2 Thess 2:6

Paul Dixon - Ladd Hill Bible Church (pauld@iclnet93.iclnet.org)
Mon, 1 Apr 1996 08:42:48 -0800 (PST)

The NASB violates its own principles of translation in 2 Thess
2:6. Whenever a word is translated that does not appear in the Greek,
the NASB translators say they put that English word in italics so the
reader will know. In the Thessalonians passage, however, the rendering
"And you know what restrains him now" is all put in regular type. "Him,"
however, is not to be found in the Greek. It should have been put in
italics.
This non-italic translation is especially unfortunate because it
suggests a particular interpretation, i.e., that 'him' refers to the Man
of Lawlessness, implying that what restrains is on the side of good.
The context rather suggests that 'what restrains' is parallel to
the Man of Lawlessness 'who opposes and exalts himself above every
so-called god or object of worship . . . displaying himself as being
God." (v. 4). The perspective thus established is not changed at verse
6, where the connective is a continuative kai, "and now ..."

Dr. Paul S. Dixon, pastor
Ladd Hill Bible Church
Wilsonville, Oregon