1 Now as to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and our meeting with him, it is our desire, my brothers, 2 That you may not be moved in mind or troubled by a spirit, or by a word, or by a letter as from us, with the suggestion that the day of the Lord is even now come; 3 Give no belief to false words: because there will first be a falling away from the faith, and the revelation of the man of sin, the son of destruction, 4 Who puts himself against all authority, lifting himself up over all which is named God or is given worship; so that he takes his seat in the Temple of God, putting himself forward as God. 5 Have you no memory of what I said when I was with you, giving you word of these things? 6 And now it is clear to you what is keeping back his revelation till the time comes for him to be seen. 7 For the secret of evil is even now at work: but there is one who is keeping back the evil till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then will come the revelation of that evil one, whom the Lord Jesus will put to death with the breath of his mouth, and give to destruction by the revelation of his coming; 9 Even the one whose coming is marked by the working of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 And with every deceit of wrongdoing among those whose fate is destruction; because they were quite without that love of the true faith by which they might have salvation. 11 And for this cause, God will give them up to the power of deceit and they will put their faith in what is false: 12 So that they all may be judged, who had no faith in what is true, but took pleasure in evil. 13 But it is right for us to give praise to God at all times for you, brothers, loved by the Lord, because it was the purpose of God from the first that you might have salvation, being made holy by the Spirit and by faith in what is true: 14 And in this purpose he gave you a part through the good news of which we were the preachers, even that you might have part in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, be strong in purpose, and keep the teaching which has been given to you by word or by letter from us. 16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who had love for us and has given us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 Give you comfort and strength in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians · Bible in Basic English
2 Thessalonians 2 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (17)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17; Mark 13:27; Matthew 24:31; 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19
- 2 1 John 4:1–2; Mark 13:7; Matthew 24:4–6; 2 Thessalonians 3:17; 2 Peter 3:4–8
- 3 Matthew 24:4–6; 1 John 2:18; Ephesians 5:6; 1 Timothy 4:1–3; 2 Thessalonians 2:8–10
- 4 Ezekiel 28:2; Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:6–7; Isaiah 14:13–14; Ezekiel 28:6
- 5 2 Peter 1:15; Matthew 16:9; John 16:4; Galatians 5:21; 2 Thessalonians 3:10
- 6 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:8
- 7 1 John 4:3; Revelation 17:7; 2 Timothy 2:17–18; Revelation 17:5; Acts 20:29
- 8 Revelation 19:20–21; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Isaiah 11:4; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 19:15
- 9 Matthew 24:24; Revelation 19:20; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 11:3; John 4:48
- 10 1 Corinthians 1:18; Proverbs 1:7; 2 Corinthians 4:2–3; 2 Peter 2:12; John 8:45–47
- 11 Romans 1:28; John 12:39–43; 1 Timothy 4:1; Matthew 24:11; Psalm 81:11–12
- 12 Romans 1:32; Romans 8:7–8; Mark 16:16; Romans 2:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:9
- 13 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 1:4–5; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Romans 9:11
- 14 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Peter 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 1:4–5
- 15 1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Philippians 4:1
- 16 John 3:16; Romans 5:2–5; 1 Peter 1:3–8; Titus 3:4–7; Romans 8:24–25
- 17 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Jude 24; Colossians 2:7
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
One may naturally enquire, what is that which withholdeth, and after that would know, why Paul expresses it so obscurely. What then is it that withholdeth, that is, hindereth him from being revealed? Some indeed say, the grace of the Spirit, but others the Roman empire, to whom I most of all accede. Wherefore?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)
And again, speaking of Antichrist, he says, "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped." He points out here those who are called gods, by such as know not God, that is, idols.
… fire coming down out of heaven and consuming them, John meant that blow wherewith Christ in His coming is to strike those persecutors of the Church whom He shall then find alive upon earth, when He shall kill Antichrist with the breath of His mouth, then even this is not the last judgment of the wicked; but the last judgment …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Having called him "man of sin," and "son of perdition," He added, "Whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders; and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish." And see how He secures them; "Go not forth into the deserts, enter not into the secret chambers." He did not say, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
And just as the mustard seed in one small grain contains many branches, so also this Faith has embraced in few words all the knowledge of godliness in the Old and New Testaments. Take heed then, brethren, and hold fast the traditions which ye now receive, and write them an the table of your heart.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)