2 Thessalonians 1-3

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.

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

God’s Judgment and Glory

³We 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) ⁴Therefore, we ourselves boast^(G) about you among God’s churches—about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you endure. ⁵It 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) ⁶since it is righteous for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you ⁷and 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, ⁸taking 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) ⁹These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction^(N) from the Lord’s presence^(O) and from His glorious strength^(P) ¹⁰in 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. ¹¹And 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) ¹²so 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, ²not 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) ³Don’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. ⁴He 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.

⁵Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I told you about this? ⁶And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time.^(AF) ⁷For the mystery of lawlessness^(AG) is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, ⁸and 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. ⁹The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders,^(AI) ¹⁰and 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) ¹¹For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, ¹²so that all will be condemned^(AK)—those who did not believe^(AL) the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

¹³But 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. ¹⁴He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory^(AO) of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵Therefore, brothers, stand firm^(AP) and hold to the traditions you were taught,^(AQ) either by our message or by our letter.

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

Pray for Us

3 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,^(AS) ²and that we may be delivered^(AT) from wicked and evil men, for not all have faith.^[h] ³But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one.^(AU) ⁴We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do what we command. ⁵May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.^(AV)

Warning against Irresponsible Behavior

⁶Now we command you, brothers, in the name^(AW) of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother^(AX) who walks irresponsibly and not according to the tradition^(AY) received^(AZ) from us. ⁷For you yourselves know how you must imitate^(BA) us: We were not irresponsible among you; ⁸we did not eat^(BB) anyone’s food^[i] free of charge;^(BC) instead, we labored^(BD) and struggled,^(BE) working^(BF) night and day, so that we would not be a burden^(BG) to any of you. ⁹It is not that we don’t have the right^(BH) to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate^(BI) us. ¹⁰In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”^(BJ) ¹¹For we hear that there are some among you who walk irresponsibly, not working at all, but interfering with the work of others.^(BK) ¹²Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ that quietly working, they may eat their own food.^[j] ¹³Brothers, do not grow weary^(BL) in doing good.

¹⁴And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵Yet don’t treat him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Final Greetings

¹⁶May the Lord of peace^(BM) Himself give you peace always in every way.^(BN) The Lord be with all of you.^(BO) ¹⁷This greeting is in my own hand^(BP)—Paul. This is a sign in every letter; this is how I write. ¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.