2:6a
And you know what is now restraining him: In Greek it is not clear which word nun (now) is connected to. There are two possibilities:
(1) It goes with the expression to katechon, “the restraining/holding-back (thing).”
(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, God’s Word, New American Standard Bible, SSA)
(2) It goes with the verb oida, “to know.” For example:
And now you know what is holding him back. (New International Version (2011 Revision))
(King James Version, New English Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)
It is recommended that you follow the first option (1).
what is now restraining him: As mentioned above, the Greek is literally “the restraining (thing).” Paul did not explain what was holding back or restraining the Wicked Person (“man of lawlessness”). The point is that something was preventing the Wicked Person (“man of lawlessness”) from appearing before the proper time (2:6b). (For some suggestions about who or what is holding him back, see Marshall, pp. 197–200; Bruce, pp. 171–172; or Best, pp. 296–301.)
The Greek text also does not say what is being held back. Some English versions make clear that this is referring to the man of lawlessness by saying:
restraining him (Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version)
The Greek also does not say what the man of lawlessness is being restrained from doing. The next part of this verse makes it clear that he is being held back from appearing before “the proper time.”
2:6b
so that: This indicates the purpose of 2:6a.
he may be revealed: See the note on 2:3d. The Greek (like many English versions) again uses a passive here, but it does not imply that someone else (for example, the devil) caused him to appear. So if you cannot use a passive in your translation, you should use an active verb. For example:
he may appear
at the proper time: That is, at the time that God decides is right.
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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.