"Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thess 2:10) Here is, doubtless, mystical Babylon spoken of; and the awful ruin which is to befall her for rejecting God's truth. And is it not evident God has given them up to "Strong delusions to believe a lie, that they all may be damned who believe not the truth; " Verse 12; or condemned, as a body of people, to temporal calamity and destruction; and were it not for their obstinacy and blindness, they might be saved from it. So that we say, it was on account of their obstinacy, unbelief, and rejection of their Messiah, and his gospel; and they, as a nation, being cut off from all its privileges; and the dreadful destruction and dispersion coming upon them, (though unknown to him when it should take place. Matt. xxiv. 36;) which caused the great heaviness, and continued sorrow of heart which Paul felt: and he had such affection for his Jewish brethren after the flesh, who had been such a privileged people, being God's adopted as a nation, and he one of them; and he gave the highest instance of his love towards them, when he said, "I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:" or in other words, I could be content to die the most accursed death, and be treated in the most ignominious manner, if so be they might be saved, and not be cut off from being a nation, and become dispersed and outcasts. Rom. ix. 1—5. But he was aware, that their ruin was hastening upon them, except they repented: for they had rejected Christ their Messiah, and his gospel, and put it from them, and Paul had turned to the Gentiles on that account, (fifteen years before he wrote the above:) and said to them, " Beware lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets, " Behold, ye despisers and wonder and perish." See Acts xiii. 40—46. Perish by the Romans, and be lost eternally.
