# Restraining ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible *Restraining* ([[2-thessalonians-02#^2-thessalonians-02-6|2 Thess 2:6]]) - *Katechō* (Gk.): a verb meaning \"hinder\", \"restrain\", or \"retain\". It is used three times in the Thessalonian letters and 14 times elsewhere in the NT. Its usage in 2 Thessalonians is challenging to interpret. In [[2-thessalonians-02#^2-thessalonians-02-6|2 Thess 2:6]], Paul speaks of a mysterious *power* (neuter) that holds back the man of lawlessness and delays his appearance in the world. Then, in [[2-thessalonians-02#^2-thessalonians-02-7|2 Thess 2:7]], he seems to speak of a *person* (masculine) who performs this function until, at last, he steps out of the way and the man of lawlessness makes his terrifying debut. The identities of this force and figure have been greatly debated in both ancient and modern times. For many, the restraining power is the law and order enforced by the Roman Empire, and the restrainer is the Roman emperor himself. Others contend that the Holy Spirit (neuter in Greek) is the restraining power and that God the Father (masculine in Greek) is the Person who issues the restraining order. Still others interpret the restraining force as the missionary efforts of the Church and the figure who embodies this mission as Paul. Unfortunately for us, Paul felt no need to describe further the restrainer because he had already instructed his readers on this point when he was with them in person ([[2-thessalonians-02#^2-thessalonians-02-5|2 Thess 2:5-6]]). ### Sources [[14-second-thessalonians-commentary#^ijx3ea|Restraining — word study]]