Antichristes . . .
lies. 2 Thess. 2.9–11. Answer has
"conceyued " ([H7v]), while NT has "receaved" (Wallis 436/17;
TNT 306C). Answer has "stronge delusion or gyle"
([H7v]); NT has only "stronge delusion" (Wallis 436/I8;TNT 306C).
The Lollard text critical of the papacy cites part of 2 Thess. 2.9–11,
cf. Hudson 126/156–59. Although the term "Antichrist" does not occur in
these verses, Luther's 1522 preface to the epistle says that Ch. 2 shows
that the Antichrist will establish himself in Rome, a point included in
Tyndale's prologue to the epistle (WA/DB 7.251; not in LW). Luther cited
2 Thess. 2.9–11 five times in his 1521 treatment of Daniel's prophecy,
but he did not emphasize, as
Tyndale does, its foretelling of papal wiles,
obduracy, and persecution of critics.
] 2 Thessalonians
The church of Antichrist is the false church and euer the greater
number.[1573]
The Pope is a deuelishe blasphemer of God.[1573]
miracles . . .
prophetes. Cf. Matt. 7.22.
] Matthew
The Pope is aboue kyng and Emperor.[1573]
The Pope persecuteth the word of God.[1573]
they haue . . .
quench it. In Tyndale's prophetic view of salvation history,
prosecution for alleged heresy is recurrently the fate of those who,
like Wyclif and Hus, admonish the higher clergy on the basis
of God's word. Cf. [K7v, “But ye persecute . . . rebuke it”; O2, “the spiritualte . . . their misheue”; R5v, “And ye sle . . . on the cheke”].