📖 Biblical Definition
A title applied to two figures in the New Testament. (1) John 17:12: Christ in His high priestly prayer says of His disciples, those that thou gavest me I have kept... none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. The reference is to Judas Iscariot. (2) 2 Thessalonians 2:3: Paul writes of the day of the Lord, that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. The reference is to the eschatological antichrist figure.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
SON OF PERDITI, n.
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A scriptural title; in John 17 of Judas, in 2 Thessalonians 2 of the antichrist.
📖 Key Scripture
John 17:12 — "Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled."
2 Thessalonians 2:3 — "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."
John 6:70 — "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?"
Acts 1:25 — "That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity tends to skip the eschatological antichrist; 2 Thessalonians 2 names him as the son of perdition.
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The phrase son of perdition links Judas and the antichrist as two manifestations of the same kind of figure: chosen for proximity to Christ, given trust, ultimately revealed as the betrayer destined for destruction. The Greek apoleia (perdition) means destruction, ruin — not annihilation but the soul's ruin in eternal judgment.
Modern Christianity often skips the eschatological antichrist as embarrassing apocalyptic detail. Paul did not skip him. The man of sin will be revealed; the falling away will occur; the day of the Lord will follow. Read 2 Thessalonians 2 carefully. Be not deceived. The Lord will consume that wicked one with the spirit of His mouth.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
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G684 — apoleia — perdition; destruction
G5207 — huios — son
Usage
"Modern Christianity skips the eschatological antichrist; 2 Thessalonians 2 names him."
"Judas and the antichrist are linked as two manifestations of the same figure."
"Read 2 Thessalonians 2 carefully; be not deceived."