2 Thessalonians 2:6–8, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
2 Thessalonians 2:6–8
The Unnamed Restraint Holds until Jesus Ends the Lawless One
The restraint they knew stays unnamed; Jesus, not a calendar, ends the opponent
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. The church in Thessalonica knew the restraining reality. The letter never names it for us. KJV 'letteth' means restrains. The neuter 'what withholdeth' and the masculine 'he who now letteth' sit side by side without a label. Lawlessness is already active, yet held back until a time the writers do not calendar.
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. Some witnesses read 'the Lord Jesus.' The point does not wait on that wording: the lawless one appears, and the Lord's coming ends him. The restrainer is not identified as the Spirit, Rome, a government, or Paul. Naming it as fact is the later game. The church's hope is the breath and appearing of Jesus, not a date and not a modern identity map.
How this should shape us
Do not spend the week trying to name the restrainer or schedule the opponent's revealing. Trust that Jesus ends what he will end, and keep ordinary faithfulness while lawlessness is already at work around you.
Teach it back
Explain 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8 in your own words. Include its place in the letter, one exact textual observation, one important uncertainty or limit, and one conclusion the unit does not permit.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
Where do careful interpreters disagree?
Best judgment: The restrainer's identity remains unresolved. Rome/government, divine or angelic restraint, the Spirit or gospel, and rhetorical or hostile-agent proposals each explain some details and strain others. The neuter-to-masculine shift is real, but it cannot bear a certain identification. The certain center is restraint, appointed disclosure, active lawlessness, and Jesus's decisive victory.
How certain? probableResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: The exact pinned KJV wording and immediate English context for 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8.
eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, connective structure, lexical forms, and variation markers.
Official SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/2Thess.txt, 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8.
Supports: Material translation choices, syntax, and textual variants checked at the cited verses.
NET Bible official 2 Thessalonians PDF, chapter 2, translator, study, and textual notes attached to verses 6–8; PDF pp. 2–3.
Supports: A complete modern evangelical commentary check on literary flow, historical setting, theology, and major interpretations.
David W. Chapman, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, “2 Thessalonians,” Instruction and Appeal for Calm from Eschatological Worries (2:1–12), verses 6–8 and endnote 4.
Supports: A modern Jewish-context and historical-critical check on authorship, apocalyptic language, persecution, judgment, ethics, and textual questions.
Adam Gregerman, “2 Thessalonians,” in The Jewish Annotated New Testament (2011 first edition), print pp. 380–381.
Supports: A morphology and lexical-range cross-check for original-language notes.
STEP Bible Data repository, TAGNT and Greek lexical records, 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8.
Supports: A modern research synthesis on authorship, letter relations, apocalyptic reception, the lawless figure, temple, restraint, and interpretive history.
Sydney E. Tooth, “2 Thessalonians,” Codex Database of Ancient Manuscripts and Material culture, 2023, Man of Lawlessness and Restrainer sections.
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The exact pinned KJV wording and immediate English context for 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, connective structure, lexical forms, and variation markers.
Exact location: Official SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/2Thess.txt, 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8.
Open the 2 Thessalonians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 2 Thessalonians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Material translation choices, syntax, and textual variants checked at the cited verses.
Exact location: NET Bible official 2 Thessalonians PDF, chapter 2, translator, study, and textual notes attached to verses 6–8; PDF pp. 2–3.
Open NET 2 Thessalonians 2 ↗modern open commentary
2 Thessalonians
David W. Chapman
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023
Supports: A complete modern evangelical commentary check on literary flow, historical setting, theology, and major interpretations.
Exact location: David W. Chapman, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, “2 Thessalonians,” Instruction and Appeal for Calm from Eschatological Worries (2:1–12), verses 6–8 and endnote 4.
Open source ↗modern annotated new testament
2 Thessalonians introduction and annotations in The Jewish Annotated New Testament
Adam Gregerman; edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler
Oxford University Press, 2011
Supports: A modern Jewish-context and historical-critical check on authorship, apocalyptic language, persecution, judgment, ethics, and textual questions.
Exact location: Adam Gregerman, “2 Thessalonians,” in The Jewish Annotated New Testament (2011 first edition), print pp. 380–381.
Open source ↗Lexical and grammatical evidence
STEP Bible Data
Tyndale House Cambridge
Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026
Supports: A morphology and lexical-range cross-check for original-language notes.
Exact location: STEP Bible Data repository, TAGNT and Greek lexical records, 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8.
Open source ↗modern scholarly dictionary entry
2 Thessalonians
Sydney E. Tooth
Critical Dictionary of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements, 2023
Supports: A modern research synthesis on authorship, letter relations, apocalyptic reception, the lawless figure, temple, restraint, and interpretive history.
Exact location: Sydney E. Tooth, “2 Thessalonians,” Codex Database of Ancient Manuscripts and Material culture, 2023, Man of Lawlessness and Restrainer sections.
Open source ↗