2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians · Chapter 2

2 Thessalonians 2:8

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
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:And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Once the restraint is removed, "that Wicked" (the lawless one) will be revealed. The Lord will consume him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the brightness of his coming. His end is certain from the moment he appears. 2 Thessalonians 2:72 Thessalonians 2:8

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 lawless one, and the Lord who destroys him. 2 Thessalonians 2:8

Paul jumps ahead to the man of sin's end before describing his deceptions (2:9-12). 2 Thessalonians 2:82 Thessalonians 2:9

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 eventsHe is revealed after the restraint is removed (2:7), and destroyed at the Lord's coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:72 Thessalonians 2:8

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 makes sure the church knows the outcome: the lawless one cannot win. 2 Thessalonians 2:82 Thessalonians overview

In the whole of ScriptureIsaiah says of the rod out of the stem of Jesse, "with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked" (Isaiah 11:4). In Revelation "out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword" (Revelation 19:15), and "the beast was taken" (Revelation 19:20). Daniel saw "the beast was slain, and his body destroyed" (Daniel 7:11). Isaiah 11:4Revelation 19:15Revelation 19:20Daniel 7:11

For readersHowever powerful evil appears, Christ ends it with a word. His coming settles the outcome. 2 Thessalonians 2:8Isaiah 11:4

  • Wickedἄνομος
    Greek · anomos · G0459

    The word means lawless. It names the same figure as the "man of sin" in 2:3. Strong's G04592 Thessalonians 2:3

  • consumeἀναιρέω
    Greek · anaireō · G0337

    The word means to take away, to kill. Strong's G0337

  • spiritπνεῦμα
    Greek · pneuma · G4151H

    The word means spirit or breath. Here it is the breath of the Lord's mouth. Strong's G4151H

  • destroyκαταργέω
    Greek · katargeō · G2673

    The word means to make of no effect, to abolish. The lexicon lists Hebrews 2:14 and 2 Timothy 1:10 among its uses. Strong's G2673

  • brightnessἐπιφάνεια
    Greek · epiphaneia · G2015

    The word means appearing, manifestation. It is joined here with "coming." Strong's G2015

Takeaway

The lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and the brightness of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8Isaiah 11:4

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
AndκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (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. …

thenτότεtoteG5119
then

τότε (tote) τότε, demonstr. adv. of time, correlat. of ὅτε, then, at that time; (a) of concurrent events: Mat.2:17 3:5 and freq., Rom.6:21; before ptcp., Mat.2:16, Gal.4:8; opposite to νῦν, Gal.4:29, Heb.12:26; ὁ τ. κόσμος, 2Pe.3:6; (b) of consequent events, then, thereupon: Mat.2:7 3:5 4:1 and freq., Luk.11:26; τ. οὖν, Jhn.11:14 19:1, 16 20:8; εὐθέως τ., Act.17:14; ὅτε . . . τ., Mat.13:26 21:1, Jhn.12:16; ἀπὸ τ., Mat.4:17 16:21 26:16, Luk.16:16; …

will be revealedἀποκαλυφθήσεταιapokaluphthēsetaiG0601
to reveal

ἀποκαλύπτω (apokaluptō) ἀπο-καλύπτω [in LXX chiefly for גָּלָה ] 1. in general sense (cl.), to reveal, uncover, disclose, (a) of things: Mat.10:26, Luk.2:35 12:2, 1Co.3:13; (b) of persons: pass., Christ, Luk.17:30; Antichrist, 2Th.2:3 2:6 2:8 2. In LXX and NT, in special sense of divine revelation: Mat.11:25 (on the tense, see M, Pr., 136), ib. Mat.11:27 16:17, Luk.10:21-22, Jhn.12:38, Rom.1:17-18 8:18, 1Co.2:10 14:30, Gal.1:16 3:23, Eph.3:5, Php.3:15, 1Pe.1:5-12 5:1 (Westc., Eph., 178 f.; M, Th., 149 f.).† SYN.: φανερόω (see Thayer, 62; Cremer, 342).† (AS)

lawless [one]ἄνομοςanomosG0459
lawless

ἄνομος (anomos) ἄ-νομος, -ον (ἀ. neg., νόμος), [in LXX for עָוֺן, פָּשַׁע, רֶשַׁע, etc. ;] 1. lawless, wicked: Mrk.15:28, Luk.22:37, Act.2:23, 1Ti.1:9, 2Pe.2:8; ὁ ἄ., 2Th.2:8 (= ὁ ἄνθρωπος τῆς ἀνομίας, 2Th.2:3). 2. without law (= οἱ μὴ ὑπὸ νόμον, Rom.2:14): 1Co.9:21 (MM, VGT, see word). † SYN.: see: ἄθεσμος (AS)

whomὃνhonG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

LordκύριοςkuriosG2962G
lord: God

κύριος (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 …

will executeἀνελεῖaneleiG0337
to kill

ἀναιρέω (anaireō) ἀν-αιρέω, -ῶ [in LXX for הָרַג hi., מוּת hi., נָכָה hi., etc. ;] 1. to take up: mid., Act.7:21. 2. to take away, make an end of, destroy (for late exx. of various senses, see MM, VGT, see word); (a) of things (as frequently in cl. of laws, etc.): Heb.10:9; (b) of persons, to kill: Mat.2:16, Luk.22:2 23:32, Act.2:23 5:33, 36 7:28 9:23-24, 29 10:39 12:2 13:28 16:27 22:20 23:15, 21 23:27 25:3 26:10, 2Th.2:8, WH, txt., R, txt.† (AS)

breathπνεύματιpneumatiG4151H
spirit/breath: spirit

πνεῦμα (pneuma) πνεῦμα, -τος, τό, [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for רוּחַ ;] 1. of air in motion; (a) wind: Jhn.3:8; pl., Heb.1:7 (LXX); (b) breath: π. ζωῆς, Rev.11:11; π. τοῦ στόματος, figuratively, 2Th.2:8 (cf. Ps 32 (33)6). …

mouthστόματοςstomatosG4750
mouth

στόμα (stoma) στόμα, -τος, τό [in LXX chiefly for פֻּם ;] the mouth: of man, Mat.15:11, Jhn.19:29, Act.11:8, al.; of animals, Mat.17:27, 2Ti.4:17 (fig.), Heb.11:33, Jas.3:3, al.; figuratively, of inanimate things (ποταμοῦ, Hom.), ἤνοιξεν ἡ γῆ τὸ σ., Rev.12:16; σ. μαχαίρας (Heb. חֶרֶב ־פֶּה, Gen.34:26 al.), the edge of the sword, Luk.21:24, Heb.11:34; esp. of the mouth as the organ of speech: opposite to καρδία, Mat.12:34, Rom.10:8, 10; in various phrases (some cl., some resembling Hebrew; cf. Bl., § 40, 9): ἀνοίγειν τ. σ. (see: ἀνοίγω); σ. πρὸς σ. (פֶּה ־אֵל פֶּה Num.12:8; = cl., κατὰ σ., Hdt., al.), face …

of HimαὐτοῦautouG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (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; …

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (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. …

will annulκαταργήσειkatargēseiG2673
to abate

καταργέω (katargeō) κατ-αργέω, -ῶ (κατά, causative, ἀργός = ἀ-εργός), [in LXX: 2Es.4.21; 2Es.4.23; 2Es.5.5; 2Es.6.8 (בְּטֵל)* ;] to make idle or inactive (χέρας, Eur., Phœn., 753): of soil occupied by an unfruitful tree, Luk.13:7. Metaphorical (Inscr.), to render inoperative or invalid, to abrogate, abolish: Rom.3:3, 31, 1Co.1:28 6:13 13:11 15:24, Gal.3:17, Eph.2:15, 2Th.2:8, 2Ti.1:10, Heb.2:14; pass., Rom.4:14 6:6, 1Co.2:6 13:8 13:10 15:26, 2Co.3:7 3:11-14 Gal.5:11; before ἀπό (of persons), to be separated, discharged or loosed from, Rom.7:2, 6, Gal.5:4.† (AS)

appearingἐπιφανείᾳepiphaneiaG2015
appearing

ἐπιφάνεια (epiphaneia) ἐπιφάνεια, -ας, ἡ (ἐπιφανής), [in LXX: 2Ki.7:23 (יָרֵא), Est.5:1, Amo.5:22, 2Ma.2:21 2Mac 3:24 2Mac 5:4 2Mac 12:22 2Mac 14:16 2Mac 15:27, 3Ma.2:9 3Mac 5:8 3Mac 5:51,* ;] (in late Gk. and Inscr., frequently of deities, see MM, Exp., xiv) a manifestation, appear­ance: 2Th.2:8, 1Ti.6:14, 2Ti.1:10 4:1 4:8, Tit.2:13 (cf. M, Th., 148 f.).† (AS)

comingπαρουσίαςparousiasG3952
coming

παρουσία (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). …

of Him;αὐτοῦ·autouG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (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.