1 Now concerning the coming  * 2:1 1Th 1:10; 1Jn 2:28 of our Lord  * 2:1 Rv 11:8 Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy  * 2:2 Or spiritual utterance,* 2:2 1Jn 4:1 or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord  * 2:2 Other mss read Christ,* 2:2 Mt 25:13; Ac 2:20; Php 1:6 has come.  * 2:2 2Tm 2:18; 1Jn 2:283 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy  * 2:3 Or rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness  * 2:3 Other mss read man of sin is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god  * 2:4 1Co 8:5 or object of worship,  * 2:4 Is 14:12–15; Ezk 28:2; Ac 17:23 so that he sits  * 2:4 Other mss add as God in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.

5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? 6 And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time.  * 2:6 Lk 21:87 For the mystery of lawlessness  * 2:7 Mt 13:41 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  * 2:8 Is 11:4; 30:28 and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie,  * 2:9 Mt 24:24; Mk 13:22; Rv 13:1310 and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved.  * 2:10 Ac 16:30; Eph 2:811 For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, 12 so that all will be condemned  * 2:12 Jn 5:22–30  — those who did not believe  * 2:12 Jn 6:64 the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.

13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning  * 2:13 Other mss read because as a firstfruit God has chosen  * 2:13 Rm 9:11; 11:5; Eph 1:4; 1Th 1:4 you for salvation through sanctification  * 2:13 Rm 6:19; 1Co 1:30; 1Th 4:3; 1Tm 2:15; Heb 12:14; 1Pt 1:2 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  * 2:14 Lk 9:32; Jn 17:24; 2Co 3:18; 1Pt 5:1,4; 2Pt 3:18 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm  * 2:15 Rm 14:4; 1Co 16:13; Php 1:27 and hold to the traditions you were taught,  * 2:15 Mk 7:3; 1Tm 4:11; Jd 3 whether by what we said or what we wrote.

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved  * 2:16 Jn 3:16; Rv 12:11 us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.