Restrain

See REST , B, No. 2.

"to hold fast or down," is translated "restraineth" in 2—Thessalonians 2:6,7 . In ver. 6 lawlessness is spoken of as being "restrained" in its development: in ver. 7 "one that restraineth" is, lit., "the restrainer" (the article with the present participle, "the restraining one"); this may refer to an individual, as in the similar construction in 1—Thessalonians 3:5 , "the tempter" (cp. 2—Thessalonians 1:10 , lit., "the Deliverer"); or to a number of persons presenting the same characteristics, just as "the believer" stands for all believers, e.g., Romans 9:33; 1—John 5:10 . Ver. 6 speaks of a principle, ver. 7 of the principle as embodied in a person or series of persons; cp. what is said of "the power" in Romans 13:3,4 , a phrase representing all such rulers. Probably such powers, i.e., "constituted governments," are the "restraining" influence here intimated (specifications being designedly withheld). For an extended exposition see Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 254-261.