2 Thessalonians 2:8 kjv

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2 Thessalonians 2:8 nkjv

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 niv

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 esv

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 nlt

Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.

2 Thessalonians 2 verses

2 Thessalonians 2 8 Meaning

Second Thessalonians 2:8 prophesies the ultimate, definitive destruction of the "lawless one" by the Lord Jesus Christ. This pivotal verse declares that at the time of Christ's return, characterized by His powerful and glorious appearance, He will completely annihilate this figure of supreme evil, not through physical combat, but through the irresistible decree of His divine word and the manifest power of His glorious presence. It assures believers of Christ's absolute victory over all forces of darkness and rebellion.

2 Thessalonians 2 8 Context

Second Thessalonians Chapter 2 addresses concerns among believers that the Day of the Lord, or the Lord's return, had already occurred (2:2). Paul reassures them that certain major events must precede that day: a great rebellion or apostasy, and the revelation of "the man of lawlessness" or "the son of destruction" (2:3). This "lawless one" is characterized by satanic power, deceiving signs, and an ungodly nature, opposing all that is divine (2:4, 9). Paul states there is currently a "restrainer" preventing his full manifestation (2:6-7). Verse 8 then focuses on the eventual revelation of this lawless one, immediately followed by his dramatic and definitive destruction by the Lord Jesus Christ. This specific verse stands as a crucial declaration of Christ's ultimate eschatological victory over this concentrated evil.

2 Thessalonians 2 8 Word analysis

• καὶ τότε (kai tote) - And then: Signifies a definite sequence in time. This implies that once the "restrainer" (mentioned in v.6-7) is removed, and the "lawless one" is revealed, Christ's decisive action immediately follows, marking a climactic and final event.
• ἀποκαλυφθήσεται (apokalyphthēsetai) - will be revealed: (from apokalyptō) Means "to unveil," "to disclose," or "to manifest fully." It is a divine passive, implying God's sovereign timing and permission in the unveiling of this figure, despite his malevolent nature. This is not a subtle emergence, but a full, unmistakable manifestation.
• ὁ ἄνομος (ho anomos) - the lawless one:
  • ὁ (ho) - the: The definite article points to a specific, unique individual, a personification of lawlessness rather than general ungodliness.
  • ἄνομος (anomos) - lawless: Formed from a- (negative prefix) and nomos (law). It describes someone not just as disobedient to laws, but as operating without or against all established law and order, especially God's divine moral law. This figure is inherently characterized by utter disregard and rebellion against God's authority and statutes.
• ὃν (hon) - whom: Direct object pronoun, pointing to the subject of Christ's action.
• ὁ Κύριος Ἰησοῦς (ho Kyrios Iēsous) - the Lord Jesus: Emphasizes the full deity and authority of Christ. "Lord" (Kyrios) asserts His sovereignty, demonstrating His supreme power over all adversaries, including this embodiment of evil.
• ἀνελεῖ (anelei) - will overthrow/slay: (from anaireō) Can mean "to take up," "to take away," "to destroy," or "to slay." Here, it means to definitively eliminate, bring to ruin, or put to death. It denotes a decisive and complete defeat.
• τῷ πνεύματι τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ (tō pneumati tou stomatos autou) - with the breath of his mouth:
  • πνεύματι (pneumati) - breath/spirit: While it can refer to the Holy Spirit, in this context with "mouth," it evokes the divine power and authority of God's spoken word. It signifies a mere utterance or decree.
  • στόματος (stomatos) - mouth: This imagery, echoing Isaiah 11:4 ("with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked"), illustrates that Christ does not need physical struggle. His powerful, authoritative word or divine decree is sufficient to obliterate the lawless one. It's an act of irresistible judgment through verbal command.
• καὶ καταργήσει (kai katargēsei) - and will destroy/render ineffective: (from katargeō) Means "to make idle," "to abolish," "to nullify," "to make of no effect." It conveys the idea of bringing something to an end completely, rendering it powerless, defunct, or without purpose. This word implies more than just death; it means the total abolition of his power, influence, and very existence.
• τῇ ἐπιφανείᾳ τῆς παρουσίας αὐτοῦ (tē epiphaneia tēs parousias autou) - by the splendor of his coming:
  • ἐπιφανείᾳ (epiphaneia) - splendor/manifestation/appearing: This term signifies a brilliant, visible, and glorious appearing, often associated with a divine manifestation or royal arrival. It highlights the striking and overwhelming visible nature of Christ's advent.
  • παρουσίας (parousias) - coming/presence: A technical term in early Christian eschatology for the second coming or advent of Christ. It refers not only to the moment of His arrival but also to His subsequent authoritative presence. The combination signifies that the very visibility and glory of Christ's powerful advent will be the force that utterly annihilates the lawless one. Just as light dispels darkness, the radiant glory of Christ's coming will make the reign of evil utterly untenable and bring it to nothing.

Words-group Analysis

• "And then the lawless one will be revealed": This highlights the necessary sequential unfolding of prophecy. The revelation of evil is a distinct stage before its final demise, orchestrated by divine timing. It emphasizes that this figure, currently restrained, will inevitably burst onto the world scene in his true, rebellious nature.
• "whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow... and destroy": These two verbs (ἀνελεῖ and καταργήσει) are strong and complementary. "Overthrow/slay" (ἀνελεῖ) speaks to the active striking down, while "destroy/render ineffective" (καταργήσει) emphasizes the complete nullification of his power, influence, and existence. This double assertion ensures the absolute and irreversible nature of his defeat.
• "with the breath of his mouth and... by the splendor of his coming": These phrases describe the manner of Christ's victory. They are not two separate actions, but two facets of one single, decisive, and divinely potent event. The "breath of His mouth" speaks of the ease and power of Christ's word/decree (a judicial act), while the "splendor of His coming" emphasizes the overwhelming, self-manifesting glory and presence of Christ as the effective means of abolition. It's Christ's inherent glory and authority that annihilates the adversary. This points to a non-physical, divine-power victory.

2 Thessalonians 2 8 Bonus section

The destruction of "the lawless one" by the "breath of his mouth" emphasizes that this ultimate act of judgment is an extension of Christ's divine nature and power, identical to that by which He created the cosmos. It implies an overwhelming divine power that works instantaneously and without any effort, merely through His powerful presence and decree. This absolute, effortless triumph over the ultimate embodiment of evil underscores the futility of human or demonic rebellion against God. The dual description of the means of destruction (breath of mouth, splendor of coming) portrays both the authoritative word and the glorious physical presence of Christ as instruments of the divine will.

2 Thessalonians 2 8 Commentary

Second Thessalonians 2:8 provides a critical theological anchor concerning the ultimate fate of the "lawless one," a figure representing concentrated anti-God rebellion. The verse offers deep comfort to believers enduring tribulation by reaffirming Christ's sovereign control over eschatological events. The "lawless one's" revelation will precede Christ's return, but his triumph will be exceedingly short-lived. Christ's victory is decisive and effortless, requiring no physical struggle; His mere spoken word—the "breath of his mouth," evoking creation and judgment in the Old Testament—is sufficient to execute the sentence. Furthermore, the "splendor of his coming" signifies that the sheer brilliance and authoritative presence of Christ will be inherently destructive to this embodiment of darkness. Evil cannot endure in the unveiled presence of the Righteous King. This is a promise of complete divine victory, assuring believers that God is absolutely in control, and that evil, in its ultimate personified form, will be utterly annihilated by Christ's glorious advent. This passage bolsters hope, emphasizing Christ's power to conquer and abolish all that stands against Him.