lying divinations about you— to be placed on the necks of the wicked who are slain, whose day has come, the time of their final punishment.
For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.
For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.
So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
For they prophesy to you a lie that will serve to remove you from your land; I will banish you and you will perish.