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Now we beseech you, brethren, [a]touching the [b]coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him; to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of [c]sin be revealed, the son of perdition, he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or [d]that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the [e]temple of God, setting himself forth as God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: [f]only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord [g]Jesus shall [h]slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his [i]coming; even he, whose [j]coming is according to the working of Satan with all [k]power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that [l]perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: 12 that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you [m]from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and [n]belief of the truth: 14 whereunto he called you through our [o]gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.

16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Greek in behalf of.
  2. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Greek presence.
  3. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Many ancient authorities read lawlessness.
  4. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Greek an object of worship. Acts 17:23.
  5. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Or, sanctuary
  6. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Or, only until he that now restraineth be taken etc.
  7. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Some ancient authorities omit Jesus.
  8. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Some ancient authorities read consume.
  9. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Greek presence.
  10. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Greek presence.
  11. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Greek power and signs and wonders of falsehood.
  12. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Or, are perishing
  13. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Many ancient authorities read as firstfruits.
  14. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Or, faith
  15. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 Greek good tidings. See 1:8.

The Man of Lawlessness

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ(A) and our being gathered to him,(B) we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter(C)—asserting that the day of the Lord(D) has already come.(E) Don’t let anyone deceive you(F) in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion(G) occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed,(H) the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God(I) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.(J)

Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?(K) And now you know what is holding him back,(L) so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back(M) will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed,(N) whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth(O) and destroy by the splendor of his coming.(P) The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan(Q) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders(R) that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.(S) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.(T) 11 For this reason God sends them(U) a powerful delusion(V) so that they will believe the lie(W) 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.(X)

Stand Firm

13 But we ought always to thank God for you,(Y) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits[b](Z) to be saved(AA) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit(AB) and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you(AC) to this through our gospel,(AD) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm(AE) and hold fast to the teachings[c] we passed on to you,(AF) whether by word of mouth or by letter.

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,(AG) who loved us(AH) and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage(AI) your hearts and strengthen(AJ) you in every good deed and word.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Some manuscripts sin
  2. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Some manuscripts because from the beginning God chose you
  3. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Or traditions