Thomas Aquinas, on 2Thess 2:1

“And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together unto him:”

“The Apostle taught what will happen in the future regarding the punishments of the wicked and the rewards of the good. Here he announces what will happen in the future as regards the dangers to the church that will arise during the time of the Antichrist. And first, he sets forth the truth about future dangers; second, he admonishes the Thessalonians to persevere in the truth, there at "therefore, brethren." Concerning the first, he does two things, for first, he excludes a falsehood; second, he gives instruction regarding the truth, at "for unless." And his exclusion of falsehood has three parts, for first, he shows that by which they should be persuaded; second, he shows that to which they should be persuaded, at "that you be not easily moved"; third, he forestalls that which could move them, at "neither by spirit." Now he persuades them by three means. First, by means of his own prayers, at "we beseech you", and not by commanding them. "Having complete confidence to command you in Christ Jesus to perform the necessary thing, for the sake of charity I rather beseech you" (Phlm 5:8). Second, by the coming of Christ, which is desirable to the good even though terrifying to the wicked. "Woe to those who desire the day of the Lord" (Amos 5:18); "and not only to me, but also to those who love his coming" (2 Tim 4:8); "come, Lord Jesus" (Rev 22:20). Third, by the desire and love of the whole congregation of the saints, "unto him", namely where Christ is, for "where the body is, there will the eagles be gathered" (Matt 24:28). Or "unto him", i.e., in the same, for all the saints will be in the same place and glory. "Gather to him his saints" (Ps 99:5).”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.