The first separate reference to Timothy is followed by an accumulation of titles which serve both to describe and recommend him. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch lightens the construction by including these titles in a separate sentence beginning “he is God’s co-worker.”
The best Greek text, followed by a majority of modern translations (including Phillips New American Bible New English Bible Zürcher Bibel Jerusalem Bible La Sainte Bible: Nouvelle version Segond révisée Bible de Jérusalem Bible en français courant Traduction œcuménique de la Bible Bijbel in Gewone Taal), describes Timothy as, literally, “our brother and co-worker of God in the gospel of Christ.” Many copyists seemingly were shocked that Paul should call Timothy “God’s co-worker,” though a similar idea is expressed in 1 Corinthians 6.1. Some manuscripts (followed by Moffatt Revised Standard Version Knox Luther 1984 Le Nouveau Testament. Version Synodale Jerusalem Bible Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) replace “co-worker” by “servant.” Others omit “God” or place “of God” after “gospel.”
Good News Translation adopts the reading “co-worker” but links it with “our” rather than with “of God,” making it necessary to understand “of God” as “for God” “our brother who works with us for God” (cf. Translator’s New Testament Bible en français courant). It seems on the whole better to keep the two phrases “our brother” and “God’s co-worker” distinct in translation. Timothy, like any Christian, is Paul’s brother, but he also has the more specific calling to work with God in preaching the Good News about Christ. Preaching is implied; see the notes on 2.16.
Paul has used the expression “Good News of God” in 2.2, 8, 9, always with the meaning “Good News from God,” “Good News of which God is the author,” or “Good News sent by God.” Here it would be possible to understand “Good News of Christ” in the same way, but Good News Translation‘s Good News about Christ fits the context better.
If one combines the concept of “co-worker” with Timothy’s colleagues Paul and Silas, it may be necessary to make clear the relation involved in the phrase for God. This is done in some languages as “who works with us in serving God.” On the other hand, if one combines “co-worker” directly with “God,” one must translate “he works with God” or “he works together with God,” something which must be expressed in some languages as “he and God work together.” But this may be awkward, since it may shift the focus of attention from Timothy as a collaborator to joint operations conducted by Timothy and God. Under such circumstances it may be better to adopt the construction employed in Good News Translation.
We sent him to strengthen you, in Greek as in Good News Translation, is slightly ambiguous. Does Paul mean (1) “we sent him so that he might strengthen you,” or (2) “we sent him so that (through him) we might strengthen you?” Those translations which specify (including Zürcher Bibel Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch Biblia Dios Habla Hoy Bijbel in Gewone Taal) choose the first alternative, which is simpler and more probable, though the difference in meaning is minimal. In translating to strengthen, it is important to avoid the implication that Timothy was to make the Thessalonians physically strong or to increase their health. The strengthening obviously refers to their faith and confidence as Christian believers. It may even be useful to combine this meaning with the phrase help your faith, for example, “to cause your faith to become strong.”
Help translates a verb whose literal meaning is that of calling someone to one’s side, but the literal meaning clearly does not fit the present context. Extensions of this meaning include two which are relevant here, and which partly overlap: (1) “appeal to, urge, exhort,” in which the act of speaking is dominant, and (2) “encourage, cheer up,” which emphasize the strengthening effect of what is said, rather than the act itself. The close link with strengthen (cf. 2 Thess. 2.17) makes the second meaning much more likely. Most translations have “encourage” or something similar. Good News Translation‘s help is a more common equivalent, and King James Version‘s “comfort” is no longer used in this sense.
Help your faith is more literally “encourage you concerning your faith,” or possibly “on behalf of your faith,” though the latter meaning is awkward and unlikely. Two questions arise: (1) What is the relation between “encourage” and “your faith”? and (2) What is the relation between this entire phrase and the preceding strengthen? Translator’s New Testament makes both relations explicit by translating “encourage you to stand fast in your faith” (New English Bible “… to stand firm to the faith,” cf. Barclay). It is clear that the Thessalonians’ faith is affected inseparably by the strengthening and by the encouragement which Timothy brings. This is one of the few passages in which Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch uses the noun “faith.” It usually prefers to translate the “event” of faith by a verb, “to trust” or “to believe.”
In those languages which normally employ a verb to translate faith, one may render to strengthen you and help your faith as “to cause you to believe more firmly,” or “to cause you to have more confidence in your trusting in Christ.”
Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .