Is the Man of Lawlessness the Pope?

The Lutheran Confession identify the “man of lawlessness” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 as the papacy.

Is this true?

First, here are the two relevant passages from the Book of Concord:

Smalcald Articles II.IV

This teaching shows forcefully that the Pope is the very Antichrist, who has exalted himself above, and opposed himself against Christ because he will not permit Christians to be saved without his power, which, nevertheless, is nothing, and is neither ordained nor commanded by God.

This is, properly speaking to exalt himself above all that is called God as Paul says, 2 Thess. 2:4. Even the Turks or the Tartars, great enemies of Christians as they are, do not do this, but they allow whoever wishes to believe in Christ, and take bodily tribute and obedience from Christians.

12 The Pope, however, prohibits this faith, saying that to be saved a person must obey him. This we are unwilling to do, even though on this account we must die in God s name.

13 This all proceeds from the fact that the Pope has wished to be called the supreme head of the Christian Church by divine right. Accordingly he had to make himself equal and superior to Christ, and had to cause himself to be proclaimed the head and then the lord of the Church, and finally of the whole world, and simply God on earth, until he has dared to issue commands even to the angels in heaven.

Smalcald Articles II.IV.10-13

Power and Primacy of the Pope

Now, it is manifest that the Roman pontiffs, with their adherents, defend [and practice] godless doctrines and godless services. And the marks [all the vices] of Antichrist plainly agree with the kingdom of the Pope and his adherents. For Paul, in describing Antichrist to the Thessalonians, calls him 2 Thess. 2:3-4: an adversary of Christ, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God. He speaks therefore of one ruling in the Church, not of heathen kings, and he calls this one the adversary of Christ, because he will devise doctrine conflicting with the Gospel, and will assume to himself divine authority.

Moreover, it is manifest, in the first place, that the Pope rules in the Church, and by the pretext of ecclesiastical authority and of the ministry has established for himself this kingdom. For he assigns as a pretext these words: I will give to thee the keys. Secondly, the doctrine of the Pope conflicts in many ways with the Gospel, and [thirdly] the Pope assumes to himself divine authority in a threefold manner. First, because he takes to himself the right to change the doctrine of Christ and services instituted by God, and wants his own doctrine and his own services to be observed as divine; secondly, because he takes to himself the power not only of binding and loosing in this life, but also the jurisdiction over souls after this life; thirdly, because the Pope does not want to be judged by the Church or by any one, and puts his own authority ahead of the decision of Councils and the entire Church. But to be unwilling to be judged by the Church or by any one is to make oneself God. Lastly, these errors so horrible, and this impiety, he defends with the greatest cruelty, and puts to death those dissenting.

Power and Primacy of the Pope, 39-40

Second, Christopher Wordsworth, in his 1867 commentary, does a wonderful job outlining the answers to these three questions:

1. What is the restraining power here mentioned?
2. Has that restraining power been removed?
3. Who is the “Man of sin” (v. 3), or the “Lawless One” (v. 8), who the Apostle foretells would be revealed on the removal of the restraining power?

His answers:

1. The Imperial Power of Heathen Rome
2. Yes
3. The Power of the Pope in Rome

I can’t find this commentary reproduced electronically online. (If you can find it, please send me the link.) So here are six pages to download and consider.

Pr. Jonathan Fisk thinks the Lutheran confession of the antichrist is (surprisingly) our most helpful ecumenical position, and we’ll be talking about that on his Saturday Morning Chill tomorrow. Jump in!

And, let me know your thought below.

PrBW