Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

That is why we boast among God’s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring.

“2Th 1:5, 7 state the object of their hope, namely, the kingdom for which they suffer. tribulations--literally, "pressures." The Jews were the instigators of the populace and of the magistrates against Christians (Ac 17:6, 8). which ye endure--Greek, "are (now) enduring."”

in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

“In flaming fire--Greek, "In flame of fire"; or, as other oldest manuscripts read, "in fire of flame." This flame of fire accompanied His manifestation in the bush (Ex 3:2); also His giving of the law at Sinai (Ex 19:18).”

on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.

“Faith is defined by BISHOP PEARSON as "an assent unto truths, credible upon the testimony of God, delivered unto us by the apostles and prophets" (originally delivering their testimony orally, but now in their writings).”

so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“The believer's graces redound to Christ's glory, and His glory, as their Head, reflects glory on them as the members.”

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers,

“The Greek noun is nowhere else found except in Heb 10:25, said of the assembling together of believers for congregational worship.”

not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come.

“CHRYSOSTOM, and after him ALFORD, translates, "is (already) present" (compare 2Ti 2:18), a kindred error. But in 2Ti 3:1, the same Greek verb is translated "come." WAHL supports this view.”

Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you?

“Remember, &c.--confuting those who represent Paul as having labored under error as to Christ's immediate coming when writing his first Epistle, and as now correcting that error. I told you--more than once, literally, "I was telling," or "used to tell."”

And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.

“The removal of the withholding power will be when the civil polity, derived from the Roman empire, which is to be, in its last form, divided into ten kingdoms (Re 17:3, 11-13), shall, with its leading representative head for the time being ("he who now…”

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way.

“"Judaism infecting Christianity is the fuel; the mystery of iniquity is the spark." "It is one and the same impurity diffusing itself over many ages" [BENGEL]. only he who now letteth will let--The italicized words are not in the Greek.”

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.

“He is seized and "cast alive into the take of fire" (Re 19:20). So the world kingdoms, and the kingdom of the beast, give place to that of the Son of man and His saints.”

and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.

“Ro 1:18); they are lost because they loved not, but rejected, the truth which would have saved them. received not--Greek, "welcomed not"; admitted it not cordially.”

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,

“Referring both to our Lord Jesus (Ro 8:37; Ga 2:20) and God our Father (Joh 3:16). everlasting consolation--not transitory, as worldly consolations in trials (Ro 8:38, 39). This for all time present, and then "good hope" for the future [ALFORD].”

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with…

“He says "brother," that is, professing Christian; for in the case of unprofessing heathen, believers needed not be so strict (1Co 5:10-13). disorderly--Paul plainly would not have sanctioned the order of Mendicant Friars, who reduce such a "disorderly" and lazy life to a system.”

For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

“It seems to me simpler to take it as a punishment of the idle. Paul often quotes good adages current among the people, stamping them with inspired approval.”

We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.

“"We exhort you thus, as ministers IN Christ, exhorting our people IN Christ." with quietness--quiet industry; laying aside restless, bustling, intermeddling officiousness (2Th 3:11). their own--bread earned by themselves, not another's bread (2Th 3:8).”

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

“Lord be with you all--May He bless you not only with peace, but also with His presence (Mt 28:20). Even the disorderly brethren (compare 2Th 3:15, "a brother") are included in this prayer.”

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

“He closes every Epistle by praying for GRACE to those whom he addresses. Amen--omitted in the oldest manuscripts It was doubtless the response of the congregation after hearing the Epistle read publicly; hence it crept into copies.”