3 We ought always ato give thanks to God for you, bbrethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the clove of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;

4 therefore, we ourselves aspeak proudly of you among bthe churches of God for your 1perseverance and faith bin the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

5 This is a aplain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be bconsidered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

6 1For after all ait is only just 2for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted 1and to us as well 2awhen the Lord Jesus will be revealed bfrom heaven cwith 3His mighty angels din flaming fire,

8 dealing out retribution to those who ado not know God and to those who bdo not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

9 These will pay the penalty of aeternal destruction, baway from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

10 when He comes to be aglorified 1in His 2saints on that bday, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our ctestimony to you was believed.

11 To this end also we apray for you always, that our God will 1bcount you worthy of your ccalling, and fulfill every desire for dgoodness and the ework of faith with power,

12 so that the aname of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Chapter 2

Man of Lawlessness

1 Now we request you, abrethren, with regard to the 1bcoming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our cgathering together to Him,

2 that you not be quickly shaken from your 1composure or be disturbed either by a aspirit or a 2bmessage or a cletter as if from us, to the effect that dthe day of the Lord ehas come.

3 aLet no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the 1bapostasy comes first, and the cman of lawlessness is revealed, the dson of destruction,

4 who opposes and exalts himself above 1aevery so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, bdisplaying himself as being God.