KJV seems a bit clearer to me, Josh.
"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Th 2:10)
This unrighteousness is IN THEM that are perishing. The ESV does not even allude to unrighteousness being in them. If unrighteousness is in them then the truth and righteousness (Jesus Christ) is not in them. That goes along with the following verse:
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
2 Th 2:10 implies a marked contrast between those that receive the truth and those who do not. Those who do not receive the truth have unrighteousness in them and those who do receive the truth have righteousness dwelling in them. Of course, this righteousness is none other than Jesus Christ.
Eph_4:24 And that ye put on the new man (Jesus Christ), which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph_5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;
The important thing about this is that the truth is received by receiving Jesus Christ and continuiing to be receptive to Him on a daily basis. The Bible calls this "abiding". Abiding in His LOVE, abiding in His LIGHT and abiding in His LIFE. This is not a one time thing. We receive the love of the truth and continue to receive the love of the truth. We receive Jesus Christ and we continue to receive Him into our hearts and into our fellowship. It is this receiving of Jesus Christ each day which is the actual "receiving of truth". This is not the receiving of truth as in "true facts" but rather the TRUE LIFE, Life Eternal. Because Christianity is not the reception of "true statements" which results in head knowledge but the reception of the ONE WHO IS CALLED TRUTH.
This is a very important verse because we see that in the initial reception of Jesus Christ and the continual reception of Jesus Christ is salvation. Salvation is not in true facts or true statements or true confessions but salvation is in a Person who is the embodiment of TRUTH and that salvation comes only in continual receptivity of Him. Continual relationship. This all ties in with abiding in Christ, for apart from Him we can do nothing (meaning we cannot be saved).
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
He that hath the Son hath life.
1Jn_5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Are we remaining in the Son?
1Jn_5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Jud_1:21 Keep yourselves in (CHRIST) the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Axehead
Knowledge puffeth up.
