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The Man of Lawlessness

As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, ²not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. ³Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. ⁴He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. ⁵Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? ⁶And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. ⁷For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. ⁸And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming. ⁹The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, ¹⁰and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, ¹²so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.

Chosen for Salvation

¹³ But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, ¹⁷comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

5 Do ye not remember? This added no small weight to the doctrine, that they had previously heard it from the mouth of Paul, that they might not think that it had been contrived by him at the instant. And as he had given them early warning as to the reign of Antichrist, and the devastation that was coming upon the Church, when no question had as yet been raised as to such things, he saw beyond all doubt that the doctrine was specially useful to be known. And, unquestionably, it is really so. Those whom he addressed were destined to see many things that would trouble them; and when posterity would see a large proportion of those who had made profession of the faith of Christ revolt from piety, maddened, as it were, by a gad-fly, or rather by a fury, ⁶⁵⁰⁶⁵⁰ “Se reuolter de la vraye religion, et se precipiter en ruine comme gens forcenez, ou plustost endiablez;” — “Revolt from the true religion, and plunge themselves in ruin like persons enraged, or rather possessed.” what could they do but waver? This, however, was as a brazen ⁶⁵¹⁶⁵¹ Murus aheneus. See Hor. Ep. 1:1, 60. wall ⁶⁵²⁶⁵² “Mais voici en cest endroit qui leur deuoit seruir d’vne forteresse inuincible;” — “But behold in this matter what would furnish them with an invincible fortress.” — that matters were so appointed by God, because the ingratitude of men ⁶⁵³⁶⁵³ “L’ingratitude execrable et vileine des hommes;” — “The execrable and base ingratitude of men.” was worthy of such vengeance. Here we may see how forgetful men are in matters affecting their everlasting salvation. We must also observe Paul’s mildness; for while he might have been vehemently incensed, ⁶⁵⁴⁶⁵⁴ “Contre les Thessaloniciens;” — “Against the Thessalonians.” he does but mildly reprove them; for it is a fatherly way of reproving them to say to them, that they had allowed forgetfulness of a matter so important and so useful to steal in upon their minds.

⁶⁵⁰ “Se reuolter de la vraye religion, et se precipiter en ruine comme gens forcenez, ou plustost endiablez;” — “Revolt from the true religion, and plunge themselves in ruin like persons enraged, or rather possessed.”

⁶⁵¹ Murus aheneus. See Hor. Ep. 1:1, 60.

⁶⁵² “Mais voici en cest endroit qui leur deuoit seruir d’vne forteresse inuincible;” — “But behold in this matter what would furnish them with an invincible fortress.”

⁶⁵³ “L’ingratitude execrable et vileine des hommes;” — “The execrable and base ingratitude of men.”

⁶⁵⁴ “Contre les Thessaloniciens;” — “Against the Thessalonians.”