2 Tesalonika 1:3-4

Thanksgiving

1:3 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, ¹  and rightly so, ²  because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater. 1:4 As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.

2 Tesalonika 2:15

2:15 Therefore, brothers and sisters, ³  stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter. ⁴ 

2 Tesalonika 3:1

Request for Prayer

3:1 Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, ⁵  that the Lord’s message ⁶  may spread quickly and be honored ⁷  as in fact it was among you,

2 Tesalonika 3:8

3:8 and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. ⁸  Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked ⁹  night and day in order not to burden any of you.

[1:3]  ¹ 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]  ² tn Grk “as is worthy.”

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

[2:15]  ⁴ tn Grk “that you were taught whether by word or by letter of ours.”

[3:1]  ⁵ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[3:1]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn Grk “may run and be glorified.”

[3:8]  ⁸ tn Grk “we did not eat bread freely from anyone.”

[3:8]  ⁹ tn Grk “but working,” as a continuation of the previous sentence. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started with the word “Instead” in the translation.