2 Thessalonians 2:12

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

2 Thessalonians 2:12, King James Version

2 Thessalonians 2:12 in other translations

BSB	in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.
WEB	that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
ASV	that they all might be judged 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.
BBE	So that they all may be judged, who had no faith in what is true, but took pleasure in evil.
Webster	That they all may be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

What does 2 Thessalonians 2:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. they all ... damned--rather as Greek, "that all," &c. He here states the general proposition which applies specially to Antichrist's adherents. Not all in the Church of Rome, or other anti-Christian systems, shall be damned, but only "all who believed not the truth," when offered to them, "but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (Ro 1:32; 2:8). Love of unrighteousness being the great obstacle to believing the truth.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 12. That they all might be damned. The word damned we commonly apply now exclusively to future punishment, and it has a harsher signification than the original word. 1Cor 11:29. The Greek word κρινω -- means to judge, determine, decide; and then to condemn, Rom 2:27, 14:22, Jas 4:11; Jn 7:51, Lk 19:22, Acts 13:27. It may be applied to the judgment of the last day, Jn 5:22, 8:50, Acts 17:31, Rom 3:6, 2Ti 4:1, but not necessarily. The word judged, or condemned, would, in this place, express all that the Greek word necessarily conveys. Yet there can be no doubt that the judgment or condemnation which is referred to, is that which will occur when the Saviour will appear. It does not seem to me to be a necessary interpretation of this to suppose that it teaches that God would send a strong delusion that they should believe a lie, in order that all might be damned who did not believe the truth; or that he desired that they should be damned, and sent this as the means of securing it; but the sense is, that this course of events would be allowed to occur, so that ινα not ειςτο all who do not love the truth would be condemned. The particle here used, and rendered "that" (ινα) in connection with the phrase "all might be damned" is employed in two general senses, either as marking the end, purpose, or cause for, or on account of, which anything is done; to the end that, or in order that it may be so and so; or as marking simply the result, event, or upshot of an action, so that, so as that. Robinson, Lex. In the latter case it denotes merely that something will really take place, without indicating that such was the design of the agent, or that what brought it about was in order that it might take place. It is also used, in the later Greek, so as neither to mark the purpose, or to indicate that the event would occur, but merely to point out that to which the preceding words refer. It is not proper, therefore, to infer that this passage teaches that all these things would be brought about in the arrangements of Providence, in order that they might be damned who came under their influence. The passage teaches that such would be the result; that the connection between these delusions and the condemnation of those who were deluded, would be certain. It cannot be proved from the Scriptures that God sends on men strong delusions, in order that they may be damned. No such construction should be put on a passage of Scripture if it can be avoided, and it cannot be shown that it is necessary here.

Who believed not the truth. The grounds or reasons why they would be damned are now stated. One would be that they did not believe the truth --not that God sent upon them delusion in order that they might be damned. That men will be condemned for not believing the truth, and that it will be right thus to condemn them, is everywhere the doctrine of the Scriptures, and is equally the doctrine of common sense. Mk 16:16.

But had pleasure in unrighteousness. This is the second ground or reason of their condemnation. If men have pleasure in sin, it is proper that they should be punished. There can be no more just ground of condemnation than that a man loves to do wrong.

(d) "that they all" De 32:35 (+) "damned" "condemned"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 12 That they all might be damned - Ἱνα κριθωσι· So that they may all be condemned who believed not the truth when it was proclaimed to them; but took pleasure in unrighteousness, preferring that to the way of holiness. Their condemnation was the effect of their refusal to believe the truth; and they refused to believe it because they loved their sins. For a farther and more pointed illustration of the preceding verses, see the conclusion of this chapter (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12

Something hindered or withheld the man of sin. It is supposed to be the power of the Roman empire, which the apostle did not mention more plainly at that time. Corruption of doctrine and worship came in by degrees, and the usurping of power was gradual; thus the mystery of iniquity prevailed. Superstition and idolatry were advanced by pretended devotion, and bigotry and persecution were promoted by pretended zeal…

Read the full comment on 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12 →

2 Thessalonians 2:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἵναinain order thatG2443

κριθῶσινkrithōsinmay be judgedG2919

πάντεςpantesallG3956

οἱhoithoseG3588

μὴmēnotG3361

πιστεύσαντεςpisteusanteshaving believedG4100

τῇtēatheG3588

ἀληθείᾳalētheiatruthG225

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

εὐδοκήσαντεςeudokēsanteshaving delightedG2106

τῇtēa<the>G3588

ἀδικίᾳ.¶adikiain unrighteousness.G93

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Thessalonians 2:12

Romans 1:32
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 8:7-8
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Romans 2:8
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Peter 2:13-15
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Hosea 7:3
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
Psalms 11:5
The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
Romans 12:9
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
John 3:19-21
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Mark 14:11
And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

they.
De 32:35; Mr 16:16; Joh 3:36; 1Th 5:9; 2Pe 2:3; Jude 1:4,5
but.
Ps 11:5; 50:16-21; 52:3,4; Ho 7:3; Mic 3:2; Mr 14:11; Joh 3:19-21
Ro 1:32; 2:8; 8:7,8; 12:9; 2Pe 2:13-15; 3Jo 1:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Thessalonians 2:11
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2 Thessalonians 2:12
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

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2 Thessalonians 2:12 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Para que sean condenados todos los que no creyeron á la verdad, antes consintieron á la iniquidad.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	afin que tous ceux-là soient jugés qui n’ont pas cru la vérité, mais qui ont pris plaisir à l’injustice.
German Elberfelder 1871	auf daß alle gerichtet werden, die der Wahrheit nicht geglaubt, sondern Wohlgefallen gefunden haben an der Ungerechtigkeit.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	ut judicentur omnes qui non crediderunt veritati, sed consenserunt iniquitati.