2 Thessalonians 2:6

2 Thessalonians 2:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
• New International Version (NIV)And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.

Context of 2 Thessalonians 2:6

4who opposes and exalts himself [so proudly and so insolently] above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he [actually enters and] takes his seat in the temple of God, publicly proclaiming that he himself is God. 5Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now [from being revealed]; it is so that he will be revealed at his own [appointed] time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness [rebellion against divine authority and the coming reign of lawlessness] is already at work; [but it is restrained] only until he who now restrains it is taken out of the way. 8Then the lawless one [the Antichrist] will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by the appearance of His coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:6 word by word

καὶ νῦν τὸ κατέχον οἴδατε εἰς τὸ ἀποκαλυφθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ ἑαυτοῦ καιρῷ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
• ye knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• what withholdethκατέχωkatechō · to hold back/fastG2722
• thatεἰςeis · towardG1519
• heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• might be revealedἀποκαλύπτωapokaluptō · to revealG601
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• hisἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• timeκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540

Cross-references for 2 Thessalonians 2:6

• 2 Thessalonians 2:7For the mystery of lawlessness [rebellion against divine authority and the coming reign of lawlessness] is already at work; [but it is restrained] only until he who now restrains it is taken out of the way.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:3Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed],

Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians 2:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6And now ye know what withholdeth - I told you this among other things; I informed you what it was that prevented this man of sin, this son of perdition, from revealing himself fully.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6And now ye know what withholdeth - Margin, “holdeth.” The reference is, to something that then operated to constrain or hold back the obvious tendency of things, so that the “man of sin” should not at once appear, or so that things should not soon so develop themselves as to give rise to this anti-Christian power. There were causes at work even then, which would ultimately lead to this; but there was also something which checked the tendency of things, so…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-12Verses 5-12 Something hindered or withheld the man of sin. It is supposed to be the power of the Roman empire, which the apostle did not mention more plainly at that time. Corruption of doctrine and worship came in by degrees, and the usurping of power was gradual; thus the mystery of iniquity prevailed. Superstition and idolatry were advanced by pretended devotion, and bigotry and persecution were promoted by pretended zeal for God and his glory. This…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6what is now restraining him: People have many ideas about who this person is, including: God, the Holy Spirit, the church, the good news about Jesus (the gospel), Paul, the emperor, the Roman Empire, or the government. Alternatively, the term may refer to something or someone who comes before the man of lawlessness, an agent of lawlessness active at that time (2:7–8). In Greek literature, this expression could describe being possessed by a demon (evil…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. now ye know--by my having told you. The power must have been one "known" to the Thessalonians. what withholdeth--that which holds him back; "keeps him in check": the power that has restrained the man of sin from his full and final development, is the moral and conservative influence of political states [Olshausen]: the fabric of human polity as a coercive power; as "he who now letteth" refers to those who rule that polity by which the great upbursting…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Thessalonians 2:6

• Antichrist

In the dictionaries

• Deceivableness
• Let
• Man of sin
• Shake
• Tradition
• Antichrist
• Ephesians, Epistle to the
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Heretic; Heretical
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings