Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 Brothers and sisters, we have a request for you concerning our Lord Jesus Christ's coming and when we are gathered together to be with him.
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Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,
2 We don't want you to be easily confused in your mind or upset if you hear that the day of the Lord is already here, whether you hear it through some spirit, a message, or a letter supposedly from us.
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not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. That day won't come unless the rebellion comes first and the person who is lawless is revealed, who is headed for destruction.
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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,
4 He is the opponent of every so-called god or object of worship and promotes himself over them. So he sits in God's temple, displaying himself to show that he is God.
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who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 You remember that I used to tell you these things while I was with you, don't you?
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Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 Now you know what holds him back so that he can be revealed when his time comes.
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And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
7 The hidden plan to live without any law is at work now, but it will be secret only until the one who is holding it back is out of the way.
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For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
8 Then the person who is lawless will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath from his mouth. When the Lord comes, his appearance will put an end to him.
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And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
9 When the person who is lawless comes, it will happen through Satan's effort, with all kinds of fake power, signs, and wonders.
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The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
10 It will happen with every sort of wicked deception of those who are heading toward destruction because they have refused to love the truth that would allow them to be saved.
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and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
11 This is why God will send them an influence that will mislead them so that they will believe the lie.
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Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,
12 The result will be that everyone will be judged who is not convinced by the truth but is happy with injustice.
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in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we always must thank God for you, brothers and sisters who are loved by God. This is because he chose you from the beginning to be the first crop of the harvest. This brought salvation, through your dedication to God by the Spirit and through your belief in the truth.
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But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
14 God called all of you through our good news so you could possess the honor of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions we taught you, whether we taught you in person or through our letter.
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So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
16 Our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and a good hope.
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Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
17 May he encourage your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do or say.
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comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025