2 Thessalonians 1:8-3:2

English Standard Version

^8 (A)in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those ^(B)who do not know God and on those who ^(C)do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ They will suffer the punishment of ^(D)eternal destruction, ^(E)away from^[a] the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, ^10 (F)when he comes on ^(G)that day ^(H)to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our ^(I)testimony to you ^(J)was believed. ¹¹ To this end we ^(K)always pray for you, that our God may ^(L)make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every ^(M)work of faith by his power, ¹² so that the name of our Lord Jesus ^(N)may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Man of Lawlessness

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

Stand Firm

¹³ But ^(AM)we ought always to give thanks to God for you, ^(AN)brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you ^(AO)as the firstfruits^{[e] (AP)}to be saved, ^(AQ)through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. ¹⁴ To this he called you through ^(AR)our gospel, ^(AS)so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers, ^(AT)stand firm and hold to ^(AU)the traditions that you were taught by us, either ^(AV)by our spoken word or by ^(AW)our letter.

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

Pray for Us

3 Finally, brothers,^{[f] (BA)}pray for us, that ^(BB)the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,^[g] as happened among you, ² and ^(BC)that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For ^(BD)not all have faith.