The Man of Lawlessness

Now concerning the coming(A) of our Lord(B) Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy[a](C) or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord[b](D) has come.(E) Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy[c] comes first and the man of lawlessness[d] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god(F) or object of worship,(G) so that he sits[e] in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.

Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time.(H) For the mystery of lawlessness(I) is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth(J) and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie,(K) 10 and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved.(L) 11 For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, 12 so that all will be condemned(M)—those who did not believe(N) the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2:2 Or spiritual utterance
  2. 2:2 Other mss read Christ
  3. 2:3 Or rebellion
  4. 2:3 Other mss read man of sin
  5. 2:4 Other mss add as God

The Man of Lawlessness

As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters,(A) not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.(B) Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one[a] is revealed, the one destined for destruction.[b](C) He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.(D) Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed.(E) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus[c] will destroy[d] with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming.(F) The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders,(G) 10 and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.(H) 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false,(I) 12 so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.(J)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2.3 Gk the man of lawlessness; other ancient authorities read the man of sin
  2. 2.3 Gk the son of destruction
  3. 2.8 Other ancient authorities lack Jesus
  4. 2.8 Other ancient authorities read consume