Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Thessalonians 2:10

"and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." — 2 Thessalonians 2:10 (ASV)

And with all deceivableness — "Deceivableness" does not mean "a readiness to be deceived," but, according to older English usage, it has an active meaning. The phrase includes and expands the list just given: "in all counterfeit power, signs, and wonders, and, in fact, in every wicked deception."

In them that perish — This should be read as, for them. These are not the ones who practice the deception, but the ones who are its objects. This phrase depends not only on "deceivableness" but on the entire preceding thought: "his coming (for them) is..." and so on. Paul adds these words as a comfort to "those who are saved," reminding them that it will not be possible to deceive the elect (Mark 13:22).

The phrase "those who are perishing" (1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 2:15; 2 Corinthians 4:3) contains no reference to the doctrine of predestination. It simply describes a category of people: those who allow themselves to be duped are, as a matter of fact, on the path to destruction.

Because — Here, the question of God's decree does arise. The word translated as "because" actually means "in return for the fact that," which immediately implies their deception by the Antichrist's coming is a judicial act from God (see the next verse). The text says, "they did not receive," meaning the truth was offered to them, and they refused it. This is not, as Calvinism might teach, because it was never truly given to them.

The grace to love the truth is offered to us with every presentation of truth. If we are too lazy to examine whether something is true, we are rejecting the love of the truth. This is a worse offense than not accepting the truth itself. If they had only desired to know what was true, they would have been saved, even if they were, in fact, mistaken.