On the form may the Lord, see the note on verse 5. Here, as in verse 5, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “we ask the Lord.” Normally a request to God must be introduced by an expression such as “we pray” or “I pray.”

The Lord … who is our source of peace is literally “the Lord of peace,” a Hebrew idiom rather like Barnabas’s nickname “Son of Consolation,” that is, “he who consoles.” The meaning is not that the Lord (Jesus) is himself at peace, but that he gives peace (cf. Bible en français courant “who gives peace,” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “from whom all peace comes,” Bijbel in Gewone Taal “from whom peace comes”). Good News Translation‘s our source of peace perhaps narrows the meaning too much. If our is expressed at all, it must be inclusive in meaning, that is, including the Thessalonians as well as Paul and his companions. Our source of peace must be rendered in some languages as a causative expression, for example, “he is the one who causes us to be at peace,” or, expressed idiomatically, “… causes us to sit down in our hearts,” or, expressed negatively, “… causes us no longer to worry.”

On peace, see 1 Thess. 1.1.

There is no difficulty in at all times (cf. Jerusalem Bible “all the time”), but the text corresponding to in every way is uncertain. Some manuscripts have “in every place,” as in 1 Corinthians 1.2; 1 Thess. 1.8; and other passages. In every way, less common in Greek, is more likely to be correct and is followed by virtually all translators. At all times may be rendered as “always,” but it may also be appropriately rendered as “under all circumstances” or “in every situation.”

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 .