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The Lawless One

Now we ask you, brothers, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[a] and our gathering together to him, not to be so quickly upset[b] or alarmed when someone claims that we said,[c] either by some spirit, conversation, or letter that the Day of the Lord has already come. Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for it will not come unless the rebellion[d] takes place first and the man of sin,[e] who is destined for destruction,[f] is revealed. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship. As a result, he seats himself in the sanctuary[g] of God and himself declares that he is God.

Don’t you remember that I repeatedly told you about these things when I was still with you? You know what it is that is now holding him back, so that he will be revealed when his time comes. For the secret of this lawlessness is already at work, but only until the person now holding it back gets out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord[h] will destroy with the breath of his mouth, rendering him powerless by the manifestation of his coming.

The coming of the lawless one[i] will be accompanied by the power of Satan. He will use every kind[j] of power, including miraculous signs, lying wonders, 10 and every type of evil to deceive[k] those who are dying, those who refused to love the truth that would save them.[l] 11 For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie. 12 Then all who have not believed the truth but have taken pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.

13 At all times we are obligated to thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you to be the first fruits[m] for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through faith in the truth. 14 With this purpose in mind, he called you through our proclamation of the[n] gospel so that you would obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.[o] 15 So then, brothers, stand firm, and cling to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth[p] or by our letter. 16 May our Lord Jesus, the Messiah[q] himself, and may God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort[r] and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good action and word.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Or Christ
  2. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Lit. shaken in mind
  3. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Lit. as though by us
  4. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Or apostasy
  5. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Other mss. read man of lawlessness
  6. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Lit. the son of destruction
  7. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Or temple
  8. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Some MSS read Lord Jesus
  9. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Lit. His coming
  10. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Lit. In every kind
  11. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Lit. every evil deception
  12. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Lit. so that they might be saved
  13. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Other mss. read from the beginning
  14. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 The Gk. lacks proclamation of the
  15. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 Or Christ
  16. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Lit. by word
  17. 2 Thessalonians 2:16 Or Christ
  18. 2 Thessalonians 2:16 Or encouragement