2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians · Chapter 2

2 Thessalonians 2:12

1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2That 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.3Let 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;4Who 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.5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.8And 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:9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.13But 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:14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.16Now 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,17Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

The result is that all "who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" will be judged. Unbelief and pleasure in unrighteousness stand side by side. 2 Thessalonians 2:112 Thessalonians 2:12

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 involvedThose "who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:12

This verse closes Paul's teaching on the man of sin and his followers (2:3-12). Verse 13 turns to the Thessalonians: "But we are bound to give thanks." 2 Thessalonians 2:122 Thessalonians 2:132 Thessalonians overview

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 eventsTheir judgment comes at the end of the events in 2:8-11. 2 Thessalonians 2:82 Thessalonians 2:12

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 shows that condemnation is just: it falls on those who rejected the truth and loved unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:122 Thessalonians overview

In the whole of Scripture"He that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). God gives "indignation and wrath" to those who "do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness" (Romans 2:8). Some "not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (Romans 1:32). Mark 16:16Romans 2:8Romans 1:32

For readersThe verse sets refusing the truth beside taking pleasure in unrighteousness. Romans 2:8 likewise speaks of those that "do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:12Romans 2:8

  • damnedκρίνω
    Greek · krinō · G2919

    The word means to judge or decide. Here it is "that they all might be damned," that is, judged. Strong's G29192 Thessalonians 2:12

  • had pleasureεὐδοκέω
    Greek · eudokeō · G2106

    The word means to be well pleased, to delight in. Strong's G2106

  • unrighteousnessἀδικία
    Greek · adikia · G0093

    The word means unrighteousness, wickedness. Strong's G0093

Takeaway

All who refused the truth and delighted in unrighteousness will be judged. 2 Thessalonians 2:12Mark 16:16

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

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
in order thatἵναinaG2443
in order that/to

ἵνα (hina) ἵνα, I. adverb (poët., Hom., al.), 1. of place, where, whither. 2. of circumstance, when. II. Conjunction, 1. prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Act.19:4, Rom.11:31 (?), Gal.2:10, al.); (a) with optative (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph.1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; see Burton, §225, Rem., 2); …

may be judgedκριθῶσινkrithōsinG2919
to judge

κρίνω (krinō) κρίνω, [in LXX chiefly for שׁפט, also for ריב ,דּין, etc. ;] 1. to separate, select, choose (cl.; in LXX: 2Ma.13:15). 2. to approve, esteem: Rom.14:5. 3. to be of opinion, judge, think: Luk.7:43, 1Co.11:13; before τοῦτο ὅτι, 2Co.5:14; with accusative and inf., Act.16:15; with accusative and pred., Act.13:46 26:8. 4. to decide, determine, decree: with accusative, Act.16:4, Rom.14:13, 1Co.7:37, 2Co.2:1; with inf. (Field, Notes, 167), Act.20:16 25:25, 1Co.2:2 5:3, Tit.3:12 (cf. 1Ma.11:33, Wis.8:9, al.); with accusative and inf., Act.21:25 27:1. …

allπάντεςpantesG3956
all

πᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. …

notμὴmēG3361
not

μή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. …

having believedπιστεύσαντεςpisteusantesG4100
to trust (in)

πιστεύω (pisteuō) πιστεύω, [in LXX chiefly for אמן hi. ;] 1. intrans., to have faith (in), to believe; in cl., with accusative, dative, in NT also with prep, (on the significance of the various constructions, see M, Pr., 67f.; Vau. on Rom.4:5; Ellic. on 1Ti.1:16; Abbott, JV, 19-80): absol., Mat.24:23, 26 Mrk.13:21, 1Co.11:18; with accusative of thing(s), Act.13:41, 1Co.13:7; with dative of person(s) (to believe what one says), Mrk.16:[13, 14], 1Jn.4:1; τ. ψεύδει, 2Th.2:11; περί . . . ὅτι, Jhn.9:18; esp. and most frequently with reference to religious belief: absol., Mat.8:13, Mrk.5:36, Luk.8:50, Jhn.11:40, al …

truthἀληθείᾳalētheiaG0225
truth

ἀλήθεια (alētheia) ἀλήθεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀληθής), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמֶת (on which, see Cremer, 627f.), אֱמוּנָה ;] truth (see DB, iv, 818f.). 1. Objectively, "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter" (Cremer, 86): Rom.9:1, al.; of religious truth, Rom.1:25, al.; esp. of Christian doctrine, Gal.2:5, al.; ἀ. θεοῦ, Rom.15:8. 2. Subjectively, truthfulness, truth, not merely verbal (cl.), but sincerity and integrity of character: Jhn.8:44, 3Jo.3. …

butἀλλ᾽all᾽G0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

having delightedεὐδοκήσαντεςeudokēsantesG2106
to delight

εὐδοκέω (eudokeō) εὐ-δοκέω, -ῶ (on the derivation, see EL, § 28, 6) [in LXX chiefly for רָצָה, also for אָבָה, חָפֵץ, etc. ;] 1. with inf. (Polyb., al.), to be well pleased, to think it good, to give consent (so frequently in π. in legal docu­ments; Milligan, Th., 22 f.): Luk.12:32, Rom.15:26-27, 1Co.1:21, Gal.1:15, Col.1:19, R, mg. (ICC, in l, but see infr.), 1Th.2:8 3:1; μᾶλλον εὐ., 2Co.5:8; with accusative and inf. (Polyb., i, 8, 4), Col, l.with, R, txt. (Lft., in l). 2. to be well pleased or take pleasure with or in a person or thing; (a) with dative (Polyb., al.; 1Ma.1:43, I Est.4:39): 2Th.2:12; …

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

in unrighteousness.ἀδικίᾳ.¶adikiaG0093
unrighteousness

ἀδικία (adikia) ἀδικία, -ας, ἡ (ἄδικος), [in LXX for עָוֹן, פֶּשַׁע, עָוֶל, etc. ;] 1. injustice: Luk.18:6, Rom.9:14. 2. unrighteousness, iniquity: Jhn.7:18, Act.8:23, Rom.1:18, 29 2:8 6:13, 2Ti.2:19, 1Jn.1:9 5:17; opposite to ἀλήθεια, 1Co.13:6, 2Th.2:12; to δικαιοσύνη ], Rom.3:5; ἀπάτη τῆς ἀ., 2Th.2:10; μισθὸς ἀδικίας, Act.1:18, 2Pe.2:13,15; ἐγράται τῆς ἀ., Luk.13:27; μαμωνᾶς τῆς ἀ., Luk.16:9; κόσμος τῆς ἀ., Jas.3:6; οἰκονόμος τῆς ἀ., Luk.16:8. 3. = ἀδίκημα, an unrighteous act: ironically, a favour, 2Co.12:13; pl., Heb.8:12 (Cremer, 261; MM, VGT, see word). † (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.