1 Now we ask you, brothers, concerning the coming {parousia: royal arrival} of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Returning King} and our gathering together to Him.
2 That you not be quickly shaken from your mind or troubled, neither by a spirit nor by a word nor by a letter as if through us, as though the day of the Lord {Kyrios, Final Judge} has come {enesteken: is now present}.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means, because that day will not come unless the apostasy {apostasia: spiritual defection} comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction {apoleia: final ruin}.
4 The one who opposes and exalts {hyperairomenos: arrogant self-advancement} himself over every so-called god or object of worship, so that he himself sits in the temple of God {Theos, Usurped Sovereign Glory}, presenting himself as though he is God.
5 Do you not remember {mnēmoneuete: active remembering} that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things {tauta: specific prior teachings}?
6 And now you know what is restraining {katechon: holding back powerfully}, so that he may be revealed in his own appointed time {kairo: decisive season}.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only the one who now restrains {katechon: holding back} will do so until he is out of the way {ek mesou: removed from midst}.
8 And then the lawless one {anomos: defiant rebel} will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus {Kyrios Iesous, Victorious Judge} will destroy with the breath of His mouth and will abolish by the appearing of His coming.
9 The coming {parousia: personal arrival} of that one is according to the working of Satan, in all power and signs and wonders of falsehood {pseudos: deceptive lie}.
10 And with every deception of unrighteousness for those who are perishing {apollymenois: in ongoing ruin}, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so as to be saved {sothenai: delivered from destruction}.
11 And because of this, God {Theos, Righteous Judge} sends to them an operation {energeia: judicial influence} of delusion, so that they may believe the lie.
12 In order that all who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness {adikia: corrupt injustice} may be judged {krithosin: brought under judgment}.
13 But we are obligated always to give thanks to God {Theos, Wise Elector} for you, brothers beloved by the Lord {Kyrios, Loving Master}, because God chose you as firstfruits {aparchen: early consecrated ones} for salvation in sanctification {hagiasmos: set-apart transformation} of the Spirit and faith in the truth.
14 To this He called you through our gospel, into the obtaining of the glory {doxa: divine radiance} of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Glorious Source of Honor}.
15 Therefore then, brothers {adelphoi: fellow believers}, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions {paradoseis: teachings passed down} which you were taught, whether by word or by our letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Generous Comfort Giver} Himself, and God our Father {Theos pater hemon, Gracious Hope Source}, who loved us {agapesas: self-giving love} and gave eternal comfort and good hope {elpida: confident expectation} in grace,
17 May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Heart Encourager} and God our Father {Theos, Fatherly Strength} encourage your hearts and establish you in every good deed and word.