Severianus on 2 Thessalonians
Again, regarding the persecutions in which the Thessalonians remained, he comforts them. From his own prologue, he remembers the just and great retribution of Christ, who defends the wicked and crowns the saints.
Furthermore, because there was much inquiry concerning the second coming of Christ and when he will come, he corrects the opinions regarding this, so that they are not overtaken or led astray by foreign teachings. He also posits the manner and the sequence of the coming of Christ, which is to be again after the deception of the antichrist.
The love with righteousness is not only to love, but also to love in return. That which is said, if it is just, is not of doubt, but of exhortation and confession; for it is said in ethics, as we often say, of a day being: 'if it is a day.' He is giving vengeance to those who do not know God, instead of bringing punishment to the ungodly, with angels of his power in fiery flame. The terror of the glorious presence is presented also through these, and through which he brings punishment to the unrighteous, encouraging the faithful; for a great comfort is not only the reward for the sufferings, but also the punishment occurring against those who have done them wrong.
That our testimony was believed on that day; for the faith here prepares the reward on that day. What kind? In which Christ shall come. He exhorts them not to be disturbed unseasonably before the appearance of the Lord, whether if prophets should say to be, in whom the spirit of error is, or if words and rumors concerning the Lord should be scattered, or if having forged some letter they should bring it as ours. For unless the apostasy comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, the opponent and being lifted up above all, called god or object of reverence. Do not expect, he says, the savior before the plan which must come first, as I was saying. Above all god or object of reverence, like above all idolatry; for just as he himself established it, so also he himself will overthrow it coming, and every heresy, which opposed the word of truth, in order that also against...
Greek
Fragmenta in epistulam ii ad Thessalonicenses (in catenis) 2 Thess: Prolog Πάλιν ἐπὶ τοῖς διωγμοῖς οἷς ὑπέμενον οἱ Θεσσαλονικεῖς παραμυθεῖται αὐτούς, ἐξ αὐτοῦ τοῦ προοιμίου μνημονεύσας τῆς δικαίας καὶ μεγάλης ἀνταποδόσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ τῆς τοὺς πονηροὺς ἀμυνομένης, τοὺς δὲ ἁγίους στεφανούσης. εἶτα ἐπειδὴ πολλὴ ζήτησις ἦν περὶ τῆς δευτέρας τοῦ Χριστοῦ παρουσίας τὸ πότε ἐλεύσεται, καὶ περὶ τούτου διορθοῦται τὰς ὑπολήψεις, ὥστε μὴ προλαμβάνεσθαι ἢ παραφέρεσθαι ταῖς ξέναις διδασκαλίαις. ὑποτίθεται καὶ τὸν τρόπον καὶ τὴν ἀκολουθίαν τῆς παρουσίας Χριστοῦ τῆς πάλιν ἐσομένης μετὰ τὴν τοῦ ἀντιχρίστου πλάνην. 2 Thess 1,3 Ἡ μετὰ δικαιοσύνης ἀγάπη τὸ μὴ μόνον ἀγαπᾶν ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀνταγαπᾶσθαι. 2 Thess 1,6®8 Οὐκ ἀμφιβολίας ἐστὶ τὸ εἴπερ δίκαιον, ἀλλ' ἐπιτάσεως καὶ ὁμολογίας· καὶ γὰρ ἐν ἤθει εἴρηται, ὡς πολλάκις φαμέν, ἡμέρας οὔσης· «εἴπερ ἡμέρα ἔστιν». ∆ιδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσι τὸν θεόν, ἀντὶ τοῦ ἐπάγοντος τιμωρίαν τοῖς ἀσεβοῦσιν. Μετ' ἀγγέλων δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ ἐν φλογὶ πυρός. τὸ φοβερὸν τῆς ἐνδόξου παρουσίας παρίστησι καὶ διὰ τούτων, καὶ δι' ὧν ἐπάγει τοὺς ἠδικημένους παραθαρρύνων· μεγάλη γὰρ παραμυθία οὐ μόνον ὁ μισθὸς ὁ ὑπὲρ τῶν παθῶν ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡ κατὰ τῶν ἠδικηκότων αὐτοὺς γενομένη τιμωρία. 2 Thess 1,10 Ὅτι ἐπιστεύθη τὸ μαρτύριον ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ· ἡ γὰρ ἐνταῦθα πίστις προευτρεπίζει τὸν μισθὸν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ. ποίᾳ; ἐν ᾗ ἥξει ὁ Χριστός. 2 Thess 2,1®4 Παραινεῖ αὐτοὺς μὴ θορυβεῖσθαι ἀκαίρως πρὸ τῆς ἐπιφανείας τοῦ κυρίου, μήτε εἰ προφῆται λέγοιεν εἶναι ἐν οἷς πνεῦμα πλάνης ἐστίν, μήτε εἰ λόγοι καὶ φῆμαι περὶ τοῦ κυρίου κατασπείροιντο, μήτε εἰ ἐπιστολήν τινες πλασάμενοι κομίζοιεν ὡς ἡμετέραν. ὅτι ἐὰν μὴ ἔλθῃ ἡ ἀποστασία πρῶτον καὶ ἀποκαλυφθῇ ὁ ἄνθρωπος τῆς ἁμαρτίας, ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας, ὁ ἀντικείμενος καὶ 333 ὑπεραιρόμενος ἐπὶ πάντα λεγόμενον θεὸν ἢ σέβασμα. μὴ προσδοκᾶτε, φησί, τὸν σωτῆρα πρὸ τοῦ πλάνου ὃν δεῖ πρότερον ἐλθεῖν, καθὼς ἔφην. ὑπὲρ πάντα θεὸν ἢ σέβασμα ὑπεραιρόμενον, οἷον ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν εἰδωλολατρείαν· ὥσπερ γὰρ αὐτὸς αὐτὴν συνεστήσατο, οὕτω καὶ αὐτὸς ἀνατρέψει αὐτὴν ἐλθών, καὶ πᾶσαν αἵρεσιν, ἣν ἀντέθηκε τῷ λόγῳ τῆς ἀληθείας, ἵνα καὶ κατὰ
About this text
Severian on Paul's second letter to Thessalonica: Christ's return, and how to spot impostors.
Original English Translation of Severianus of Gabala’s Fragmenta in epistulam ii ad Thessalonicenses — new OET from PG 65 Greek.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 65 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.