The Meaning of 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Explained

2 Thessalonians 2:11

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

YLT: and because of this shall God send to them a working of delusion, for their believing the lie,

Darby: And for this reason God sends to them a working of error, that they should believe what is false,

ASV: And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 - Untroubled By Threatening Rumors
The Apostle sets himself to correct certain erroneous impressions which had unsettled the church in Thessalonica. Notice how reverently he speaks of our Savior. Once and again he alludes to Him as the Lord Jesus Christ. He is surely coming, and as surely will His saints be gathered to Him, as the drops of moisture are drawn up from ponds and oceans, to cluster in the clouds in radiant beauty around the sun.
But certain events must take place first. There must be a great apostasy and the unveiling of "the mystery of lawlessness," which even at that time was already at work. First, the man of sin; then, the Son of man. First, He that set Himself forth as God; then, God manifest in the flesh. First, the revelation of sin; then, the revelation of perfect salvation. Daniel 11:36 seems to have suggested Paul's words, which have been applied to Nero or Caligula, to Judaism or the Papal Church, and to some future manifestation of Satanic hatred toward the Church of God. But whatever form it may assume, the coming of Jesus will absolutely destroy this power of Antichrist. Let us be warned by the doom of those that are involved in this great apostasy, and ever cherish the love of the truth of Christ, that we may be saved. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Thessalonians 2

1  Paul urges them to continue stedfast in the truth received;
3  shows that there shall be a departure from the faith,
9  and a discovery of Antichrist, before the day of the Lord comes;
15  repeats his exhortation to stand firm, and prays for them

Greek Commentary for 2 Thessalonians 2:11

And for this reason God sendeth them [και δια τουτο πεμπει αυτοις ο τεος]
Futuristic (prophetic) present of the time when the lawless one is revealed. Here is the definite judicial act of God (Milligan) who gives the wicked over to the evil which they have deliberately chosen (Romans 1:24, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:28). [source]
A working of error [ενεργειαν πλανης]
Terrible result of wilful rejection of the truth of God. That they should believe a lie (εις το πιστευσαι αυτους τωι πσευδει — eis to pisteusai autous tōi pseudei). Note εις το — eis to again and τωι πσευδει — tōi pseudei (the lie, the falsehood already described), a contemplated result. Note Romans 1:25 “who changed the truth of God into the lie.” [source]
That they should believe a lie [εις το πιστευσαι αυτους τωι πσευδει]
Note εις το — eis to again and τωι πσευδει — tōi pseudei (the lie, the falsehood already described), a contemplated result. Note Romans 1:25 “who changed the truth of God into the lie.” [source]
Strong delusion [ἐνέργειαν πλάνης]
Rev., literally and correctly, a working of error. See on working 2 Thessalonians 2:9. The phrase is unique in N.T. It means an active power of misleading. For πλάνη errorwhich shows itself in action, see on 1 Thessalonians 2:3. [source]
A lie [τῷ ψεύδει]
Properly, the lie. The article gives the generic sense, falsehood in all its forms. Comp. John 8:44; Romans 1:25; Ephesians 4:25. Comp. the contrast of truth and unrighteousness in 2 Thessalonians 2:12. All wrongdoing has an element of falsity. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Thessalonians 2:11 mean?

And because of this will send to them - God a working of delusion for - to believe them what [is] false
καὶ διὰ τοῦτο πέμπει αὐτοῖς Θεὸς ἐνέργειαν πλάνης εἰς τὸ πιστεῦσαι αὐτοὺς τῷ ψεύδει

διὰ  because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
πέμπει  will  send 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πέμπω  
Sense: to send.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸς  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ἐνέργειαν  a  working 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐνέργεια  
Sense: working, efficiency.
πλάνης  of  delusion 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: πλάνη  
Sense: a wandering, a straying about.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πιστεῦσαι  to  believe 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
ψεύδει  [is]  false 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ψεῦδος  
Sense: a lie.