2 Thessalonians 1-2

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus,^[a](A) and Timothy:^(B)

To the church of the Thessalonians^(C) in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Judgment and Glory

³ We must always thank God for you, brothers. This is right, since your faith is flourishing and the love^(D) each one of you has for one another^(E) is increasing.^{(F) 4} Therefore, we ourselves boast^(G) about you among God’s churches—about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you endure. ⁵ It is a clear evidence of God’s righteous^(H) judgment^(I) that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering,^{(J) 6} since it is righteous for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you ⁷ and to reward with rest you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful angels, ⁸ taking vengeance with flaming fire^(K) on those who don’t know God^(L) and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.^{(M) 9} These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction^(N) from the Lord’s presence^(O) and from His glorious strength^{(P) 10} in that day when He comes^(Q) to be glorified^(R) by His saints^(S) and to be admired by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed. ¹¹ And in view of this, we always pray for you that our God will consider you worthy of His calling,^(T) and will, by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith,^{(U) 12} so that the name^(V) of our Lord Jesus will be glorified^(W) by you, and you by Him,^(X) according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Now concerning the coming^(Y) of our Lord^(Z) Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers, ² not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit^(AA) or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord^[b](AB) has come.^{(AC) 3} 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 son of destruction. ⁴ He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god^(AD) or object of worship,^(AE) so that he sits^[e] in God’s sanctuary,^[f] publicizing that he himself is God.

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I told you about this? ⁶ And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time.^{(AF) 7} For the mystery of lawlessness^(AG) is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, ⁸ and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth^(AH) and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders,^{(AI) 10} and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved.^{(AJ) 11} For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, ¹² so that all will be condemned^(AK)—those who did not believe^(AL) the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

¹³ But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning^[g] God has chosen^(AM) you for salvation through sanctification^(AN) by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory^(AO) of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ Therefore, brothers, stand firm^(AP) and hold to the traditions you were taught,^(AQ) either by our message or by our letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved^(AR) us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, ¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.