2 Thessalonians 2
2
Man of Lawlessness
1Now in regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our #2:1 I.e. the rapture of believers.gathering together to meet Him, we ask you, #2:1 Lit brethren.brothers and sisters, [Mark 13:27; 1 Thess 2:19; 4:15-17] 2not to be quickly unsettled or alarmed either by a [so-called prophetic revelation of a] spirit or a message or a letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] come. 3Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the #2:3 Paul is referring to a specific, future event.apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed], [Dan 7:25; 8:25; 1 Tim 4:1] 4who opposes and exalts himself [so proudly and so insolently] above #2:4 Or everyone who is called God.every so-called god or object of worship, so that he [actually enters and] takes his seat in the temple of God, publicly proclaiming that he himself is God. [Ezek 28:2; Dan 11:36, 37] 5Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6And you know what restrains him now [from being revealed]; it is so that he will be revealed at his own [appointed] time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness [rebellion against divine authority and the coming reign of lawlessness] is already at work; [but it is restrained] only until He who now restrains it is taken out of the way. 8Then the lawless one [the Antichrist] will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by the appearance of His coming. [Is 11:4] 9The coming of the [Antichrist, the lawless] one is through the activity of Satan, [attended] with great power [all kinds of counterfeit miracles] and [deceptive] signs and false wonders [all of them lies], 10and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the love of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind, and rejected the truth that would have saved them]. 11Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie, 12in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness.
13But we should and are [morally] obligated [as debtors] always to give thanks to God for you, believers beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through the #2:13 There are two kinds of sanctification: first, positional sanctification means set apart for God and in some instances set apart for God’s purpose; second, practical sanctification is a progressive process and means growing in righteous living. This is dependent on a person’s reliance on the Holy Spirit.sanctifying work of the Spirit [that sets you apart for God’s purpose] and by your faith in the truth [of God’s word that leads you to spiritual maturity]. 14It was to this end that He called you through our gospel [the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection], so that you may obtain and share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15So then, #2:15 Lit brethren.brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold [tightly] to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and encouragement and the good [well-founded] hope [of salvation] by His grace, 17comfort and encourage and strengthen your hearts [keeping them steadfast and on course] in every good work and word.
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2 Thessalonians 2
2
The Coming of the Lord
1Now, regarding the coming # 2:1 Or “presence.” of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, # 2:1 The noun form of the Greek word for “gathering together” (episunagoge) is found twice in the New Testament, here and in Heb. 10:25. It is used as a verb (episunago) in Matt. 23:37; 24:31. we plead with you, beloved friends, 2not to be easily confused or disturbed in your minds by any kind of spirit, rumor, or letter allegedly from us, claiming that the day of the Lord # 2:2 This is a common term that describes the day of the Lord’s judgment. (See Jer. 30:7; Joel 1:15; 2:1–2; Amos 5:18; Zech. 1:14–18.) has already come. 3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. Before that day comes the rebellion # 2:3 Or “apostasy” or “abandonment” (falling away). must occur and the “outlaw” # 2:3 A few manuscripts have “the man who missed the mark” (i.e., Adam), while others have “the person owned by [associated with] lawlessness.” —the destructive son—will be revealed in his true light. 4He is the opposing counterpart who exalts himself over everything that is called “God” or is worshiped # 2:4 See Dan. 11:36. and who sits enthroned in God’s temple # 2:4 Some see this prophecy fulfilled in AD 70 during the Roman war, when foreigners came into the temple and desecrated it and declared themselves the true rulers of the Jewish people. Roman emperors were considered to be gods. But the one who sits in God’s temple, which was not made with hands, is the sin of man, a sinful nature that is traced back to Adam. and makes himself out to be a god. # 2:4 See also Ezek. 28:2. 5Don’t you remember that when I was with you I went over all these things?
6Now you are aware of the ruling power # 2:6 An intransitive verb meaning “to rule” or “to hold sway” or “to possess.” The Aramaic likewise is “Now you know that which controls.” The neuter form of the Greek participle suggests a principle, not a person, which could be referring to the mystery of lawlessness in human hearts (v. 7). However, some see “it” as the god of this world (Satan) or the Roman Empire, which ruled the world in the days of Paul’s writings. so that he may be fully revealed when his time comes. 7For the mystery of lawlessness # 2:7 Or “the secret power of lawlessness/wickedness.” is already active, but the one who prevails # 2:7 Or “restrains.” will do so until he is separated from out of the midst. # 2:7 Or “until he is removed.” 8Then the “outlaw” will be openly revealed, and the Lord will overthrow him by the breath of his mouth # 2:8 Figuratively, this is the word spoken from his mouth, the Word of God. See also Rev. 19:15, 21. and bring him to an end # 2:8 Or “deactivate.” by the dazzling manifestation of his presence. # 2:8 Or “coming.”
9The presence # 2:9 Or “coming.” of the “outlaw” is apparent by the activity of Satan, who uses all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, spurious wonders, 10and every form of evil deception in order to deceive those who are perishing because they rejected the love of the truth # 2:10 Or “did not welcome the love for the truth.” that would lead them to being saved. 11Because of this, God sends them a powerful delusion # 2:11 Or “a [power] working of error.” The Aramaic can be translated “God will dispatch to them servants of deception.” that leads them to believe what is false. 12So then all who found their pleasure in unrighteousness and did not believe the truth will be judged.
Chosen for Wholeness
13We always have to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, for you are dearly loved by the Lord. He proved it by choosing you from the beginning for salvation # 2:13 Or “He has chosen you as firstfruits [in the harvest] for salvation.” through the Spirit, who set you apart for holiness, and through your belief in the truth. # 2:13 Or “by sanctifying your spirits and convincing you of his truth.” 14To this end he handpicked you for salvation through the gospel so that you would have # 2:14 Or “share in” or “possess.” This is the Greek word peripoiēsis, which means “an encompassing,” “a surrounding” or “encircling.” Believers are brought within the perimeter of the glory of God through Jesus Christ. There is nothing in the context to imply it is a future event, but rather a present enjoyment and participation in the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:10, 22). the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. # 2:14 These two verses (13–14) contain some of the most wonderful truths of the New Testament. Read them over again slowly and think about all that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit have done for us (e.g., his eternal love, the drawing work of the Holy Spirit, sanctification or being set apart for holiness, faith in Jesus, and much more). Paul states in v. 14 that the purpose of our salvation is more than being set free from guilt; it is so that we would share in and possess the glory of Christ (John 17:10, 22).
15So then, dear family, stand firm with a masterful grip of the teachings # 2:15 Or “traditions.” we gave you, either by word of mouth or by our letter. # 2:15 The “letter” Paul refers to is likely 1 Thessalonians.
16Now may the Lord Jesus Christ and our Father God, who loved us and in his wonderful grace gave us eternal comfort and a beautiful hope that cannot fail, 17encourage your hearts and inspire you with strength to always do and speak what is good and beautiful in his eyes. # 2:17 The Aramaic can be translated “He will comfort your hearts and will stand by all [your] words and by all (your) beautiful deeds.” Another possible Aramaic translation of this verse is “He will make your hearts a well of prophecy and he will stand you in every word and in every beautiful deed.”
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