2:7a

For: Although the Berean Standard Bible 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

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:

(1) Paul meant that the secret power of lawlessness is being held back. Versions that follow this interpretation supply the pronoun “it.”

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version God’s Word, New Century Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Revised Standard Version)

(2) 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.

(Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, 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 Berean Standard Bible 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: 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

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.