3:3a

But: The Greek word de, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as But, signals a change of topic, but it also signals a contrast between the Lord who is faithful and the people mentioned in 3:2b who do not have faith.

the Lord is faithful: In Greek, the last word of 3:2 (pistis, “faith”) and the first word of 3:3 (pistos, “faithful”) have the same root. Paul used this play on words to introduce a new subject, the faithfulness/steadfastness of the Lord Jesus. He wanted the Thessalonians to know that the Lord would keep his promise and protect and strengthen them.

the Lord: This refers to the Lord Jesus.

3:3b

and: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as and is a transition word. In this verse, it introduces Paul’s conclusion, based on the fact that the Lord is faithful (3:3a). His conclusion is that he can be sure that the Lord will strengthen the Thessalonians and protect them from the evil one. Here are some other ways to translate this transition:

Therefore
-or-
so

He will strengthen you: Paul was sure that the Lord would strengthen the Thessalonians inwardly/spiritually.

and guard you from the evil one: Paul could also be certain that, because the Lord is faithful, he (the Lord) would protect them and enable them to resist Satan.

from the evil one: The Greek here is apo tou ponērou , which could mean either from the evil one or from “the evil thing.” There are two ways to understand this:

(1) It refers to the devil. Most English versions understand it this way and translate it as “the evil one.” Most commentators also agree with this interpretation.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, NET Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible, New Century Version, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), SSA)

(2) It refers to evil in general.

(King James Version, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1), as it has strong support. The term the evil one is used elsewhere in Scripture to refer to Satan. (See Matthew 5:37, 6:13, 13:19, 13:38; John 17:15; Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 2:13–14, 3:12, 5:18–19.) If it is not clear to your readers that the expression the evil one refers to Satan, you could do one of the following:

• Use the literal expression but explain in a footnote or in the glossary that this refers to Satan.

• Include your usual term for Satan/the devil in your translation, for example, “the devil, who is called the Evil One” or “the Evil One, Satan.”

• Make no difference between this term and the way you usually refer to Satan.

All these are possible ways to translate this expression. The important thing is that you translate this expression consistently every time it is used in the NT.

© 2002 by SIL International®

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.