2 Thessalonians 2:3-12
Amplified Bible
3 Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the [a]apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed],(A) 4 who opposes and exalts himself [so proudly and so insolently] above [b]every so-called god or object of worship, so that he [actually enters and] takes his seat in the temple of God, publicly proclaiming that he himself is God.(B) 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now [from being revealed]; it is so that he will be revealed at his own [appointed] time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness [rebellion against divine authority and the coming reign of lawlessness] is already at work; [but it is restrained] only until he who now restrains it is taken out of the way. 8 Then the lawless one [the Antichrist] will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by the appearance of His coming.(C) 9 The coming of the [Antichrist, the lawless] one is through the activity of Satan, [attended] with great power [all kinds of counterfeit miracles] and [deceptive] signs and false wonders [all of them lies], 10 and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the love of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind, and rejected the truth that would have saved them]. 11 Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie, 12 in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Paul is referring to a specific, future event.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Or everyone who is called God.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-12
American Standard Version
3 let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of [a]sin be revealed, the son of perdition, 4 he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or [b]that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the [c]temple of God, setting himself forth as God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: [d]only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord [e]Jesus shall [f]slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his [g]coming; 9 even he, whose [h]coming is according to the working of Satan with all [i]power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that [j]perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: 12 that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
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- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Many ancient authorities read lawlessness.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Greek an object of worship. Acts 17:23.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Or, sanctuary
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Or, only until he that now restraineth be taken etc.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Some ancient authorities omit Jesus.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Some ancient authorities read consume.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Greek presence.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Greek presence.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Greek power and signs and wonders of falsehood.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Or, are perishing
2 Thessalonians 2:3-12
Contemporary English Version
3 But don't be fooled! People will rebel against God. Then before the Lord returns, the wicked[a] one who is doomed to be destroyed will appear. 4 (A) He will brag and oppose everything holy or sacred. He will even sit in God's temple and claim to be God. 5 Don't you remember I told you this while I was still with you?
6 You already know what is holding this wicked one back until it is time for him to come. 7 His mysterious power is already at work, but someone is holding him back. And the wicked one won't appear until this someone is out of the way. 8 (B) Then he will appear, but the Lord Jesus will kill him simply by breathing on him. He will be completely destroyed by the Lord's glorious return.
9 (C) When the wicked one appears, Satan will pretend to work all kinds of miracles, wonders, and signs. 10 Lost people will be fooled by his evil deeds. They could be saved, but they will refuse to love the truth and accept it. 11 So God will make sure they are fooled into believing a lie. 12 All of them will be punished, because they would rather do evil than believe the truth.
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- 2.3 wicked: Some manuscripts have “sinful.”
2 Thessalonians 2:3-12
Darby Translation
3 Let not any one deceive you in any manner, because [it will not be] unless the apostasy have first come, and the man of sin have been revealed, the son of perdition;
4 who opposes and exalts himself on high against all called God, or object of veneration; so that he himself sits down in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Do ye not remember that, being yet with you, I said these things to you?
6 And now ye know that which restrains, that he should be revealed in his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness already works; only [there is] he who restrains now until he be gone,
8 and then the lawless one shall be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus shall consume with the breath of his mouth, and shall annul by the appearing of his coming;
9 whose coming is according to the working of Satan in all power and signs and wonders of falsehood,
10 and in all deceit of unrighteousness to them that perish, because they have not received the love of the truth that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God sends to them a working of error, that they should believe what is false,
12 that all might be judged who have not believed the truth, but have found pleasure in unrighteousness.
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2 Thessalonians 2:3-12
English Standard Version
3 (A)Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, (B)unless the rebellion comes first, and (C)the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, (D)the son of destruction,[b] 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, (E)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 (F)the mystery of lawlessness (G)is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then (H)the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus (I)will kill with (J)the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by (K)the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan (L)with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for (M)those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore (N)God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe (O)what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned (P)who did not believe the truth but (Q)had pleasure in unrighteousness.
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- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Some manuscripts sin
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Greek the son of perdition (a Hebrew idiom)
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Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
