and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 10. God shall send them the operation of error. [9] That is, says Saint John Chrysostom and S. Cyril, he will permit them to be led away with illusions, by signs, and lying prodigies, which the devil shall work by antichrist, and so forth Witham.—God shall suffer them to be deceived by lying wonders, and false miracles, in punishment of their not entertaining the love of truth. Challoner.—The end God proposes is the judgment and condemnation of such as reject the proffered light. This is the march of sin, according to Saint Thomas Aquinas on this place. In the first place a man, in consequence of his first sin, is deprived of grace, he then falls into further sins, and ends with being eternally punished. Hence it happens that his new sins are a punishment of his former transgressions; because God will permit the devil to do these things. Deus mittet, quia Deus Diabolum facere ista permittet. S. Aug.lib. xx. de Civ. Dei. chapter 19.