old serpent. The Devil is rightly called serpent because he decieved the first man through the serpent, and also rightly called old on account of the antiquity of the time, because at the beginning of created things he was created by God.

Note that the Apostle did not hesitate to say that God sends to them the working of error, since then God is said to send it, when He allows to send it with the Devil. For God permits the Devil to do this with a just and hidden judgment, because he acts unjust and uneven intention. But what follows, who have not believed in the truth, is similar to that…

He had just said before that the judgment of God is just; he repeats this when he says, it is just for God to repay trouble to those who trouble you. And this is the sense, Nothing is more just than when they are afflicted who cause affliction to the good, and they wo suffer receive rest.

so that our God may make you worthy of his calling that is, understood to make worthy. Here he asks that that calling be understood according to a purpose. On this account, in order that they might separate what is universal from that which is special, they added 'his.' In order that they might show that there is not power or merit in man, but in God…

and who has given us an everlasting consolation For He is their Fater, He consoles them, and they cannot be his sons without consolation. And because there is consolation in prosperous lands, Paul adds "eternal" so that he might separate earthly consolation from that which is in eternal things. and good hope in grace Becase there is hope in prperous…

As if they should say, "You have thus far made progress in faith and patience, so that not only the children in the Church but we also, apostolic men, may take pride in the same faith and patience."

with a repose with us Beautifully do they say 'with us'; to the extent that they who were imitators of the apostles shall have fellowship with them in the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore John says "that you may have fellowship with us," (1Jn 1:3) And because this is rest, it is conferred not here, but in the future, to the saints.

Concerning other things, brothers, pray for us In this act of humility he leaves us an example. so that the Word of God may advance That is, be completed and become acceptable. and be glorified, just as it is among you As if he were to say, because I cannot prevail with my eloquence and merits, pray that the word of the Lord may be glorified at…

Yet we must always give thanks to God for you We should note that he had said this at the beginning of the epistle. brothers, beloved of God as if he should say, his unspeakable and immeasurable gifts. But not that those who he said to be about to be loved by God cannot in any way be mistaken. No one, therefore, disputed that they are of great merit;…

And, that is, Christ would not come unless the Antichrist came first.

Why does he direct them to eat their bread in silence? Plainly, lest they lose by immoderation of language the work which they acquired for their sustenance and that of others.

by a flame of fire Perhaps it is about that which is read in the Apocalypse of John, "and fire came down from heaven and consumed them." (Rev 20;9) who are not obedient to the Gospel And this even refers to evil Catholics who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord though they say they believe, but they do not live according to what they believe.