2 Thessalonians 2:3
What does 2 Thessalonians 2:3 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Thessalonians 2:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Thessalonians 2:3 means
Paul commands, “let no man beguile you in any wise.” Deception is his chief concern. He states plainly that the day will not come unless two precursors occur: “the falling away” and the revelation of “the man of sin,” also called “the son of perdition.” The falling away signals a notable defection from the truth, not mere drift but a recognizable rebellion. The “man of sin” will be unveiled in due time; he is characterized by wickedness and destined for destruction. By teaching this, Paul corrects premature alarms and fortifies discernment. God’s people should expect intensifying opposition before Christ’s triumph, yet view it under divine sovereignty, not as a derailment of God’s plan.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,
KJV
King James Version · 1611Let 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;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Give no belief to false words: because there will first be a falling away from the faith, and the revelation of the man of sin, the son of destruction,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862let not any one deceive you in any manner, because--if the falling away may not come first, and the man of sin be revealed--the son of the destruction,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Let no man deceive you by any means: for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Let not any one deceive you in any manner, because [it will not be] unless the apostasy have first come, and the man of sin have been revealed, the son of perdition;
Context
Having calmed their fears about false reports (v2), Paul supplies objective markers that must precede the day of the Lord. Verse 3 introduces the two-sign structure that guides the next verses. The first is a general apostasy; the second is a personal figure of evil. Paul will immediately detail this figure’s blasphemous self-exaltation (v4), then remind them he taught these matters already (v5). The flow establishes both doctrinal clarity and pastoral memory before turning to the restraining of evil (vv6–7).
v.2to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;
v.3This passage
v.4he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9
Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,
- 2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8
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;
- 2 Timothy 3:1
But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.
- Revelation 17:8
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, they whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come.
- Revelation 13:5
and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months.
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