⁸ The Lord’s message^(A) rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.^(B) Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned^(C) to God from idols^(D) to serve the living and true God,^{(E) 10} and to wait for his Son from heaven,^(F) whom he raised from the dead^(G)—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.^(H)

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ^(A) and our being gathered to him,^(B) we ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter^(C)—asserting that the day of the Lord^(D) has already come.^{(E) 3} Don’t let anyone deceive you^(F) in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion^(G) occurs and the man of lawlessness^[a] is revealed,^(H) the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God^(I) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.^(J)

²⁰ But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up^(A) in your most holy faith^(B) and praying in the Holy Spirit,^{(C) 21} keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait^(D) for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.^(E)

²² Be merciful to those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them from the fire;^(F) to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.^[a](G)