Finally, as in 1 Thess. 4.1 (see the note on that verse), does not necessarily imply that Paul is coming to the end of his letter; it means that his last major subject is being approached. This is an additional reason for taking verses 1-5 with what follows. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “we are coming to the end” overemphasizes finally, while Bijbel in Gewone Taal “also” (“pray also for us, brothers”) underemphasizes it. Knox and Translator’s New Testament have “and now” (cf. Barclay “it only remains,” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), which strikes a good balance. If finally is too closely related to pray in the translation, it may suggest that the final content of this letter refers to prayer. In a sense, however, finally introduces the whole theme of the obligation of the Thessalonians to work. The equivalent of finally in some languages is “and now for the last part of what I want to say,” or “and now to introduce my last point.”
Our brothers, as in many previous passages and at verse 6, marks the beginning of a new section. (The function of this word in verse 13 is rather different.)
The form of the Greek verb for pray excludes the idea of offering prayer at only one particular time. However, it is reading too much into the text to make it mean “go on praying, as you are doing already,” or “pray continually.” The purpose of the prayer or its content—the two ideas are as difficult to distinguish in Greek as in English—is twofold: first and foremost, the spread of the Christian message; and secondly, the rescue of Paul and his companions from their enemies. If “Lord” is understood as referring to God, then it is “the word that comes from God”; but if “Lord” is interpreted as referring to Jesus, then it is “the word is about the Lord.”
Pray for us as a command may require in some languages an introductory expression which will make it seem more like a request, for example, “please pray for us.” In a number of languages pray is simply “speak to God on our behalf.”
The Lord’s message is the same in Greek as “the message about the Lord” in 1 Thess. 1.8, but “the message which the Lord gives” is also a possible meaning (cf. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Bijbel in Gewone Taal has simply “the gospel,” and this is what Paul means, but “gospel” in English and some other languages may be a word used mainly in church circles and therefore not part of a common language translation.
May continue to spread rapidly and be received with honor is literally “may run and be glorified.” Continue is implicit (see next paragraph). Paul has spoken of the previous rapid spread of the Christian message in 1 Thess. 1.8 ff. What is the literal meaning of this metaphor “to run”? Good News Translation‘s spread rapidly conveys the essential ideas of progress and speed. In other contexts (e.g. 1 Corinthians 9.24-26) “run” implies effort, but this does not seem to be appropriate here. To speak of the Christian message being “glorified” is unusual. The close connection with “run” makes the reader think of those who win a race and receive a prize, and one almost expected a reference to the “glorifying” of those who receive the message and remain faithful to it (cf. Romans 8.17, 30). But “be glorified” has the same subject as “run,” and the text cannot be made to mean “pray that the word may spread rapidly, and that those who receive it may be glorified.” To glorify the word means to give the Christian message its due honor and to receive it with thanks (cf. 1.10, 12). The first element is brought out in the same way by both Good News Translation and Translator’s New Testament (cf. Knox); the second is brought out by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “may be received with thanks to God.” “Run” and “glorify” are closely linked, but Barclay weakens both by combining them as “may make the same splendid progress.”
Continue is one possible interpretation of a comparison which is not explicit in the text (literally “may run and be glorified also among you”). Knox makes this comparison explicit “may run its course triumphantly with us, as it does with you.” However, “with us” might be misunderstood as meaning “pray that we ourselves (Paul, Silas, and Timothy) may honor the Christian message more highly.” This would make “run” very difficult to understand, it would have no parallel elsewhere in Paul’s writing, and it would not fit in easily with verse 2. Paul is not thinking here of the evangelists themselves, but of their mission. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch‘s way of making the comparison explicit is better: “that the message from the Lord may spread rapidly, and everywhere, as with you, may be received with thanks to God.” It would also be possible grammatically to take “as among you” with both “run” and “be glorified,” producing the translation: “may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, as it did and was among you.” The structure of the Greek sentence slightly favors this interpretation, since “run” and “be glorified” are closely linked. On the other hand, it might be argued that “run” suggests movement from one place to another, rather than within a single community.
Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .