2:1 Now regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered so as to be with him,¹ we ask you, brothers and sisters,² 2:2 that you not be easily³ shaken from your composure or be disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us,⁴ to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not be here unless⁵ the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness⁶ is revealed, the son of destruction.⁷ 2:4 He⁸ opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat⁹ in God’s temple, displaying himself as God.¹⁰ 2:5 Surely you recall¹¹ that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you. 2:6 And so¹² you know what holds him back,¹³ so that he will be revealed in his own time. 2:7 For the hidden power of lawlessness¹⁴ is already at work. However, the one who holds him back¹⁵ will do so until he is taken out of the way, 2:8 and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord¹⁶ will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his coming. 2:9 The coming of the lawless one¹⁷ will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles¹⁸ and signs and false wonders, 2:10 and with every kind of evil deception directed against¹⁹ those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth²⁰ so as to be saved. 2:11 Consequently²¹ God sends on them a deluding influence²² that they may believe what is false. 2:12 And so they will all²³ be judged²⁴ who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil.

2:13 But we ought to give thanks for you always, brothers and sisters²⁵ loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning²⁶ for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 2:14 He called you to this salvation²⁷ through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.²⁸ 2:15 Therefore, brothers and sisters,²⁹ stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.³⁰ 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 2:17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you³¹ in every good thing you do or say.³²