2 Thessalonians 2

(1)  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
(2)  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
(3)  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
(4)  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
(5)  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
(6)  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
(7)  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
(8)  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
(9)  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
(10)  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
(11)  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
(12)  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
(13)  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
(14)  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(15)  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
(16)  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
(17)  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

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Study Questions

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1. About what two things did Paul beseech the Thessalonians? Verse 1.

2. About what were the Thessalonians urged not to be “shaken in mind” or troubled? What three possible sources of false information excited them? Verse 2. 3. What were two things that would happen before the day of the Lord? Verse 3.

4. What is another word for “falling away”? What is meant by the phrase “son of perdition”? Verse 3.

5. What two things does the son of perdition do toward all that is worshipped or is called God? Verse 4.

6. If the “temple” referred to is, “the church” (Ephesians 2:21), what person could possibly be identified as “the man of sin” or “the son of perdition”? Verse 4.

7. Did Paul tell the Thessalonians earlier that the coming of Christ was very near or did he tell them the same things now mentioned? Verse 5.

8. It has been pointed out that the words “withholdeth” and “let” come from the same Greek word in the original, and should be rendered “hinder” or “restrain.” What kept the man of sin from appearing before he did? Verse 6.

9. Is the restraining force a person or some abstract force? Verse 7.

10. What would be the opposite of “the mystery of the gospel”? Although the full flower of iniquity had not appeared, was there evidence of it in Paul’s lifetime? Verse 7.

11. What will happen to the “wicked,” that is, the man of sin, and when will that happen? Verse 8.

12. To whose activity or working does the coming of the wicked correspond? Verse 9.

13. Was the man of sin to work miracles? Can Satan work miracles? Does such ability necessarily show God’s approval? Verse 9.

14. What happened to those who were deceived by the deceit which unrighteousness uses? Verse 10.

15. Why were some deceived by the “deceivableness of unrighteousness”? Verse 10.

16. What does God send to those who receive not “the love of the truth”? Verse 11.

17. Can you think of at least one example in which God sent strong delusions to people that they might believe a lie and be damned? Verse 12.

18. What did the perishing ones do instead of believing the truth? Verse 12.

19. Had the Thessalonians received a strong delusion and believed a lie? Verse 13.

20. How were the Thessalonians chosen or elected? Verse 13.

21. How were the Thessalonians called? Unto what were they called? Verse 14.

22. Did Paul think we needed new traditions to suit the changing times or that we should hold fast those delivered by the apostles and prophets of his day? Verse 15.

23. What kind of consolation have the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father given us? Through what have we been given good hope? Verse 16.

24. In what two things did Paul wish the Thessalonians to be established? Verse 17.