2 Thessalonians 2-3

New American Standard Bible

Man of Lawlessness

2 Now we ask you, ^(A)brothers and sisters, regarding the ^[a](B)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our ^(C)gathering together to Him, ² that you not be quickly shaken from your ^[b]composure or be disturbed either by a ^(D)spirit, or a ^[c](E)message, or a ^(F)letter as if from us, to the effect that ^(G)the day of the Lord ^(H)has come. ^3 (I)No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the ^[d](J)apostasy comes first, and the ^(K)man of lawlessness is revealed, the ^(L)son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above ^[e](M)every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, ^(N)displaying himself as being God. ⁵ Do you not remember that ^(O)while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? ⁶ And you know ^(P)what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time. ⁷ For ^(Q)the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^[f](R)He who now restrains will do so until ^[g]He is ^[h]removed. ⁸ Then that lawless one ^(S)will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate ^(T)with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the ^(U)appearance of His ^[i]coming; ⁹ that is, the one whose ^[j]coming is in accord with the activity of ^(V)Satan, with all power and false ^[k](W)signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with ^[l]all the deception of wickedness for ^(X)those who perish, because they did not accept the love of ^(Y)the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ For this reason ^(Z)God ^[m]will send upon them ^[n]a ^(AA)deluding influence so that they will believe ^[o]what is false, ¹² in order that they all may be ^[p]judged who ^(AB)did not believe the truth, but ^[q](AC)took pleasure in wickedness.

Stand Firm

^13 (AD)But we should always give thanks to God for you, ^(AE)brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because ^(AF)God has chosen you ^[r]from the beginning ^(AG)for salvation ^[s](AH)through sanctification ^[t]by the Spirit and faith in the truth. ¹⁴ It was for this He ^(AI)called you through ^(AJ)our gospel, ^[u]that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, ^(AK)stand firm and ^(AL)hold on to the traditions which you were taught, whether ^(AM)by word of mouth or ^(AN)by letter ^[v]from us.

^16 (AO)Now may our Lord Jesus Christ ^(AP)Himself and God our Father, who has ^(AQ)loved us and given us eternal comfort and ^(AR)good hope by grace, ^17 (AS)comfort and ^(AT)strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

Request for Prayer

3 ^(AU)Finally, brothers and sisters, ^(AV)pray for us that ^(AW)the word of the Lord will ^[w]spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it was also with you; ² and that we will be ^(AX)rescued from troublesome and evil people; for not all have the faith. ³ But ^(AY)the Lord is faithful, ^[x]and He will strengthen and protect you ^[y]from ^(AZ)the evil one. ⁴ We have ^(BA)confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you ^(BB)are doing, and will do, what we command. ⁵ May the Lord ^(BC)direct your hearts to the love of God and to the perseverance of Christ.

⁶ Now we command you, brothers and sisters, ^(BD)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you ^[z](BE)keep away from every brother or sister who ^[aa]leads a ^[ab](BF)disorderly life and not one in accordance with ^(BG)the tradition which ^[ac]you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to ^[ad](BH)follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you, ⁸ nor did we ^(BI)eat ^[ae]anyone’s bread ^[af]without paying for it, but with ^(BJ)labor and hardship we kept ^(BK)working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; ⁹ not because we do not have ^(BL)the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves ^(BM)as a role model for you, so that you would ^[ag]follow our example. ¹⁰ For even ^(BN)when we were with you, we used to give you this order: ^(BO)if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you are ^(BP)leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like ^(BQ)busybodies. ¹² Now we command and ^(BR)exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to ^(BS)work ^[ah]peacefully and eat their own bread. ¹³ But as for you, ^(BT)brothers and sisters, ^(BU)do not grow weary of doing good.

¹⁴ If anyone does not obey our ^[ai]instruction ^[aj](BV)in this letter, take special note of that person so as ^(BW)not to associate with him, so that he will be ^(BX)put to shame. ¹⁵ And yet ^(BY)do not regard that person as an enemy, but ^[ak](BZ)admonish that one as a ^(CA)brother or sister.

¹⁶ Now ^(CB)may the Lord of peace ^(CC)Himself continually grant you peace in every ^[al]circumstance. ^(CD)The Lord be with you all!

^17 [am]I, Paul, write this greeting ^(CE)with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. ^18 (CF)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.