Man of Sin
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Contrasting beliefs |
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Biblical texts
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Key terms
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A man of sin or man of lawlessness is a figure referred to in the Christian Bible in the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians. He is usually equated with the Antichrist in Christian eschatology.
Biblical narrative
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3–10, the "man of sin" is described as one who will be revealed before the Day of the Lord comes. The Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus have the reading "man of lawlessness" and Bruce M. Metzger argues that this is the original reading even though most witnesses have "man of sin".[1]
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Identity
Nearly all commentators, both ancient and modern, identify the man of sin in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 as the Antichrist, even though they vary greatly in who they view the Antichrist to be.[2] The man of sin is variously identified with Caligula,[3] Nero,[4][5] the papacy[6] and the end times Antichrist. Some scholars believe that the passage contains no genuine prediction, but represents a speculation of the apostle's own, based on Dan 8:23ff; 11:36ff, and on contemporary ideas of Antichrist.[3][7]
Views
Catholic church and Orthodox churches
The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions consider the Man of Sin to come at the End of the World, when the katechon, the one who restrains, will be taken out. Katechon is also interpreted as the Grand Monarch or a new Orthodox Emperor, inaugurating a rebirth of the Holy Roman Empire.
Other views
Various Protestant and anti-Catholic commentators have linked the term and identity to the Catholic Church and the Pope. The "temple of God" is here understood to be the church; the restraining power the Roman empire.
Dispensationalist or Futurist view
Dispensationalists view this as a reference to a coming world ruler (Antichrist) who will succeed in making a peace treaty with Israel for 7 years (Daniel's 70th week) guaranteeing some sort of Middle East peace settlement with the Arab nations. This will occur after the rebuilding of the Third Temple in Jerusalem and the restoration of temple sacrifices. He will break his peace treaty with Israel 31⁄2 years into the plan, enter the "rebuilt Third Temple" and perform the Abomination of Desolation by setting up an idol of himself in the Temple and declare himself God.
See also
References
- ↑ Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament (Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft: Stuttgart 1994).
- ↑ Schink, W.F. "The Scriptural Doctrine of the Antichrist." Our Great Heritage: Vol. 3 Ed. Lange, Lyle and Albrecht, Jerome G. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing house, 1991. p. 572.
- 1 2 Net Bible: Man of sin
- ↑ St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on II Thess., Nicene-Post Nicene Fathers
- ↑ Man of Sin, Kurt Simmons
- ↑ Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament, p. 1113
- ↑ (compare Bousset, Der Antichrist, 93 ff, etc.)