2 Tesalonika 2:1

The Day of the Lord

2:1 Now regarding the arrival ¹  of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, ²  we ask you, brothers and sisters, ³ 

2 Tesalonika 2:13

Call to Stand Firm

2:13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters ⁴  loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning ⁵  for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

2 Tesalonika 2:15

2:15 Therefore, brothers and sisters, ⁶  stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter. ⁷ 

2 Tesalonika 1:3

Thanksgiving

1:3 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, ⁸  and rightly so, ⁹  because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater.

2 Tesalonika 3:1

Request for Prayer

3:1 Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, ¹⁰  that the Lord’s message ¹¹  may spread quickly and be honored ¹²  as in fact it was among you,

2 Tesalonika 3:6

Response to the Undisciplined

3:6 But we command you, brothers and sisters, ¹³  in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined ¹⁴  life ¹⁵  and not according to the tradition they ¹⁶  received from us.

2 Tesalonika 3:13

3:13 But you, brothers and sisters, ¹⁷  do not grow weary in doing what is right.

[2:1]  ¹ tn Or perhaps “return” (cf. CEV).

[2:1]  ² tn Grk “our gathering with him.”

[2:1]  ³ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[2:13]  ⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[2:13]  ⁵ tc ‡ Several mss (B F G P 0278 33 81 323 1739 1881 al bo) read ἀπαρχήν (aparchn, “as a first fruit”; i.e., as the first converts) instead of ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς (ap’ arch", “from the beginning,” found in א D Ψ Ï it sa), but this seems more likely to be a change by scribes who thought of the early churches in general in this way. But Paul would not be likely to call the Thessalonians “the first fruits” among his converts. Further, ἀπαρχή (aparch, “first fruit”) is a well-worn term in Paul’s letters (Rom 8:23; 11:16; 16:5; 1 Cor 15:20, 23; 16:15), while ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς occurs nowhere else in Paul. Scribes might be expected to change the text to the more familiar term. Nevertheless, a decision is difficult (see arguments for ἀπαρχήν in TCGNT 568), and ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς must be preferred only slightly.

[2:15]  ⁶ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[2:15]  ⁷ tn Grk “that you were taught whether by word or by letter of ours.”

[1:3]  ⁸ tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).

[1:3]  ⁹ tn Grk “as is worthy.”

[3:1]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[3:1]  ¹¹ tn Or “the word of the Lord.”

[3:1]  sn “The word of the Lord” is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rJhma tou kuriou; Luke 22:61, Acts 11:16, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logo" tou kuriou; here and in Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48, 49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:10, 20; 1 Thess 1:8, 4:15). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said. Here the phrase has been translated “the Lord’s message” because of the focus upon the spread of the gospel evident in the passage.

[3:1]  ¹² tn Grk “may run and be glorified.”

[3:6]  ¹³ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[3:6]  ¹⁴ tn Or “unruly, out of line.” The particular violation Paul has in mind is idleness (as described in vv. 8-11), so this could be translated to reflect that.

[3:6]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “walking in an undisciplined way” (“walking” is a common NT idiom for one’s way of life or conduct).

[3:6]  ¹⁶ tc The reading “you received” (παρελάβετε, parelabete) is found predominately in Western witnesses (F G 1505 2464 pc), although the support of B and the Sahidic version strengthens the reading considerably. The reading “they received” is found in two different forms: παρελάβοσαν (parelabosan; in א* A [D*] 0278 33 pc) and παρέλαβον (parelabon; in א² D² Ψ 1739 1881 Ï). (παρέλαβον is evidently a correction of παρελάβοσαν to the more common spelling for the third person aorist form). The external evidence is divided fairly evenly, with παρελάβετε and παρελάβοσαν each having adequate support. Internal evidence leans toward “they received”: Given the second person reading, there is little reason why scribes would intentionally change it to a third person plural, and especially an archaic form at that. There is ample reason, however, for scribes to change the third person form to the second person form given that in the prior context παράδοσις (paradosis, “tradition”) is used with a relative clause (as here) with a second person verb (see 2:15). The third person form should be regarded as original.

[3:13]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.