Rogamus autem vos, fratres, per adventum Domini nostri Jesu Christi, et nostræ congregationis in ipsum:

And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together unto him:

But there is one entreaty we would make of you, brethren, as you look forward to the time when our Lord Jesus Christ will come, and gather us in to himself.

ut non cito moveamini a vestro sensu, neque terreamini, neque per spiritum, neque per sermonem, neque per epistolam tamquam per nos missam, quasi instet dies Domini.

That you be not easily moved from your sense, nor be terrified, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by epistle, as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand.

Do not be terrified out of your senses all at once, and thrown into confusion, by any spiritual utterance, any message or letter purporting to come from us, which suggests that the day of the Lord is close at hand.

Ne quis vos seducat ullo modo: quoniam nisi venerit discessio primum, et revelatus fuerit homo peccati filius perditionis,

Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition

Do not let anyone find the means of leading you astray. The apostasy must come first; the champion of wickedness must appear first, destined to inherit perdition.

qui adversatur, et extollitur supra omne, quod dicitur Deus, aut quod colitur, ita ut in templo Dei sedeat ostendens se tamquam sit Deus.

Who opposeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God.

This is the rebel who is to lift up his head above every divine name, above all that men hold in reverence, till at last he enthrones himself in God’s temple, and proclaims himself as God.

Non retinetis quod cum adhuc essem apud vos, hæc dicebam vobis?

Remember you not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Do not you remember my telling you of this, before I left your company?

et nunc quid detineat scitis, ut reveletur in suo tempore.

And now you know what withholdeth, that he may be revealed in his time.

At present there is a power (you know what I mean) which holds him in check, so that he may not shew himself before the time appointed to him;

Nam mysterium jam operatur iniquitatis: tantum ut qui tenet nunc, teneat, donec de medio fiat.

For the mystery of iniquity already worketh; only that he who now holdeth, do hold, until he be taken out of the way.

meanwhile, the conspiracy of revolt is already at work; only, he who checks it now will be able to check it, until he is removed from the enemy’s path.

Et tunc revelabitur ille iniquus, quem Dominus Jesus interficiet spiritu oris sui, et destruet illustratione adventus sui eum:

And then that wicked one shall be revealed whom the Lord Jesus shall kill with the spirit of his mouth; and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, him,

Then it is that the rebel will shew himself; and the Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth, overwhelming him with the brightness of his presence.

cujus est adventus secundum operationem Satanæ in omni virtute, et signis, et prodigiis mendacibus,

Whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in all power, and signs, and lying wonders,

He will come, when he comes, with all Satan’s influence to aid him; there will be no lack of power, of counterfeit signs and wonders;

et in omni seductione iniquitatis iis qui pereunt: eo quod caritatem veritatis non receperunt ut salvi fierent.

And in all seduction of iniquity to them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Therefore God shall send them the operation of error, to believe lying:

and his wickedness will deceive the souls that are doomed, to punish them for refusing that fellowship in the truth which would have saved them. That is why God is letting loose among them a deceiving influence, so that they give credit to falsehood;

Ideo mittet illis Deus operationem erroris ut credant mendacio,

ut judicentur omnes qui non crediderunt veritati, sed consenserunt iniquitati.

That all may be judged who have not believed the truth, but have consented to iniquity.

he will single out for judgement all those who refused credence to the truth, and took their pleasure in wrong-doing.

Nos autem debemus gratias agere Deo semper pro vobis, fratres dilecti a Deo, quod elegerit vos Deus primitias in salutem in sanctificatione spiritus, et in fide veritatis:

But we ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved of God, for that God hath chosen you firstfruits unto salvation, in sanctification of the spirit, and faith of the truth:

We must always give thanks in your name, brethren whom the Lord has so favoured. God has picked you out as the first-fruits in the harvest of salvation, by sanctifying your spirits and convincing you of his truth;

in qua et vocavit vos per Evangelium nostrum in acquisitionem gloriæ Domini nostri Jesu Christi.

Whereunto also he hath called you by our gospel, unto the purchasing of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

he has called you, through our preaching, to attain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Itaque fratres, state: et tenete traditiones, quas didicistis, sive per sermonem, sive per epistolam nostram.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.

Stand firm, then, brethren, and hold by the traditions you have learned, in word or in writing, from us.

Ipse autem Dominus noster Jesus Christus, et Deus et Pater noster, qui dilexit nos, et dedit consolationem æternam, et spem bonam in gratia,

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God and our Father, who hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope in grace,

So may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, so may God, our Father, who has shewn such love to us, giving us unfailing comfort and welcome hope through his grace,

exhortetur corda vestra, et confirmet in omni opere et sermone bono.

Exhort your hearts, and confirm you in every good work and word.

encourage your hearts, and confirm you in every right habit of action and speech.