Category: 2 Thessalonians

Thanksgiving for Faith and Perseverance

1 Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We ought alwaysandindeed are morally obligated [as those in debt] to give thanks to God for you,brothers and sisters, as is fitting, because your faith is growing ever greater, and the [unselfish]love of each one of you toward one another is continually increasing.

4 Therefore, we speak of you with pride among the churches of God for your steadfastness [your unflinching endurance, and patience] and your firm faith in the midst of all the persecution and [crushing] distress which you endure.

5 This isa positive proof of the righteous judgment of God [a sign of His fair verdict], so that you will be considered worthy of His kingdom, for which indeed you are suffering.

6 For after all it isonlyjust for God to repay with distress those who distress you,

7 and togiverelief to you who are so distressed and to us as well when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in a flame of fire,

8 dealing out [full and complete] vengeance to those who do not [seek to] know God and to those who ignoreandrefuse to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus [by choosing not to respond to Him].

9 These people will pay the penaltyandendure the punishment ofeverlasting destruction, banished from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day [that is, glorified through the changed lives of those who have accepted Him as Savior and have been set apart for His purpose], and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believedandtrusted [and confirmed in your lives].

11 With this in view, we constantly pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of your calling [to faith] and with [His] power fulfill every desire for goodness, and complete [your] every work of faith,

12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you [by what you do], and you in Him, according to the [precious] grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Man of Lawlessness

1 Now in regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and ourgathering together tomeetHim, we ask you,brothers and sisters,

2 not 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.

3 Let no one in any way deceiveorentrap you, forthat day will not comeunless theapostasy 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],

4 who opposes and exalts himself [so proudly and so insolently] aboveevery 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.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I was telling you these things?

6 And you know what restrains him now [from being revealed]; it is so that he will be revealed at his own [appointed] time.

7 For 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.

8 Then 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.

9 The 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],

10 and by unlimited seduction to evilandwith 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].

11 Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie,

12 in order that all may be judgedandcondemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], butinsteadtook pleasure in unrighteousness.

13 But we shouldandare [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 thesanctifying 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].

14 It was to this end that He called you through our gospel [the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection], so that you may obtainandshare in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 So then,brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold [tightly] to the traditions which you were taught, whether by wordof mouthor by letter from us.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfortandencouragement and the good [well-founded] hope [of salvation] byHisgrace,

17 comfortandencourage and strengthen your hearts [keeping them steadfast and on course] in every good work and word.

Exhortation

1 Finally, brothers and sisters, praycontinuallyfor us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be honored [triumphantly celebrated and glorified], just as it was with you;

2 and [pray] that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not everyone has the faith.

3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protectandguard you from the evilone.

4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and willcontinueto do the things [which] we command.

5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastnessandpatience of Christ.

6 Now we command you, believers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christandby His authority, that you withdrawandkeep away from every brother or sister who leads an undisciplined life and does not live in accordance with the traditionandteaching thatyou have received from us.

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplinedorinappropriate manner when we were with you [we were never idle or lazy, nor did we avoid our duties],

8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we worked night and day [to pay our own way] so that we would not be afinancialburden on any of you [for our support];

9 not because we do not have a rightto such support,but [we provided our own financial support] to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.

10 For even while we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he isnot to eat, either.

11 Indeed, we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplinedandinappropriate life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies [meddling in other people’s business].

12 Now such people we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle downandwork quietly and earn their own foodandother necessities [supporting themselves instead of depending on the hospitality of others].

13 And as for [the rest of] you,believers, do not grow tiredorlose heart in doing good [but continue doing what is right without weakening].

14 Now if anyone [in the church] does not obey what we say in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be ashamedandrepent.

15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but keep admonishing him as a [believing] brother.

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all timesandin every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances]. The Lord be with you all.

17 I, Paul, write you this final greeting with my own hand. This is the distinguishing mark in every letter [of mine, that shows it is genuine]. It is the way I write [my handwriting and signature].

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.