2 TH 2:7 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only the one restraining him now will do so until he comes out of the way,

UST Clearly, people are already opposing what God has said, for reasons that only believers can understand. But someone is preventing this man from revealing himself now, and he will continue to prevent this man until God tells him to stop preventing this man.

BSB For the mystery of lawlessness {is} already at work, but the [one who] now restrains [it] [will continue] until he is taken out of [the] way.

BLB For the mystery of lawlessness is working already; there is only the one at present restraining it, until he might be gone out of the midst.

AICNT For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only the one who now restrains will do so until he is out of the way.

OEB Wickedness, indeed, is already at work in secret, but only until he who at present restrains it is removed out of the way.

WEBBE For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way,

LSV for the secret of lawlessness already works, only the [One] now restraining [will do so] until He may come out of [the] midst,

FBV For the secret ways of lawlessness[fn] are already at work; however he who now restrains it will continue to do so until he is out of the way.

2:7 Literally, “mystery of lawlessness,” indicating the “revealed secret” of the anti-God power that is not only law-breaking but is truly law-less—without any respect for law.

TCNT For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

T4T Although Satan is already secretly causing people to reject God’s laws, ◄the one/God► who is preventing this man from revealing himself now will continue to prevent him from doing that until he/God removes him.

LEB For the mystery of lawlessness is at work already; only the one who now restrains[fn] will do so until he is out of the way,[fn]

2:7 Or “restrains it” (referring to the “mystery of lawlessness”; or “restrains him” (referring to the “man of lawlessness” in v. 3)

2:7 Literally “out of the midst”

BBE For the secret of evil is even now at work: but there is one who is keeping back the evil till he is taken out of the way.

Moff For the secret force of lawlessness is at work already; only, it cannot be revealed till he who at present restrains it is removed.

Wymth For lawlessness is already at work in secret; but only until the man who is now exercising a restraining influence is removed,

ASV For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.

DRA For the mystery of iniquity already worketh; only that he who now holdeth, do hold, until he be taken out of the way.

YLT for the secret of the lawlessness doth already work, only he who is keeping down now [will hinder] — till he may be out of the way,

Drby For the mystery of lawlessness already works; only [there is] he who restrains now until he be gone,

RV For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.
(For the mystery of lawlessness doth/does already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. )

SLT For the mystery of iniquity is already energetic: only he withholding, even till he be out of the midst.

Wbstr For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now restraineth will restrain, until he be taken out of the way.

KJB-1769 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
(For the mystery of iniquity doth/does already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. )

KJB-1611 For the mysterie of iniquitie doth alreadie worke: onely he who now letteth, will let, vntill he be taken out of the way.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps For the misterie of iniquitie doth alredie worke, tyll he whiche nowe onlye letteth, be taken out of the way.
(For the mystery of iniquity doth/does alredie work, till he which now only letteth, be taken out of the way.)

Gnva For the mysterie of iniquitie doeth already worke: onely he which nowe withholdeth, shall let till he be taken out of the way.
(For the mystery of iniquity doth/does already work: only he which now withholdeth, shall let till he be taken out of the way. )

Cvdl (For the mystery of the iniquyte worketh allready, tyll he which now onely letteth, be take out of the waye.)
((For the mystery of the iniquyte worketh/works already, till he which now only letteth, be take out of the way.))

TNT For the mistery of that iniquitie doeth he all readie worke which onlie loketh vntill it be taken out of the waye.
(For the mystery of that iniquity doth/does he all ready work which onlie looketh/looks until it be taken out of the way. )

Wycl For the priuete of wickidnesse worchith now; oneli that he that holdith now, holde, til he be do awei.
(For the priuete of wickedness worketh/works now; only that he that holdeth/holds now, hold, till he be do away.)

Luth Denn es reget sich schon bereits die Bosheit heimlich, ohne daß, der es jetzt aufhält, muß hinweggetan werden.
(Because it stir/move itself/yourself/themselves already readys the wickedness/malice secretly, without that, the/of_the it now/currently on/in/tohält, must awaygetan become.)

ClVg Nam mysterium jam operatur iniquitatis: tantum ut qui tenet nunc, teneat, donec de medio fiat.[fn]
(For/Surely mystery already works iniquity: only as who/which holds now, hold, until from/about in_the_middle fiat. )

2.7 Nam mysterium, etc. Jam in ipsis initiis accessionis invenitur iniquitas, sed mystica, id est pietatis nomine palliata, ut velint haberi ministri Christi cum sint pseudo. Diabolus occulte per Neronem et alios occidebat martyres, sicut per illum tunc aperte facturus est, occidendo Eliam et Enoch aliosque plurimos: et sunt Nero et alii umbra futuri Antichristi, sicut David et Abel Christi. Donec de medio fiat. Id est, tollatur illa potestas Romani imperii de medio mundi: quia omnes undique Romam quasi ad caput confluebant. Vel, qui fidem tenet, teneat, donec ipsa refrigescat. Vel, qui detinet illum, id est accessio ad fidem, detineat, donec ipsa tollatur de medio. Vel, donec iniquitas, quæ modo est mystica, fiat de medio, id est quasi de communibus, ut non erubescat homo adulterari vel furari, sicut nec ambulare vel loqui. De medio fiat. Scilicet discessio, id est manifeste appareat: et tunc jam revelata discessione a Deo vero, jam refrigerata charitate ex abundantia iniquitatis revelabitur, etc.

2.7 For/Surely mystery, etc. Now in/into/on themselves initiis accessionis is_found iniquity, but mystica, that it_is of_piety by_name palliata, as velint haberi ministers of_Christ when/with let_them_be pseudo. Diabolus secretly through Neronem and others occidebat martyrs, like through him then openly going_to_do it_is, occidendo Eliam and Enoch othersque many: and are Nero and others shadow of_the_future Antichristi, like David and Abel Christi. Until from/about in_the_middle fiat. That it_is, be_removed that power Romani imperii from/about in_the_middle world: because everyone everywhere/all_around Romam as_if to the_head confluebant. Or, who/which faith holds, hold, until herself refrigescat. Or, who/which detinet him, that it_is accessio to faith, detineat, until herself be_removed from/about in_the_middle. Or, until iniquity, which just/only it_is mystica, fiat from/about in_the_middle, that it_is as_if from/about common, as not/no erubescat human adulteressri or furari, like but_not to_walk or to_speak. From/About in_the_middle fiat. Of_course discessio, that it_is clearly/obviously appear: and then already revealed discessione from to_God indeed/however, already refrigerata with_love from abundance iniquity will_be_revealed, etc.

UGNT τὸ γὰρ μυστήριον ἤδη ἐνεργεῖται τῆς ἀνομίας; μόνον ὁ κατέχων ἄρτι, ἕως ἐκ μέσου γένηται.
(to gar mustaʸrion aʸdaʸ energeitai taʸs anomias; monon ho kateⱪōn arti, heōs ek mesou genaʸtai.)

SBL-GNT τὸ γὰρ μυστήριον ἤδη ἐνεργεῖται τῆς ἀνομίας· μόνον ὁ κατέχων ἄρτι ἕως ἐκ μέσου γένηται.
(to gar mustaʸrion aʸdaʸ energeitai taʸs anomias; monon ho kateⱪōn arti heōs ek mesou genaʸtai.)

RP-GNT Τὸ γὰρ μυστήριον ἤδη ἐνεργεῖται τῆς ἀνομίας· μόνον ὁ κατέχων ἄρτι, ἕως ἐκ μέσου γένηται,
(To gar mustaʸrion aʸdaʸ energeitai taʸs anomias; monon ho kateⱪōn arti, heōs ek mesou genaʸtai,)

TC-GNT Τὸ γὰρ μυστήριον ἤδη ἐνεργεῖται τῆς ἀνομίας· μόνον ὁ κατέχων ἄρτι, ἕως ἐκ μέσου γένηται,
(To gar mustaʸrion aʸdaʸ energeitai taʸs anomias; monon ho kateⱪōn arti, heōs ek mesou genaʸtai, )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–12: The Wicked Person will come before the Lord Jesus returns

Some Christians in Thessalonica thought that Paul had said that the Lord Jesus Christ had already returned. But he had not said this. So, in this section, Paul reminded them about what he had taught them when he was with them: that before the Lord Jesus returned, a leader whom Paul called “the man of lawlessness” would appear. This person would be against every religion and would oppose God’s laws. But he would deceive only those who had rejected God’s message about Christ. On the day when Christ returns, he will destroy that person and his power.

Paul did not list everything in this section (2:1–12) in the order in which the events will happen. Rather, in 2:1–4 he wrote a general sequence of events. Then in 2:5 he introduced what he had previously taught about these events. Then in 2:6–12 he taught specifically about the rebellion, about the wicked person (“man of lawlessness”) who would oppose God’s laws, and about how Jesus Christ would return to destroy him.

Paragraph 2:5–12

In this paragraph Paul wrote that, at exactly the right time, the man of lawlessness will appear. He will have power to perform miracles that will deceive those who themselves oppose the truth and love evil.

2:7a

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work,

That is, the forces of lawlessness are already secretly working in the world.
Indeed, Satan is already secretly causing people to reject God’s laws.
That is, people are already secretly doing what is against God.

For: Although the BSB has translated the Greek word gar as For here, it does not in this verse indicate a reason for the previous verse. Rather, it shows that this verse re-states and further explains the previous verse. Other English versions either use “for” or omit the connection. Another way to make the connection explicit would be to say:

that is

the mystery of lawlessness is already at work: The phrase the mystery of lawlessness is both difficult to understand and to translate. In the context Paul seemed to be saying that the devil is secretly causing trouble in the world by influencing people to oppose God’s laws. He is doing this to prepare the world for the arrival of the man of lawlessness. The Display shows a couple of ways to translate this meaning.

lawlessness: This is the same word as occurs in the expression “the man of lawlessness.” See the note on 2:3c.

2:7b

but the one who now restrains it will continue

But the person that stops people from opposing God will continue to do this

the one who now restrains it: The Greek phrase here contrasts with the similar one in 2:6a. In 2:6a, the Greek says tokatechon (neuter), which means “the (thing) holding back.” However, here the Greek says: hokatechōn (masculine), that is, “the (person) holding back.” Paul implied that there is a personal being (spirit or human) behind/supporting the power that is holding back the Wicked Person (“man of lawlessness”). He was not specific about who that person would be, and you should not make your translation too specific. However, you should try to indicate the difference between this verse and 2:6a.

it: As in 2:6a, the Greek does not say what is being held back. There are two possibilities:

Paul meant that the secret power of lawlessness is being held back. Versions that follow this interpretation supply the pronoun “it.” (BSB, ESV GW, NCV, NIV, NJB, NLT, RSV)
Paul meant that it is the man of lawlessness whom someone is holding back. Versions that follow this interpretation supply the pronoun “him,” as in 2:6a. (CEV, NET, SSA)

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1), as it is more likely that 2:7b refers to what immediately precedes it than to something farther away.

will continue: The Greek of 2:7b–c lacks a main verb, so every translator is forced to supply a verb (or reorganize the structure of the verse) in order to provide a grammatical sentence. The BSB therefore includes will continue as the implied information here. You will probably need to include similar implied information in your translation to make sense of the sentence.

2:7c

until he is taken out of the way.

until the time when he is removed.
until the time when God take hims out of the way.

until he is taken out of the way: Paul did not say how the one who is holding back lawlessness in the world will be removed or who will remove him. If possible, use a passive in your translation rather than saying who will remove this person. If you need to use an active verb you should say:

until God removes him

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Γάρ μυστήριον ἤδη ἐνεργεῖται τῆς ἀνομίας μόνον ὁ κατέχων ἄρτι ἕως ἐκ μέσου γένηται)

Here, the word translated For serves to connect this sentence as a contrast to what Paul has said about lawlessness, starting in verse 3. Until here, Paul was talking about lawlessness in the future, but now he wants to clarify that people are already being lawless.Use a natural way in your language for introducing this contrast. Alternate translation: [Now] or [Actually,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὸ & μυστήριον ἤδη ἐνεργεῖται τῆς ἀνομίας

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Γάρ μυστήριον ἤδη ἐνεργεῖται τῆς ἀνομίας μόνον ὁ κατέχων ἄρτι ἕως ἐκ μέσου γένηται)

Here, lawlessness is characterized as a mystery because we cannot understand why people rebel against God’s wise instructions unless we understand the spiritual forces at work, which Paul explains here. If your language does not use abstract nouns for these ideas, you can express them in another way. Alternate translation: [people are already mysteriously rebelling against God] or [Satan is already secretly leading people to reject God’s laws, as this man will do]

ὁ κατέχων

the_‹one› restraining_‹it›

To restrain someone is to hold him back or to keep him from doing what he wants to do. Alternate translation: [the one who has been holding him back]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

γένηται

˱it˲_˓may˒_become

Here, he refers to the one who is restraining the man of lawlessness. If this is not clear to your readers, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [the one who restrains the man of lawlessness moves]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐκ μέσου γένηται

out_of ˓the˒_midst ˱it˲_˓may˒_become

Here Paul speaks of the person who is restraining the man of lawlessness as though he were standing in front of him and blocking his path. If this does not make sense in your language, you could use an equivalent metaphor or you could express the meaning in a nonfigurative way. Alternate translation: [he stops restraining him]

Parallel 2 TH 2:7

Section 2:1–12: The Wicked Person will come before the Lord Jesus returns

Paragraph 2:5–12

2:7a

2:7b

2:7c

Parallel 2 TH 2:7