The Man of Lawlessness and the Day of the Lord
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
2Thess.2.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Ερωτωμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- δε: CONJ
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- υπερ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- παρουσιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: PROPN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- επισυναγωγης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- επ᾽αυτον: PREP+PRON,acc,sg,3,m
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (verbal): Uses the same language of the Lord's coming (parousia) and the subsequent gathering/being caught up of believers to meet the Lord — closely parallels the concern of 2 Thess 2:1.
- John 14:3 (verbal): Jesus promises 'I will come again and will take you to myself,' echoing the theme of Christ's return and the Lord personally receiving/gathering his people.
- Titus 2:13 (thematic): Speaks of waiting for 'the blessed hope, the appearing (epiphaneia) of the glory' of Jesus Christ — the eschatological expectation of Christ's presence that underlies 2 Thess 2:1.
- Matthew 24:31 (thematic): Describes the Son of Man sending his angels to gather his elect at his coming, paralleling the motif of gathering believers at Christ's return in 2 Thess 2:1.
- 1 Corinthians 15:23-24 (verbal): Links Christ's coming with the future consummation and the arrival of those who belong to Christ 'at his coming,' echoing the chronological and salvific dimensions of the parousia and gathering in 2 Thess 2:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,
- Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,
2Thess.2.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μη: PART
- ταχεως: ADV
- σαλευθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- απο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- νοος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μηδε: CONJ
- θροεισθαι: VERB,pres,pass,inf
- μητε: CONJ
- δια: PREP
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- μητε: CONJ
- δια: PREP
- λογου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μητε: CONJ
- δι᾽επιστολης: PREP+NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ως: ADV
- δι᾽ημων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,1
- ως: ADV
- οτι: CONJ
- ενεστηκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 (structural): Immediate context: the same paragraph clarifies and expands the warning—denying that the Day of the Lord has already come and explaining why believers should not be unsettled.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (thematic): Shared theme of the 'Day of the Lord' and the danger of false expectations or sudden reports about its arrival.
- Galatians 1:6-9 (verbal): Paul rebukes the church for being quickly turned to a different message and rejects teachings 'as from us' (or from apostles), paralleling the concern about misleading words, spirits, or letters purportedly authoritative.
- 2 Corinthians 11:4,13-15 (thematic): Warning about false teachers and 'another Jesus' who deceive believers—parallels the concern that deceptive spirits/words/letters can unsettle the community.
- Matthew 24:23-27 (thematic): Jesus warns against false messianic appearances and deceptive claims that 'the time is near,' echoing the admonition not to be alarmed by reports that the Lord's day has come.
Alternative generated candidates
- not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter as though from us, that the day of the Lord has come.
- that you not be quickly shaken from your mind or alarmed, whether by spirit or by word or by letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
2Thess.2.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- εξαπατηση: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- κατα: PREP
- μηδενα: PRON,acc,sg,m
- τροπον·οτι: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εαν: CONJ
- μη: PART
- ελθη: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αποστασια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- πρωτον: ADV
- και: CONJ
- αποκαλυφθη: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ανθρωπος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ανομιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- απωλειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 24:10-12 (thematic): Foretells a widespread falling away and increase of lawlessness in the end times, paralleling the 'apostasia' and the rise of lawlessness in 2 Thess 2:3.
- 1 John 2:18 (thematic): Speaks of 'antichrists' coming in the last hour, linking the expectation of a future deceptive figure to the 'man of lawlessness' motif.
- John 17:12 (verbal): Uses the exact phrase 'son of perdition' (huios tēs apoleias) for Judas; the shared wording ties the New Testament's language of destruction to the figure in 2 Thess 2:3.
- Daniel 8:25 (allusion): Describes a boastful, deceitful ruler who brings about destruction—background Old Testament imagery often associated with the eschatological 'man of lawlessness.'
- 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (thematic): Summarizes moral and religious decline in the last days (people failing in faith and love), echoing the apostasy and lawlessness anticipated in 2 Thess 2:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
- Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.
2Thess.2.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αντικειμενος: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- υπεραιρομενος: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- λεγομενον: VERB,pres,pass,part,acc,sg,n
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- σεβασμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ωστε: CONJ
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ναον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- καθισαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αποδεικνυντα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,sg,m
- εαυτον: PRON,acc,sg,masc,reflex
- οτι: CONJ
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Daniel 11:36 (verbal): Describes a king who 'exalts himself and magnifies himself above every god,' closely echoing the language of self-exaltation above every called god.
- Isaiah 14:12-14 (thematic): Portrays a proud figure who aspires to ascend above God and be like the Most High—a theme of arrogant self-exaltation reflected in 2 Thess 2:4.
- Ezekiel 28:2-3 (verbal): Condemns a ruler who says 'I am a god' and sits 'in the midst of the seas,' paralleling the claim and posture of being God in 2 Thessalonians.
- Matthew 24:15 (cf. Mark 13:14) (allusion): Jesus' warning about the 'abomination of desolation' standing in the holy place echoes the image of an adversary setting himself up in God's temple.
- Revelation 13:6-8 (thematic): The beast blasphemes God and receives worship from the world, paralleling the lawless one's proclamation of deity and demand for worship.
Alternative generated candidates
- who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
- He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
2Thess.2.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- μνημονευετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- ετι: ADV
- ων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- προς: PREP
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ελεγον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same teaching about the apostasy and the 'man of lawlessness' that Paul had previously told them — shows the present verse refers back to earlier instruction.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 (structural): Directly follows v.5 and recalls what the Thessalonians already 'know' about the restraining force, reinforcing Paul's reminder that he taught these matters earlier.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (thematic): Paul's earlier instruction about the coming of the Lord and the fate of believers — another instance where he reminds the church of teaching he has already given concerning eschatological events.
- John 14:29 (verbal): Jesus' statement 'I have told you this beforehand' parallels the language and purpose of reminding hearers of prior instruction so they might understand or believe when it occurs.
- Mark 13:23 (verbal): Jesus' warning 'But take heed; behold, I have told you all things beforehand' echoes the rhetorical move of reminding recipients that they have already been taught key signs and warnings.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
- Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
2Thess.2.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- νυν: ADV
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- κατεχον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,n
- οιδατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- αποκαλυφθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- εαυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- καιρω·: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (verbal): Immediate context: continues the same thought about the restraining force and the 'mystery of lawlessness' already at work, explaining what is 'withholding' until the revealed time.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (verbal): Close verbal and thematic parallel: earlier verse speaks of 'that man of sin be revealed,' using the same verb for 'revealed' (apokaλυφθη), tying the withholding to the timing of the lawless one's disclosure.
- Acts 1:7 (thematic): Jesus' statement that the Father has fixed the 'times and seasons' and that it is not for the disciples to know parallels the idea that revelation occurs 'in his own time'—God determines the timing of eschatological disclosure.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 (thematic): Paul warns not to judge before the Lord comes, since the Lord will bring to light things now hidden and disclose motives—resonates with the theme that certain realities will be revealed only at the appointed time.
- Ephesians 1:10 (thematic): Speaks of God's plan being carried out 'in the stewardship of the fullness of times' culminating in the administration revealed in Christ—parallels the notion of divine timing for the final revelation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you know what is restraining him now, so that in his time he may be revealed.
- And now you know what restrains, so that he may be revealed in his time.
2Thess.2.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- γαρ: PART
- μυστηριον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ηδη: ADV
- ενεργειται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ανομιας·μονον: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κατεχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- αρτι: ADV
- εως: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- μεσου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- γενηται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (verbal): Same pericope: introduces the 'man of lawlessness' and the activity of lawlessness; 2:7's 'mystery of lawlessness' echoes the person and program described in 2:3–4.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (structural): Immediate literary parallel: verse 7 describes the present restraining, verse 8 describes the future unveiling and destruction of the lawless one—together they form the restrainer/revealer sequence.
- Daniel 7:25 (allusion): Daniel's 'little horn' that opposes the holy ones and alters times and law provides a prophetic background for a lawless eschatological ruler whose activity is temporarily constrained.
- Revelation 13:1-7 (thematic): The beast imagery—blasphemous, persecuting, and empowered for a limited time—parallels the lawless figure whose activity is enabled until a divinely appointed removal occurs.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only the one who now restrains will continue to restrain until he is removed.
- For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only the one who now restrains will continue until he is removed.
2Thess.2.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- τοτε: ADV
- αποκαλυφθησεται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ανομος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ανελει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- στοματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- καταργησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- επιφανεια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- παρουσιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Isaiah 11:4 (verbal): Uses nearly identical language—'breath/lips' and judicial slaying—to describe the Lord's decisive judgment on the wicked, echoing 'the Spirit/breath of his mouth' that destroys the lawless one.
- Revelation 19:15 (verbal): Portrays the returning Christ executing judgment by a word/weapon from his mouth ('sharp sword' from his mouth) and striking the nations—paralleling the motif of destruction effected through Christ's mouth at his coming.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (thematic): Within the same letter the coming of Christ is depicted as bringing relief to believers and destructive retribution to those who do not know God—reinforcing the theme of the Lord's advent bringing punitive judgment.
- 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 (thematic): Speaks of Christ destroying all rule, authority, and power before the end—theological parallel to the lawless one's destruction at Christ's appearing in 2 Thess 2:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the appearing of his coming.
- And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow by the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the revelation of his coming.
2Thess.2.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- παρουσια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- κατ᾽ενεργειαν: PREP+NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Σατανα: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- δυναμει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- σημειοις: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- τερασιν: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- ψευδους: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Matthew 24:24 (verbal): Jesus warns that false christs and false prophets will show great signs and wonders to deceive—uses the same idea of deceiving 'signs and wonders' as in 2 Thess 2:9.
- Revelation 13:13-14 (verbal): The beast performs great signs (granted by the dragon) to deceive the inhabitants of the earth, paralleling satanic-powered signs and wonders that mislead people.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11 (structural): Immediate context: God sends a strong delusion so that those who refuse the truth will believe the lie—complements v.9's depiction of satanic signs and wonders as means of deception.
- 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (allusion): Paul portrays Satan as disguising himself as an angel of light and his servants as servants of righteousness, linking the theme of diabolical deception behind false miracles and claims.
Alternative generated candidates
- His coming is by the activity of Satan with all power and signs and false wonders,
- His coming is by the activity of Satan with all power and signs and false wonders,
2Thess.2.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- απατη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αδικιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- απολλυμενοις: PART,pres,mid/pass,dat,pl,m
- ανθ᾽ων: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αγαπην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αληθειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εδεξαντο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- σωθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- αυτους·: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Romans 1:25 (verbal): Speaks of people exchanging the truth for a lie—paralleling 2 Thess 2:10’s emphasis on rejection/refusal of the truth and being given over to deception.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 (thematic): Describes the blinding power of the ‘god of this age’ so that unbelievers do not see the light of the gospel, corresponding to 2 Thess 2:10’s theme of deception and perishing for those who do not accept the truth.
- John 3:19-20 (thematic): Portrays humanity’s love of darkness rather than light and consequent condemnation—echoing 2 Thess 2:10’s diagnosis that failure to receive the love of the truth leads to perdition under deception.
- Matthew 13:14-15 (cf. Isaiah 6:9-10) (quotation): Jesus quotes Isaiah about hardened hearts who hear but do not understand and so are not healed—an OT/NT pattern of divine judicial hardening linked to refusal of truth, resonant with 2 Thess 2:10.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11 (structural): The immediate context and continuation: God sends a strong delusion so that those who refused the truth will believe the lie—directly develops the consequence named in 2 Thess 2:10.
Alternative generated candidates
- and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth that might have saved them.
- and with all deception of unrighteousness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved.
2Thess.2.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- δια: PREP
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- πεμπει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ενεργειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- πλανης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πιστευσαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ψευδει: NOUN,dat,sg,nt
Parallels
- Rom.11.8 (verbal): Paul says God 'gave them a spirit of stupor' (spirit of stupor/blindness), closely matching 2 Thess 2:11's language of God sending a delusion as a judicial act that prevents belief in the truth.
- Isa.29.10 (allusion): Isaiah speaks of the LORD pouring out a spirit of deep sleep and closing eyes—an Old Testament background for divine sending of blindness/delusion echoed in the NT.
- Rom.1.28 (thematic): 'God gave them over' to a debased mind after they exchanged the truth for a lie; shares the theme of divine judicial abandonment resulting in acceptance of falsehood.
- Ps.81.12 (thematic): 'So I gave them up to their stubborn heart' (Hebrew/ LXX parallels) — an earlier example of God surrendering people to their own delusion/stubbornness, thematically akin to 2 Thess 2:11.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore God sends upon them a working of error, so that they may believe what is false,
- Therefore God sends them a powerful delusion, so that they may believe what is false,
2Thess.2.12 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ινα: CONJ
- κριθωσιν: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,pl
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μη: PART
- πιστευσαντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- αληθεια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αλλα: CONJ
- ευδοκησαντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- αδικια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10 (verbal): Same paragraph: speaks of those who refuse to ‘love the truth’ and thus perish—closely parallel language and purpose explaining unbelief's consequence.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11 (structural): Immediate context: God sends a deluding influence so that those who reject truth believe the lie, producing the condemnation described in v.12.
- John 3:18 (thematic): Declares that failure to believe in the truth (the Son) results in condemnation—same theme of unbelief bringing judgment.
- John 3:19 (thematic): States people ‘loved darkness rather than light’ because their deeds were evil, paralleling the idea of taking pleasure in unrighteousness rather than embracing truth.
- Romans 1:28-32 (thematic): Describes God ‘giving them up’ when people refuse to acknowledge God, leading to moral degradation and approval of unrighteous behavior—parallels unbelief coupled with delight in sinful conduct and its judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- in order that all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.
- in order that all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,
not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the son of destruction.
He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in God’s temple and proclaims himself to be God.
Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only there is one who now restrains until he is out of the way.
Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow by the breath of his mouth and destroy by the brightness of his coming.
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they refused to love the truth so as to be saved.
Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, that they should believe what is false,
so that all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.