主再來的先兆
1弟兄姊妹，關於主耶穌基督再來和我們到祂那裡相聚的事情， 2我們現在奉勸你們：無論是什麼靈，或是傳聞，或是冒充我們寫的信，說主的日子已經到了，你們都不要輕易動搖，也不要驚慌。 3不管別人用什麼詭計，你們都不要上當。因為那日子來臨之前，必有離經叛道的事發生，而那不法之徒，就是那註定滅亡的人也要出現。 4他會抵擋主，高抬自己超過一切所謂的神明和人們崇拜的對象，甚至坐在上帝的殿中以上帝自居！
5我還在你們那裡的時候，曾告訴過你們這些事，你們忘記了嗎？ 6現在，你們知道是什麼攔阻他，使他等到特定的時間才出現。 7其實那不法之徒的陰謀已經在醞釀中，然而現在有一位在攔阻他。等到攔阻他的那位一離開， 8他就會出現，但主耶穌會用自己口中的氣毀滅他，用從天降臨的榮光廢掉他。
9他來要按照撒旦的伎倆行各樣虛假的異能、神蹟和奇事， 10用盡各樣詭計欺騙那些將要滅亡的人，因為他們不喜歡接受那能拯救他們的真理。 11上帝就讓他們是非不辨，去相信那些虛假的謊言， 12使一切不相信真理、反喜愛不義的人都被定罪。
要堅定不移
13主所愛的弟兄姊妹，我們應該時常為你們感謝上帝，因為上帝一開始就揀選了你們，為了使你們藉著聖靈得以聖潔，並且相信真理，從而得救。 14上帝藉著我們所傳的福音呼召了你們，使你們可以得到我們主耶穌基督的榮耀。 15所以，各位弟兄姊妹，務要堅定不移，無論是我們信上的教導還是口頭的教導，你們都要堅守。
16願主耶穌基督和愛我們、開恩將永遠的安慰和美好的盼望賜給我們的父上帝， 17安慰你們的心，使你們在一切善行善言上剛強。
The man of lawlessness
1Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us – whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter – asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness2:3 Some manuscripts sin is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Stand firm
13But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits2:13 Some manuscripts because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings2:15 Or traditions we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
