| The
key which unlocks the door to the mystery of the “restrainer” is Paul’s
unique linguistic application of three Greek adverbs all of which convey the
basic sense of meaning of time in the present or the “here and now.”
Paul tells the Thessalonians that “the thing that restrains” (to
katechon) the man of sin is doing so “now” (nun) at the
present time (2 Thess. 2:6). Furthermore, the mystery of lawlessness “now”
(tes) works at the present time. The strong implication is that “the
thing restraining” at the present time (“now”) exhibits the character
attributes associated with the mystery of lawlessness, which also works “now”
at the present time. This identical character attribute now working in “the
thing restraining” will also be exhibited in the man of sin who will be
revealed in his time.
Moreover, Paul reinforces the
linkage of the mystery of lawlessness with the restraining activity by
immediately repeating in the next phrase (2:7) the “here and now”
activity of “the one who restrains,” clearly linking it with the mystery
of lawlessness. “For the mystery of lawlessness now (tes) works.
Only he who restrains now (arti), until he comes into existence out
from the midst.” The impersonal restrainer (to katechon) in verse 6
and the related personal restrainer (ho katechon) in verse 7 work as
a unit to restrain the man of sin, concurrently in time, with and through
the working of the mystery of lawlessness. The mystery of lawlessness
describes the evil character attributes of both the current restraining
activity and the man of sin who is to be revealed in the future.
The three Greek adverbs used in
succession in 2 Thess. 2:6-7, nun, tes, and arti all
convey the sense of current, present time in contrast to past or future
activity.151 Each adverb
is synonymous with the other. More specifically, arti seems to mark a
“precise time” (he restrains now in verse 6); nun marks a point
or a period of time (“now restraining” in verse 6); and tes
conveys current time in reference to the future (“mystery of lawlessness
now/already works” in verse 7).152
Concurrent time connected with present is the key supplied by the sequential
application of the three Greek adverbs, nun, tes and arti
which links the mystery of lawlessness with “the restrainer.” The
mystery of lawlessness which works in “the restrainer” is to be revealed
in the man of sin when the restrainer comes into existence out from the
midst.
The following chart summarizes the
relationship of the restrainer and the mystery of lawlessness in the context
of concurrent time.
The
Relationship of
“The Restrainer”
and
“The Mystery of Lawlessness”
in Concurrent Time |
| Adverb |
Time
Frame |
Subject |
Characteristic |
Identity |
|
| nun |
Now |
Thing
Restraining |
Evil |
Pagan
Rome |
| ede |
Now/
Already |
Mystery
of
Lawlessness |
Evil |
Character
of Paganism |
| arti |
Now |
Person
Restraining |
Evil |
Emperor
of Rome |
3.2
Linguistic Evidence from ginomai |