Progress in Unrighteousness
T. Manton, D. D. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. This is a terrible judgment — filling up the measure of their obduration, that they may at length fall into condemnation. But it is equitable. They believed not the truth, received not the gospel in the simplicity of it, as revealed by Christ and His apostles, and recorded in the Scriptures, but wilfully and for their own interests' sake, gave themselves up to these corruptions. And more, they "had pleasure," etc. In ver. 10 it was, "they received not the love of the truth;" now they delight in its opposite. I. WHAT IS UNRIGHTEOUSNESS? Righteousness is giving every one his due — man and God (Matthew 22:21); man (Titus 2:12); God, in the way of worship and reverence (Psalm 29:2; Psalm 96:8). This unrighteousness is principally meant in the latter sense. False worship is the greatest unrighteousness; for by this the glory of God is given to another (Romans 1:18, 23, 25). II. THEY HAD PLEASURE IN IT; in those things they please themselves, not lapse into it out of simple ignorance and error of mind. And so the apostle parallels the two great apostasies from the light of nature and the light of the gospel (Romans 1:32; Psalm 97:7). III. THEIR CONDEMNATION. Observe — 1. Errors of judgment as well as sins of practice may bring damnation on the souls of men. All sins do in their own nature tend to damnation (Romans 6:23), and errors of judgment are sins because contrary to the law of God (1 John 3:4). There is nothing so wicked that a man blinded with error will not attempt against those that differ from him (John 16:2). A blind horse is full of mettle, but stumbles; therefore, if a man be not guided by sound judgment, his zealous affections will precipitate him into mischief (Romans 10:2). How true this is of the papacy. 2. Though all errors may bring damnation, yet some are especially damning (2 Peter 2:1). This may be either from — (1) The matter held, if destructive of the way of salvation by Christ; or(2) The manner — (a) When men profess what they believe not and voluntarily choose error for worldly ends. (b) When they are vented by some Christian professor to the seducing of others (Acts 20:30; Galatians 5:20). (c) When, though they should not err fundamentally, they so far debauch Christianity, as that God gives them up to believe a lie, and to defend and maintain corruptions of doctrine and worship. (d) When there is gross negligence, it is equivalent to standing out against the light (John 3:20; 2 Peter 3:5). (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. WEB: that they all might be judged who didn't believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.