2 Thessalonians 1-3 (English Standard Version)

2 Thessalonians 1

Greeting

 ^1(A) Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

   

   To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

 ²Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

 ^3(B) We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers,^[a] as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. ⁴Therefore^(C) we ourselves boast about you^(D) in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith^(E) in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

The Judgment at Christ’s Coming

 ⁵This is^(F) evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be^(G) considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— ⁶since indeed God considers it^(H) just^(I) to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷and to grant^(J) relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when^(K) the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven^(L) with his mighty angels ^8(M) in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those^(N) who do not know God and on those who^(O) do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹They will suffer the punishment of^(P) eternal destruction,^(Q) away from^[b] the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, ^10(R) when he comes on^(S) that day^(T) to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our^(U) testimony to you^(V) was believed. ¹¹To this end we^(W) always pray for you, that our God may^(X) make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every^(Y) work of faith by his power, ¹²so that the name of our Lord Jesus^(Z) may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2

The Man of Lawlessness

 ¹Now concerning^(AA) the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our^(AB) being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,^{[c] 2}not to be quickly shaken in mind or^(AC) alarmed, either^(AD) by a spirit or a^(AE) spoken word, or^(AF) a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. ^3(AG) Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come,^(AH) unless the rebellion comes first, and^(AI) the man of lawlessness^[d] is revealed,^(AJ) the son of destruction,^{[e] 4}who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God,^(AK) proclaiming himself to be God. ⁵Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. ⁷For^(AL) the mystery of lawlessness^(AM) is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. ⁸And then^(AN) the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus^(AO) will kill with^(AP) the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by^(AQ) the appearance of his coming. ⁹The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan^(AR) with all power and false signs and wonders, ¹⁰and with all wicked deception for^(AS) those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹Therefore^(AT) God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe^(AU) what is false, ¹²in order that all may be condemned^(AV) who did not believe the truth but^(AW) had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

 ¹³But^(AX) we ought always to give thanks to God for you,^(AY) brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you^(AZ) as the firstfruits^[f](BA) to be saved,^(BB) through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. ¹⁴To this he called you through^(BC) our gospel,^(BD) so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵So then, brothers,^(BE) stand firm and hold to^(BF) the traditions that you were taught by us, either^(BG) by our spoken word or by our letter.

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

2 Thessalonians 3

Pray for Us

 ¹Finally, brothers,^[g](BK) pray for us, that^(BL) the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,^[h] as happened among you, ²and^(BM) that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For^(BN) not all have faith. ³But^(BO) the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and^(BP) guard you against^(BQ) the evil one.^{[i] 4}And^(BR) we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. ⁵May the Lord^(BS) direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

 ⁶Now we command you, brothers,^(BT) in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(BU) that you keep away from any^(BV) brother^(BW) who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. ⁷For you yourselves know^(BX) how you ought to imitate us, because^(BY) we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but^(BZ) with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹It was^(CA) not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves^(CB) an example to imitate. ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we would give you this command:^(CC) If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹For we hear that some among you^(CD) walk in idleness, not busy at work, but^(CE) busybodies. ¹²Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.^[j]

 ¹³As for you, brothers,^(CF) do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and^(CG) have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. ^15(CH) Do not regard him as an enemy, but^(CI) warn him as a brother.

Benediction

 ¹⁶Now may^(CJ) the Lord of peace himself^(CK) give you peace at all times in every way.^(CL) The Lord be with you all.

 ¹⁷I, Paul, write^(CM) this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. ^18(CN) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.