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.
Parallel translations
- WEB For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.
- KJV For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
- NKJV For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
- NASB For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed.
- NLT For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The hidden "mystery of lawlessness" is already at work, held back only until the restrainer is removed. Evil is active now but not yet unleashed in full.
Overview
Lawlessness operates secretly in the present age, a foretaste of the open rebellion to come once the restraint is lifted. This explains both the reality of evil now and the reason the final crisis has not yet broken out. Paul's point reassures believers that history unfolds on God's schedule, not according to the apparent triumphs of evil.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Jn 4:3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.
- Rev 17:7“Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
- 2 Tim 2:17–18and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
- 1 Jn 2:18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.
- Acts 20:29I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
- Rev 17:5And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
- Col 2:18–23Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.
- 1 Tim 3:16By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ will be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, glorified in his saints, overthrowing the lawless one — the certain hope that steadies the suffering church.
How 2 Thessalonians 2:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.