2 Thessalonians 2:1
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, | Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, | Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him; |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedPaul turns to the subject that had unsettled the church: the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the gathering of believers to him. He speaks of both together. Verse 2 tells what he wants them not to believe about it. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Thessalonians 2:2
SpeakingPaul, writing with Silvanus and Timotheus. Paul signs the letter in his own hand (3:17). 2 Thessalonians overview
ToThe church of the Thessalonians, believers in Thessalonica whom Paul had taught in person. 2 Thessalonians overview
Also involvedThe Thessalonian believers, whom Paul calls "brethren." 2 Thessalonians 2:1
This opens the letter's central section on the day of Christ (2:1-12). Paul had already written about the Lord's coming in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Thessalonians overview1 Thessalonians 4:17
The letter went to Thessalonica, a city of Macedonia in northern Greece. The letter does not say where it was written; the traditional view is Corinth. 2 Thessalonians overview
The eventsThe coming and the gathering are future events. Verse 3 says certain things must happen first. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Thessalonians 2:3
WrittenTraditional: about AD 50-51, from Corinth, a few months after 1 Thessalonians. Scholarly: some hold a follower wrote it in Paul's name later in the first century; many others accept that Paul wrote it soon after 1 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians overview
HerePaul wants to steady a church that had been told the day had already come (2:2). 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Thessalonians 2:22 Thessalonians overview
In the whole of ScripturePaul had written that "we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Jesus said he would send his angels to "gather together his elect from the four winds" (Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:27). 1 Thessalonians 4:17Matthew 24:31Mark 13:27
For readersThe Lord's coming and the gathering of his people to him are a sure hope. Believers should hold it with understanding, not fear. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Thessalonians 2:2
Christians read this differently
Paul joins "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" and "our gathering together unto him" in one phrase, and then says "that day" will not come before the falling away (2:3). Some read the gathering as the same event as the day, after the falling away. Others hold that the gathering (1 Thessalonians 4:17) comes earlier and that "that day" in 2:2-3 is the day of judgment that follows. The verse itself does not spell out the order. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Thessalonians 2:22 Thessalonians 2:31 Thessalonians 4:17
- beseechἐρωτάω
The word means to ask, to request. Strong's G2065
- comingπαρουσία
The word means presence, arrival, coming. Strong's G3952
- gathering togetherἐπισυναγωγή
The word means a gathering together. The lexicon lists Hebrews 10:25 as its only other New Testament use. Strong's G1997
Takeaway
Paul begins his teaching on the Lord Jesus Christ's coming and the gathering of believers to him. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Thessalonians 4:17
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| We implore | Ἐρωτῶμεν | Erōtōmen | G2065 | to askἐρωτάω (erōtaō) ἐρωτάω, -ῶ [in LXX chiefly for שָׁאַל ;] 1. to ask, question (cl.): absol., Luk.19:31 22:68, Jhn.8:7 with accusative of person(s), Jhn.9:21 16:19, 30 8:21; before λέγων, Mat.16:13, Luk.23:3, Jhn.1:19, 21 5:12 9:19 16:5; with dupl. accusative (WM, § 32, 4a), Mat.21:24, Mrk.4:10, Luk.20:3, Jhn.16:23 (M, Pr., 66„); with accusative of person(s), before περί, Luk.9:45, Jhn.18:19. … |
| now | δὲ | de | G1161 | thenδέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; … |
| you, | ὑμᾶς, | humas | G4771 | youσέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| brothers, | ἀδελφοί, | adelphoi | G0080 | brotherἀδελφός (adelphos) ἀδελφός, -οῦ, ὁ (ἀ- copul., δελφύς, womb), in cl., a brother, born of the same parent or parents. [In LXX (Hort, Ja., 102f.), for אָח ;] 1. lit. of a brother (Gen.4:2, al.). 2. Of a neighbour (Lev.19:17). 3. Of a member of the same nation (Exo.2:14, Deu.15:3). In NT in each of these senses (1. Mat.1:2, al.; 2. Mat.7:3; 3. Rom.9:3) and also, … |
| by | ὑπὲρ | huper | G5228 | above/forὑπέρ (huper) ὑπέρ (when following subst.—poët.—ὕπερ; so as adv., 2Co.11:23), prep. with genitive, accusative I. C. genitive, primarily of place (rest or motion), over, above, across, beyond, hence, metaphorically, 1. for, on behalf of: of prayer, Mat.5:44, Act.8:24, Rom.10:1, Jas.5:16, al.; of laying down life, Jhn.10:11, Rom.9:3, al.; esp. of Christ giving his life for man's redemption, Mrk.14:24, Jhn.10:15, Act.21:13, Rom.5:6-8, al.; opposite to κατά, Mrk.9:40, Luk.9:50, Rom.8:31. … |
| coming | παρουσίας | parousias | G3952 | comingπαρουσία (parousia) παρ-ουσία, -ας, ἡ [in LXX: Neh.2:6 A, Jdth.10:18, 2Ma.8:12 2Mac 15:21, 3Ma.3:17 * ;] 1. usually in cl., a being present, presence: 1Co.16:17, 2Co.10:10; opposite to ἀπουσία, Php.2:12 (cf. 2Ma.15:21). … |
| Lord | κυρίου | kuriou | G2962G | lord: Godκύριος (kurios) κύριος, -α, -ον (also -ος, -ον), [in LXX (subst.) chiefly for יהוה, also for בַּעַל ,אָדוֹן, etc. ;] having power (κῦρος) or authority; as subst., ὁ κ., lord, master; 1. in general: with genitive of thing(s), Mat.9:38 20:8, Mrk.12:9 13:35, Luk.19:33; τ. σαββάτου, Mat.12:8, Mrk.2:28, Luk.6:5; with genitive of person(s), δούλου, etc., Mat.10:24, Luk.14:21, Act.16:16, al.; absol, opposite to οἱ δοῦλοι, Eph.6:5, 9 al.; of the Emperor (Deiss., LAE, 161), Act.25:26; θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κ. πολλοί, 1Co.8:5; of a husband, 1Pe.3:6; in voc, as a title of respect to masters, teachers, magistrates, etc., Ma … |
| of us | ἡμῶν | hēmōn | G3165 | meμέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML) |
| Jesus | Ἰησοῦ | Iēsou | G2424G | JesusἸησοῦς (Iēsous) Ἰησοῦς, -οῦ, dative, voc. -οῦ, accusative, -οῦν (Heb. יֵשׁוּעַ ,יְהֹשֻׁעַ ,יְהוֹשׁוּעַ), 1. JESUS: Mat.1:21, al.; ὁ Ἰ, ib. 3:13, al.; Ἰ. Χριστός, ib. 1:1, Mrk.1:1, al.; Χρ. Ἰ., Rom.2:26, al.; κύριος Ἰ., Act.28:31, al.; Ἰησοῦ, voc., Mrk.1:24, al. 2. Joshua: Act.7:45, Heb.4:8. 3. Jesus, son of Eliezer: Luk.3:28. 4. Jesus, surnamed Justus: Col.4:11. 5. see: βαραββᾶς. (AS) |
| Christ | Χριστοῦ | Christou | G5547 | ChristΧριστός (Christos) χριστός (Χρ-), -ή, -όν (χρίω), [in LXX for מָשִׁיחַ and cogn. forms ;] 1. 1. as adj., (a) of things, anointing, to be used as ointment (Æsch., Eur., al.; τ. ἔλαιον τὸ χ., Lev.21:10); (b) of persons, anointed (ὁ ἰερεὺς ὁ χ., Lev.4:5; οἱ χ. ἰευρεῖς, 2Ma.1:10): ὁ χ. τοῦ κυρίου or Θεοῦ (1Ki.2:10, Psa.2:2, al.), of the Messiah (Aram., מְשִׁיחָא; cf. Dalman, Words, 289 ff.), Luk.2:11, 26 Jhn.1:41, Act.2:36 4:26, al. … |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| our | ἡμῶν | hēmōn | G3165 | meμέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML) |
| gathering together | ἐπισυναγωγῆς | episunagōgēs | G1997 | gatheringἐπισυναγωγή (episunagōgē) ἐπι-συν-αγωγή, -ῆς, ἡ (ἐπισυνάγω), [in LXX: 2Ma.2:7 * ;] a gathering together, assembly: Heb.10:25; before ἐπί, 2Th.2:1 (cf. 2Mac, l.with).† (AS) |
| unto | ἐπ᾽ | ep᾽ | G1909 | upon/to/againstἐπί (epi) ἐπί (before a smooth breathing ἐπ᾽, before a rough breathing ἐφ᾽), prep. with genitive, dative, accusative (accusative most frequently in NT), with primary sense of superposition, on, upon. I. C. genitive, 1. of place, answering the question, where? … |
| Him | αὐτὸν | auton | G0846 | it/s/heαὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.