The Bible — World English Bible
2 Thessalonians 2
In brief
In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul answers troubled believers who think that the day of the Lord has already come. He tells them not to be deceived: before that day the apostasy will come and the man of lawlessness will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of his mouth. Paul speaks of deception by falsehood for those who did not love the truth. He then reminds the believers that they are chosen for salvation, urges them to stand firm and prays that they will be comforted.
The chapter in 4 parts
1Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, we ask you
2not to be quickly shaken in your mind, and not be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as if from us, saying that the day of Christ has already come.
3Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction,
4he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.
5Don’t you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things?
6Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.
7For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.
8Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming;
9even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie;
12that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth,
14to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word or by letter.
16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
17comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.
Key verses
not to be quickly shaken in your mind, and not be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as if from us, saying that the day of Christ has already come.
Paul invites the believers not to be shaken by false announcements about the Lord's return, even if they seem to come from him. Discernment protects against panic.
Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.
Before the day of the Lord, the apostasy must come and the man of lawlessness must be revealed. Christian traditions differ on the identity and timing of these events.
and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Deception reaches those who did not receive the love of the truth. The text stresses the love of the truth, not only knowledge.
But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth,
Paul thanks God for the believers, chosen for salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth. The believer's hope rests on God's initiative.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.
Paul prays that God will strengthen hearts with eternal comfort and good hope. God comforts and establishes them for action and for word.
Bible verses to meditate on
What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about 2 Thessalonians 2
What does the man of lawlessness mean in 2 Thessalonians 2?
Paul describes an adversary who exalts himself against God and proclaims himself God before the day of the Lord. Many identify him with the antichrist, but Christians differ: some see a future figure, others a spirit present throughout history. Above all, the text specifies that the Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth.
Who is the one who restrains in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7?
Paul says that something or someone is still restraining lawlessness until its time, but he does not name this restraint. Interpretations vary: government and order, the Holy Spirit, the church, or something else. Since the text does not say, it is wise to hold these views with humility and to keep the main point: God is in control.
What is the message of 2 Thessalonians 2?
Do not let yourself be shaken or deceived about the day of the Lord. Stay anchored in the truth, remember that you are loved and chosen by God, and hold on to what you have been taught. The chapter ends with a prayer for eternal comfort and good hope.
Articles quoting 2 Thessalonians 2
World English Bible translation — public domain.