2 Thessalonians 2 - 1 Timothy 1

New International Version

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ^(A) and our being gathered to him,^(B) we ask you, brothers and sisters, ² 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) 3} 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. ⁴ 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)

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?^{(K) 6} And now you know what is holding him back,^(L) so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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) 9} 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.

Request for Prayer

3 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,^(AK) pray for us^(AL) that the message of the Lord^(AM) may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.^{(AN) 2} And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people,^(AO) for not everyone has faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful,^(AP) and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.^{(AQ) 4} We have confidence^(AR) in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts^(AS) into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(AT) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from^(AU) every believer who is idle and disruptive^(AV) and does not live according to the teaching^[d] you received from us.^{(AW) 7} For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.^(AX) We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked^(AY) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,^(AZ) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.^{(BA) 10} For even when we were with you,^(BB) we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work^(BC) shall not eat.”

¹¹ We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.^{(BD) 12} Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ^(BE) to settle down and earn the food they eat.^{(BF) 13} And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.^(BG)

¹⁴ Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,^(BH) in order that they may feel ashamed.^{(BI) 15} Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.^(BJ)

Final Greetings

¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace^(BK) himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.^(BL)

¹⁷ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand,^(BM) which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.^(BN)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God^(BO) our Savior^(BP) and of Christ Jesus our hope,^(BQ)

² To Timothy^(BR) my true son^(BS) in the faith:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.^(BT)

Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers

³ As I urged you when I went into Macedonia,^(BU) stay there in Ephesus^(BV) so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines^(BW) any longer ⁴ or to devote themselves to myths^(BX) and endless genealogies.^(BY) Such things promote controversial speculations^(BZ) rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. ⁵ The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart^(CA) and a good conscience^(CB) and a sincere faith.^{(CC) 6} Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. ⁷ They want to be teachers^(CD) of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.^(CE)

⁸ We know that the law is good^(CF) if one uses it properly. ⁹ We also know that the law is made not for the righteous^(CG) but for lawbreakers and rebels,^(CH) the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine^{(CI) 11} that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.^(CJ)

The Lord’s Grace to Paul

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,^(CK) that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.^{(CL) 13} Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor^(CM) and a violent man, I was shown mercy^(CN) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.^{(CO) 14} The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,^(CP) along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.^(CQ)

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying^(CR) that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners^(CS)—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy^(CT) so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience^(CU) as an example for those who would believe^(CV) in him and receive eternal life.^{(CW) 17} Now to the King^(CX) eternal, immortal,^(CY) invisible,^(CZ) the only God,^(DA) be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(DB)

The Charge to Timothy Renewed

¹⁸ Timothy, my son,^(DC) I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you,^(DD) so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,^{(DE) 19} holding on to faith and a good conscience,^(DF) which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.^{(DG) 20} Among them are Hymenaeus^(DH) and Alexander,^(DI) whom I have handed over to Satan^(DJ) to be taught not to blaspheme.