The Meaning of 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Explained

2 Thessalonians 2:12

KJV: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

YLT: that they may be judged -- all who did not believe the truth, but were well pleased in the unrighteousness.

Darby: that all might be judged who have not believed the truth, but have found pleasure in unrighteousness.

ASV: that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That  they all  might be damned  who  believed  not  the truth,  but  had pleasure  in  unrighteousness. 

What does 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 - Untroubled By Threatening Rumors
The Apostle sets himself to correct certain erroneous impressions which had unsettled the church in Thessalonica. Notice how reverently he speaks of our Savior. Once and again he alludes to Him as the Lord Jesus Christ. He is surely coming, and as surely will His saints be gathered to Him, as the drops of moisture are drawn up from ponds and oceans, to cluster in the clouds in radiant beauty around the sun.
But certain events must take place first. There must be a great apostasy and the unveiling of "the mystery of lawlessness," which even at that time was already at work. First, the man of sin; then, the Son of man. First, He that set Himself forth as God; then, God manifest in the flesh. First, the revelation of sin; then, the revelation of perfect salvation. Daniel 11:36 seems to have suggested Paul's words, which have been applied to Nero or Caligula, to Judaism or the Papal Church, and to some future manifestation of Satanic hatred toward the Church of God. But whatever form it may assume, the coming of Jesus will absolutely destroy this power of Antichrist. Let us be warned by the doom of those that are involved in this great apostasy, and ever cherish the love of the truth of Christ, that we may be saved. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Thessalonians 2

1  Paul urges them to continue stedfast in the truth received;
3  shows that there shall be a departure from the faith,
9  and a discovery of Antichrist, before the day of the Lord comes;
15  repeats his exhortation to stand firm, and prays for them

Greek Commentary for 2 Thessalonians 2:12

That they all might be judged [ινα κριτωσιν παντες]
First aorist passive subjunctive of κρινω — krinō to sift, to judge, with ινα — hina Ultimate purpose, almost result, of the preceding obstinate resistance to the truth and “the judicial infatuation which overtakes them” (Lightfoot), now final punishment. Condemnation is involved in the fatal choice made. These victims of the man of sin did not believe the truth and found pleasure in unrighteousness. [source]
Might be damned [κριθῶσιν]
More correctly, judged. See on damnation, 1 Timothy 5:12. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Thessalonians 2:12

Romans 2:12 Shall be judged [κριθήσονται]
The antithesis shall perish suggests a condemnatory judgment. There is no doubt that the simple κρίνω is used in the New Testament in the sense of condemning. See John 3:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:12; Hebrews 13:4. The change from perish to judge is suggested by by the law. “The Jews alone will be, strictly speaking, subjected to a detailed inquiry such as arises from applying the particular articles of a code” (Godet). Both classes of men shall be condemned; in both the result will be perishing, but the judgment by the law is confined to those who have the law. [source]
1 Corinthians 13:6 But rejoiceth with the truth [συνχαιρει δε τηι αλητειαι]
Associative instrumental case after συν — suṅ in composition. Truth personified as opposed to unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:12; Romans 2:8). Love is on the side of the angels. Paul returns here to the positive side of the picture (1 Corinthians 13:4) after the remarkable negatives. [source]
Galatians 1:4 Deliver [εχεληται]
Second aorist middle subjunctive (final clause with οπως — hopōs) of εχαιρεω — exaireō old verb to pluck out, to rescue (Acts 23:27). “Strikes the keynote of the epistle. The gospel is a rescue, an emancipation from a state of bondage” (Lightfoot). Out of this present evil world (εκ του αιωνος του ενεστωτος πονηρου — ek tou aiōnos tou enestōtos ponērou). Literally, “out of the age the existing one being evil.” The predicate position of πονηρου — ponērou calls emphatic attention to it. Each word here is of interest and has been already discussed. See Matthew 13:22 for aiōn Matthew 6:23 for ponēros αιων — Enestōtos is genitive masculine singular of πονηρος — enestōs second perfect (intransitive) participle of Ενεστωτος — enistēmi for which see 2 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:22; 1 Corinthians 7:26. It is present as related to future (Romans 8:38; Hebrews 9:9). According to the will of God Not according to any merit in us. [source]
Galatians 1:4 Out of this present evil world [εκ του αιωνος του ενεστωτος πονηρου]
Literally, “out of the age the existing one being evil.” The predicate position of πονηρου — ponērou calls emphatic attention to it. Each word here is of interest and has been already discussed. See Matthew 13:22 for aiōn Matthew 6:23 for ponēros αιων — Enestōtos is genitive masculine singular of πονηρος — enestōs second perfect (intransitive) participle of Ενεστωτος — enistēmi for which see 2 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:22; 1 Corinthians 7:26. It is present as related to future (Romans 8:38; Hebrews 9:9). [source]
2 Thessalonians 2:11 A lie [τῷ ψεύδει]
Properly, the lie. The article gives the generic sense, falsehood in all its forms. Comp. John 8:44; Romans 1:25; Ephesians 4:25. Comp. the contrast of truth and unrighteousness in 2 Thessalonians 2:12. All wrongdoing has an element of falsity. [source]
1 Peter 1:22 In your obedience [εν τηι υπακοηι]
With repetition of the idea in 1 Peter 1:2, 1 Peter 1:14 (children of obedience).To the truth (της αλετειας — tēs aletheias). Objective genitive with which compare John 17:17, John 17:19 about sanctification in the truth and 2 Thessalonians 2:12 about believing the truth. There is cleansing power in the truth of God in Christ.Unfeigned Late and rare double compound, here alone in Peter, but see James 3:17; 2 Corinthians 6:6, etc. No other kind of πιλαδελπια — philadelphia (brotherly love) is worth having (1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; 2 Peter 1:7).From the heart fervently (εκ καρδιας εκτενως — ek kardias ektenōs). Late adverb (in inscriptions, Polybius, lxx). The adjective εκτενης — ektenēs is more common (1 Peter 4:8). [source]
1 Peter 1:22 To the truth [της αλετειας]
Objective genitive with which compare John 17:17, John 17:19 about sanctification in the truth and 2 Thessalonians 2:12 about believing the truth. There is cleansing power in the truth of God in Christ. [source]
Revelation 22:15 The dogs [οι κυνες]
Not literal dogs, but the morally impure (Deuteronomy 23:18; 2 Kings 8:13; Psalm 22:17, Psalm 22:21; Matthew 7:6; Mark 7:27; Philemon 3:3). Dogs in the Oriental cities are the scavengers and excite unspeakable contempt.The sorcerers (οι παρμακοι — hoi pharmakoi). As in Revelation 21:8, where are listed “the fornicators and the murderers and the idolaters,” all “outside” the holy city here as there “in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, the second death.” Both are pictures (symbolic language) of hell, the eternal absence from fellowship with God. Another time Jesus spoke of “the outer darkness” (εις το σκοτος το εχωτερον — eis to skotos to exōteron Matthew 8:12; Matthew 22:13; Matthew 25:30), outside of lighted house, as the abode of the damned. Another symbol is the worm that dies not (Mark 9:48).Every one that loveth and maketh a lie An interpretation of πασιν τοις πσευδεσιν — pāsin tois pseudesin (all liars) of Revelation 21:8 and of ποιων πσευδος — poiōn pseudos (doing a lie) of Revelation 21:27. Satan is the father of lying (John 8:44) and Satan‘s home is a congenial place for those who love and practise lying (2 Thessalonians 2:12). See 1 John 1:6 for not doing the truth and see also Romans 1:25; Ephesians 4:25. [source]
Revelation 22:15 Every one that loveth and maketh a lie [πας πιλων και ποιων πσευδος]
An interpretation of πασιν τοις πσευδεσιν — pāsin tois pseudesin (all liars) of Revelation 21:8 and of ποιων πσευδος — poiōn pseudos (doing a lie) of Revelation 21:27. Satan is the father of lying (John 8:44) and Satan‘s home is a congenial place for those who love and practise lying (2 Thessalonians 2:12). See 1 John 1:6 for not doing the truth and see also Romans 1:25; Ephesians 4:25. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Thessalonians 2:12 mean?

in order that should be judged all those not having believed the truth but having delighted - in unrighteousness
ἵνα κριθῶσιν πάντες οἱ μὴ πιστεύσαντες τῇ ἀληθείᾳ ἀλλὰ εὐδοκήσαντες τῇ ἀδικίᾳ

ἵνα  in  order  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
κριθῶσιν  should  be  judged 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: κρίνω  
Sense: to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.
οἱ  those 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πιστεύσαντες  having  believed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
ἀληθείᾳ  truth 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀλήθεια  
Sense: objectively.
εὐδοκήσαντες  having  delighted 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εὐδοκέω  
Sense: it seems good to one, is one’s good pleasure.
τῇ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀδικίᾳ  in  unrighteousness 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀδικία  
Sense: injustice, of a judge.