Paragraph 2:5–12

In this paragraph Paul wrote that, at exactly the right time, the man of lawlessness will appear. He will have power to perform miracles that will deceive those who themselves oppose the truth and love evil.

2:5

Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you?: Paul used this rhetorical question not because he simply wanted to remind the Thessalonians about something. Rather he wanted to rebuke them gently. If you do not use rhetorical questions as a rebuke in your language, you will have to re-word this verse as a statement or a command. For example:

Do not forget that I told you these things while I was with you.
-or-
I am sure that you remember that I told you these things while I was with you.

these things: This phrase refers back to the events in 2:1–4:

(a) People will rebel against God and his laws,

(b) the man of lawlessness will appear,

(c) the Lord Jesus will return,

(d) God will gather the believers together to meet the Lord Jesus.

© 2002 by SIL International®

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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.