Nothing is Taken Away - 2 Thessalonians 2:7 - Bible Translations

People often talk about reading something in a number of different bible translations to be sure they get it right. Well, even that might not cut it. Often it is simply wrong in all of them.

Generally when bible translators understand what they are translating, there is no problem. The issues start when they don't understand what they are translating. In this situation, they have limited options. Obviously they can't just stop - they have to put something down. So what they do, is they look at what other existing bible translations have put. Then, maybe they will change a few of the English words, while maintaining the sense of what they have copied.

You can tell when this is going on. For example, if you read the first 4 verses in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, you will see that in English it makes perfect sense. However, the next 4 verses are almost gibberish. The greek is not substantially different. The problem is, that the translators don't "get" what Paul is saying, so they cannot give a clear translation.

Every single "big name" translation of 2 Thessalonians 2:7 has "until He is taken out of the way". KJV, NKJV, RSV, ESV, NIV etc etc. However, the words "taken out of the way" are simply not there in the Greek. Nothing is taken anywhere.

Each translator looked at the Greek, didn't understand what Paul was saying, panicked. They then looked at the other translations and saw they all translate the text the same way. They then decided to "play it safe" and rendered it like all the others.

For this particular verse it would require extra courage to go against the tide, because it is a "political" verse. Certain theological positions which have massive support in the United States, rest on the "taken out of the way" translation.

Guys, I'm sorry, it's just not there.

Here is an alternate translation (Greens), you will notice the "he" in verse 7 is not capitalised, and nothing is taken away.

1 Brothers, we entreat you, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together to Him, 2 for you not to be quickly shaken in the mind, nor to be disturbed, neither through a spirit, nor through speech, nor through letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ has come.

3 Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, because that Day will not come unless first comes the falling away, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

4 the one opposing and exalting himself over everything being called God, or object of worship, so as for him "to sit in the temple of God" as God, proclaiming that he himself is God. 5 Do you not remember that I told you these things, I yet being with you?

6 And now you know the thing holding back, for him to be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness already is working, only he is holding back now, until it comes out of the midst.

8 And then "the Lawless One" will be revealed, "whom" "the Lord" "will consume" "by the spirit of His mouth," and He will bring to nought by the brightness of His presence.