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.
Footnotes
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Or presence
- 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Lit mind
- 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Lit word
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Or falling away from the faith
- 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Or everyone who is called God
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Or he
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Or he
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Or out of the way
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Or presence
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Or presence
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9 I.e., confirming miracles
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Or every deception
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Lit is sending
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Lit an activity of error
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Or the lie
- 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Or condemned
- 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Or approved
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 One early ms first fruits
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Lit in
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Lit of
- 2 Thessalonians 2:14 Lit to the obtaining of
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Lit of
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Lit run
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Lit who will
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Or from evil
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or avoid
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Lit walks disorderly
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or undisciplined
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 One early ms they
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7 Or imitate us
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Lit from anyone
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Lit freely
- 2 Thessalonians 3:9 Or imitate us
- 2 Thessalonians 3:12 Lit with quietness
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14 Lit word
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14 Lit through
- 2 Thessalonians 3:15 Or keep admonishing
- 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Lit way
- 2 Thessalonians 3:17 Lit The greeting by my hand of Paul
1 Timothy 3
New American Standard Bible
Overseers and Deacons
3 (A)It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the (B)office of [a]overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 [b](C)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, (D)the husband of one wife, [c](E)temperate, self-controlled, respectable, (F)hospitable, (G)skillful in teaching, 3 (H)not overindulging in wine, not [d]a bully, but gentle, not contentious, (I)free from the love of money. 4 He must be one who (J)manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of (K)the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become (L)conceited and fall into (M)condemnation [e]incurred by the devil. 7 And he must (N)have a good reputation with (O)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into [f]disgrace and (P)the snare of the devil.
8 (Q)Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not [g]insincere, (R)not prone to drink much wine, (S)not greedy for money, 9 (T)but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 (U)These men must also first be tested; then have them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11 [h]Women must likewise be dignified, (V)not malicious gossips, but [i](W)temperate, faithful in all things. 12 (X)Deacons must be (Y)husbands of one wife, and [j](Z)good managers of their children and their own households. 13 For those who have served well as deacons (AA)obtain for themselves a [k]high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but [l]in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one should act in (AB)the household of God, which is the (AC)church of (AD)the living God, the (AE)pillar and support of the truth. 16 Beyond question, great is (AF)the mystery of godliness:
He who was (AG)revealed in the flesh,
Was [m](AH)vindicated [n]in the Spirit,
(AI)Seen by angels,
(AJ)Proclaimed among the nations,
(AK)Believed on in the world,
(AL)Taken up in glory.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 3:1 Or bishop
- 1 Timothy 3:2 Lit The
- 1 Timothy 3:2 Or level-headed
- 1 Timothy 3:3 Or combative
- 1 Timothy 3:6 Lit of the devil
- 1 Timothy 3:7 Or reproach
- 1 Timothy 3:8 Or given to double-talk
- 1 Timothy 3:11 I.e., either deacons’ wives or deaconesses
- 1 Timothy 3:11 Or level-headed
- 1 Timothy 3:12 Lit managing well
- 1 Timothy 3:13 Lit good
- 1 Timothy 3:15 Lit if I delay
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Or justified
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Or by
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