The Great Apostasy

Now, brethren, (A)concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (B)and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, (C)not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of [a]Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come (D)unless the falling away comes first, and (E)the man of [b]sin is revealed, (F)the son of perdition, who opposes and (G)exalts himself (H)above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits [c]as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For (I)the [d]mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only [e]He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, (J)whom the Lord will consume (K)with the breath of His mouth and destroy (L)with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is (M)according to the working of Satan, with all power, (N)signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among (O)those who perish, because they did not receive (P)the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And (Q)for this reason God will send them strong delusion, (R)that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but (S)had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Fast

13 But we are [f]bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God (T)from the beginning (U)chose you for salvation (V)through [g]sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for (W)the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, (X)stand fast and hold (Y)the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our [h]epistle.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, (Z)who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and (AA)good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts (AB)and [i]establish you in every good word and work.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 NU the Lord
  2. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 NU lawlessness
  3. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 NU omits as God
  4. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 hidden truth
  5. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Or he
  6. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 under obligation
  7. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 being set apart by
  8. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 letter
  9. 2 Thessalonians 2:17 strengthen

The Man of Lawlessness

Now concerning (A)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our (B)being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,[a] not to be quickly shaken in mind or (C)alarmed, either (D)by a spirit or a (E)spoken word, or (F)a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that (G)the day of the Lord has come. (H)Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, (I)unless the rebellion comes first, and (J)the man of lawlessness[b] is revealed, (K)the son of destruction,[c] 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, (L)proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For (M)the mystery of lawlessness (N)is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then (O)the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus (P)will kill with (Q)the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by (R)the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan (S)with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for (T)those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore (U)God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe (V)what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned (W)who did not believe the truth but (X)had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

13 But (Y)we ought always to give thanks to God for you, (Z)brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you (AA)as the firstfruits[d] (AB)to be saved, (AC)through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through (AD)our gospel, (AE)so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, (AF)stand firm and hold to (AG)the traditions that you were taught by us, either (AH)by our spoken word or by (AI)our letter.

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

Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 13, 15
  2. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Some manuscripts sin
  3. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Greek the son of perdition (a Hebrew idiom)
  4. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Some manuscripts chose you from the beginning

Man of Lawlessness

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, 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. (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, 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. Do you not remember that (O)while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know (P)what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time. 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. 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; 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.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Or presence
  2. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Lit mind
  3. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Lit word
  4. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Or falling away from the faith
  5. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Or everyone who is called God
  6. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Or he
  7. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Or he
  8. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Or out of the way
  9. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Or presence
  10. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Or presence
  11. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 I.e., confirming miracles
  12. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Or every deception
  13. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Lit is sending
  14. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Lit an activity of error
  15. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Or the lie
  16. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Or condemned
  17. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Or approved
  18. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 One early ms first fruits
  19. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Lit in
  20. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Lit of
  21. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 Lit to the obtaining of
  22. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Lit of

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

Events prior to the Lord’s Second Coming

Now, dear brothers and sisters,[a] let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness[b] is revealed—the one who brings destruction.[c] He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.

Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.

This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.

Believers Should Stand Firm

13 As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first[d] to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 14 He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, 17 comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Greek brothers; also in 2:13, 15.
  2. 2:3a Some manuscripts read the man of sin.
  3. 2:3b Greek the son of destruction.
  4. 2:13 Some manuscripts read chose you from the very beginning.