2 Thessalonians 2 · Verse 11

2 Thessalonians 2:11

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2 Thessalonians 2:11, King James Version

2 Thessalonians 2:11 in other translations

BSBFor this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,
WEBBecause of this, God sends them a powerful delusion, that they should believe a lie,
ASVAnd for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:
YLTand because of this shall God send to them a working of delusion, for their believing the lie,
DARBYAnd for this reason God sends to them a working of error, that they should believe what is false,
BBEAnd for this cause, God will give them up to the power of deceit and they will put their faith in what is false:
WebsterAnd for this cause God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

What does 2 Thessalonians 2:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. 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 (Is 6:9, 10; Ro 1:24-26, 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 (1Ki 22:22, 23; Eze 14:9; Job 12:16; Mt 24:5, 11; 1Ti 4:1). strong delusion--Greek, "the powerful working of error," answering to the energizing "working of Satan" (2Th 2:9); the same expression as is applied to the Holy Ghost's operation in believers: "powerful" or "effectual (energizing) working" (Ep 1:19). believe a lie--rather, "the lie" which Antichrist tells them, appealing to his miracles as proofs of it ... (2Th 2:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 11. And for this cause. Because they chose 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. Gr., "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. Comp. Ex 7:13, 9:12, 10:1,20,27, 11:10, 14:8, De 2:30 Isa 45:7. On the nature of this agency, Jn 12:40. It is not necessary here to suppose that there was any positive influence on the part of God in causing this delusion to come upon them, but all the force of the language will be met, as well as the reasoning of the apostle, by supposing that God withdrew all restraint, and suffered men simply to show that they did not love the truth. God often places men in circumstances to develope their own nature, and it cannot be shown to be wrong that he should do so. If men have no love of the truth, and no desire to be saved, it is not improper that they should be allowed to manifest this. How it happened that they had no "love of the truth," is a different question, to which the remarks of the apostle do not appertain. Comp. Rom 9:17, Rom 9:18; Rom 1:24.

That they should believe a lie. This does not affirm that God wished them to believe a lie nor that he would not have preferred that they should believe the truth; nor that he exerted any direct agency to cause them to believe a lie. It means merely that he left them, because they did not love the truth, to believe what was false, and what would end in their destruction. Can any one doubt that this constantly occurs in the world? Men are left to believe impostors; to trust to false guides; to rely on unfounded information; to credit those who live to delude and betray the innocent; and to follow those who lead them to ruin. God does not impose by direct power to preserve them. Can any one doubt this? Yet this is not peculiarly the doctrine of revelation. The fact pertains just as much to the infidel as it does to the believer in Christianity, and he is just as much bound to explain it as the Christian is. It belongs to our world--to us all--and it should not be charged on Christianity as a doctrine pertaining peculiarly to that system.

(c) "that they should" Eze 14:9, Rom 1:24

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 God shall send them strong delusion - For this very cause, that they would not receive the love of the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, therefore God permits strong delusion to occupy their minds; so that they believe a lie rather than the truth, prefer false apostles and their erroneous doctrines to the pure truths of the Gospel, brought to them by the well-accredited messengers of God; being ever ready to receive any false Messiah, while they systematically and virulently reject the true one.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12

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 more 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…

Read the full comment on 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12 →

2 Thessalonians 2:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τοῦτοtoutothisG3778
πέμπειpempeisendsG3992
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ὁho<the>G3588
θεὸςtheosGodG2316
ἐνέργειανenergeiana powerfulG1753
πλάνηςplanēsdelusionG4106
εἰςeissoG1519
τὸtothatG3588
πιστεῦσαιpisteusaito believeG4100
αὐτοὺςautoustheyG846
τῷtōwhatG3588
ψεύδει,pseudei[is] false,G5579

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Thessalonians 2:11

  • Romans 1:28

    And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

  • John 12:39-43

    Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: …

  • 1 Timothy 4:1

    Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

  • Matthew 24:11

    And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

  • Psalms 81:11-12

    But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

  • Ezekiel 21:29

    Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.

  • Romans 1:21-25

    Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: …

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:3

    For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

  • Psalms 109:17

    As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

  • Matthew 24:5

    For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

  • Ezekiel 14:9

    And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

  • Isaiah 66:4

    I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
for.
Ps 81:11,12; 109:17; Isa 29:9-14; Joh 12:39-43; Ro 1:21-25,28
God.
1Ki 22:18-22; 2Ch 18:18-22; Isa 6:9,10; Eze 14:9
that.
Isa 44:20; 66:4; Jer 27:10; Eze 21:29; Mt 24:5,11; 1Ti 4:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:10

    And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:11

    And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:12

    That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Read all of 2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por tanto, pues, les envía Dios operación de error, para que crean á la mentira;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et à cause de cela, Dieu leur envoie une énergie d’erreur pour qu’ils croient au mensonge,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und deshalb sendet ihnen Gott eine wirksame Kraft des Irrwahns, daß sie der Lüge glauben,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ideo mittet illis Deus operationem erroris ut credant mendacio,