2:19

In this verse Paul told the Thessalonians one reason why he wanted to see them again. He gave the reason by using a rhetorical question, which he immediately answered. If such a question is unnatural in your language, you could translate this verse without using a question. For example:

You(plural) are our hope, our joy, and our crown of righteous pride. Because of you(plural), we will glory in the presence of our (incl) Lord Jesus when he comes.

2:19a

who is our hope: Paul meant that the Thessalonians would be the cause of his hope, the reason for his hope. He and his companions were confident that when Jesus returned, the Thessalonians would not be ashamed to meet him, because they had strongly trusted in him. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

you will give us hope (Contemporary English Version)

It is difficult to know how much of the meaning of this expression a translator should make explicit in the translation. The Display shows some ways of translating this part of the verse. If you want to make more information explicit, you could say:

it is you whom we^(excl) confidently expect to be strongly trusting in Jesus.

2:19b

our joy: The Thessalonians would also be a cause of joy for Paul. When Jesus returned, they would also cause Paul and his companions to rejoice, because they had continued to believe firmly in Jesus Christ.

2:19c

our crown: In Greek culture, one of the symbols of great honor was a wreath of laurel leaves that was placed on the head of an athlete who had won a race. Paul was using this image in a metaphor here. He described the Thessalonians as his “wreath of honor.” This means that, just as the laurel wreath showed that an athlete had won a race, so the fact that the Thessalonians strongly believed in Jesus would show that Paul’s work in preaching the gospel had been successful.

of boasting: The Greek word for boasting here is not the same word as is usually translated “glory” in the New Testament. It is a word that means “reason for boasting, pride.” The word “boasting” in English often has a negative meaning, and a better translation is “of which we will be proud.” Here Paul means that he, Silvanus, and Timothy will be proud of the “crown.”

2:19d

if it is not you yourselves: Here Paul emphasizes the fact that the Thessalonians would indeed be his “hope,” “joy,” and “crown.” You could include Paul’s emphasis by beginning the verse part with something like, “It is indeed you….”

2:19e

in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming: This phrase is connected with 2:19a–d, not just 2:19d. There is no verb in the first part of the verse (2:19a–d), so all translators need to decide what tense of verb to use. Many English versions use the present tense in order to be consistent with 2:20. However, 2:19e makes it clear that here Paul was talking about the future. So in some languages, it will be better to use a future tense. You should use whichever tense of verb makes most sense in your language in this context.

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Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

5:3a

While people are saying, “Peace and security”: Paul may have been remembering the words of Jeremiah 6:14:

saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.

See also Ezekiel 13:10.

Peace: This probably refers to no war, fighting, or quarreling.

security: This probably refers to a time when there is no danger, a time when people can live without being afraid. It therefore overlaps in meaning with “peace.”

5:3b

destruction will come upon them suddenly: The Greek word olethros, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as destruction, does not mean the people will no longer exist. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

calamity (New English Bible)
-or-
disaster (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

See 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 6:9. If you need to use a verb here in your language instead of a noun, you could translate this:

suddenly they will lose everything
-or-
suddenly they will be ruined

them: This refers to the people in 5:3a who had been saying that everything was peaceful and secure.

like labor pains on a pregnant woman: The phrase labor pains refers to the pains that a pregnant woman suffers when she is about to give birth. These pains begin suddenly, and that is the point of the comparison here, that destruction will come suddenly, just as a woman’s labor pains start suddenly.

5:3c

they will not escape: The coming destruction is not only sudden, it is also certain to come, just as a pregnant woman is certain to suffer labor pains. Those who are not prepared for Jesus’ return will not be able to escape God’s judgment.

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Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

1:7

As a result, you have become an example: The Thessalonians believers imitated how Paul and the Lord Jesus behaved (1:6a). The result was that they were an example for other believers to follow.

in Macedonia and Achaia: Thessalonica was in the province or region of Macedonia, the northern part of Greece. Be careful that your translation does not cause people to think that Thessalonica was not in Macedonia. If this is a problem, you could say “in the other parts of Macedonia” rather than in Macedonia. Achaia was the southern part of Greece. See the Introduction for more details about the geographical and political situation.

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Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

Paragraph 3:11–13

So Paul prayed that God would make it possible for him and his companions to return to Thessalonica. He also prayed that God would help the Thessalonian believers to love one another better and trust the Lord Jesus more strongly.

3:11

Paul sometimes added a prayer at the end of a section or a complete letter. See 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 3:16.

Now: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible, like most English versions, translates as Now to show that Paul is making a transition. Be careful not to translate this conjunction literally as a time word, as it is not referring to “the present time.”

our God and Father: See the note on 1:3a.

Himself: The Greek word autos, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as Himself, is often used to emphasize something. However, that is not true in this verse. It is just the usual opening for a prayer in Greek that asks God to do something for someone.

direct our way to you: The Greek word kateuthunō, which the Berean Standard Bible has translated as direct, means “make straight, guide correctly.” Therefore, there are two ways to understand what it means here:

(1) It means “make straight.” So Paul was asking God to remove anything that would hinder or delay him returning to Thessalonica, just as someone would remove obstacles on a path or smooth out the surface of a road.

(New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) It means “guide well/correctly.” So Paul was asking God to direct him and his companions safely and directly back to the Thessalonians.

(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1), as it makes good sense in the context of 2:18, where Paul wrote that Satan had hindered him from returning to Thessalonica. It would therefore be logical for Paul to ask God to remove such a hindrance.

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Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

Paragraph 5:14–18

In these verses Paul gave further commands about how believers should behave.

5:14a

brothers: See the note on 1:4.

admonish: The word admonish is the same word that was translated as “give…instruction” in 5:12c. Here it clearly means “admonish, warn” rather than “advise.”

the unruly: The commentators do not agree about whom this refers to. The word ataktos, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as unruly, usually means “disorderly.” So commentators suggest two possible meanings here:

(1) It refers to a specific form of disorderliness, that of being idle. Paul was therefore referring to a group of Thessalonian believers who had stopped working (see 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12) because they thought that Christ would return very soon.

(New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), The Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) The word should be understood literally to refer to those who were unruly or disorderly, that is, they refused to obey or respect their leaders.

(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, God’s Word)

The commentators are evenly divided between these two views. However, it is clear from 2 Thessalonians 3:6–12 that the first option was a real problem among the believers at Thessalonica. Therefore it is recommended that you follow the first option (1).

5:14b

encourage the fainthearted: Paul did not say what had caused some believers at Thessalonica to become fainthearted or “timid.” The commentators suggest that some were fearful because people were persecuting them or because they were worried about fellow believers who had died before Christ had returned. There may also have been some who doubted that Christ had really saved them or felt that they had no spiritual gifts. However, you should not try to include these possibilities in your translation.

5:14c

help the weak: Commentators agree that Paul was not referring to those whose bodies were literally weak because they were sick or old, though he may have been including them. Rather, he was referring either to those who were weak spiritually or to those who were weak morally. There is nothing in the context that can clarify which group he meant. All English versions translate this phrase literally and it is recommended that you either follow them or include a phrase such as “in any way” to make it clear Paul that was not just talking about physical weakness.

5:14d

be patient with everyone: Scholars do not agree about whom Paul was referring to here. There are three possibilities:

(1) All believers.

(2) All people, believers and non-believers alike.

(3) The idle, the timid, and the weak of 5:14a–c.

Most English versions do not make it clear which of these possibilities they support. If you decide that you wish to follow one interpretation explicitly, it is recommended that you follow the first option (1).

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Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

2:9a

In the Greek text, this sentence begins with gar (“for”). It indicates here that Paul was giving an example of what he meant in 2:6b, “although … we had authority to demand it,” in 2:7, “we were gentle among you,” and in 2:8c, “to share with you … our own lives.”

Surely you recall: Paul reminded the Thessalonians again that they themselves already knew what he was about to state.

brothers: See the note on 1:4.

our labor and toil: The two Greek words that Paul used here, kopos and mochthos, have very similar meanings. Paul used this repetition to emphasize his statement. If you do not have two similar words that you can use here, or if it would be unnatural for you to use such repetition, you could translate this as “we worked very diligently/hard.”

2:9b

We worked night and day: Acts 18:3–5 records that Paul’s job was to make tents to sell. He may have worked late at night after he had finished teaching and preaching to the Thessalonians. Timothy and Silas may also have worked at tent-making so that Paul would be free to preach and teach.

night and day: This does not mean that Paul and his companions worked all night and all day. Paul used this expression to emphasis the long hours he worked. One way to express this would be:

we worked not only during the day but also at night

2:9c

so that we would not be a burden to anyone: The Greek word epibareō, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as be a burden, is related to the word baros, “weight, importance,” in 2:6b. However, here the meaning is different and nearly all scholars agree that it refers to not being a financial burden on the Thessalonians. Paul and his companions worked to support themselves so that they could buy their own food and lodging rather than expecting anyone to provide it for them.

2:9d

the gospel of God: See the notes on “the gospel of God” in 2:2c.

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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.

4:10a

all the brothers throughout Macedonia: Paul here expanded what he was saying to include not only believers in Thessalonica but also in Philippi and Berea and any other town in the region of Macedonia.

brothers: See the note on 1:4.

4:10b

But: Paul knew that the Thessalonians already loved their fellow Christians, but he wanted them to do so even more.

we urge you: This is the same verb that the Berean Standard Bible translated as “encourage” in 2:12a and 3:2b and in 4:1a. See the notes on those verses.

brothers: See the note on 1:4.

to excel more and more: This phrase means “to continue to love your fellow believers more and more.”

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Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

5:25

Brothers: See the note on 1:4.

pray for us as well: There is a minor textual problem with this verse.

(1) Some Greek manuscripts contain a Greek word that may be translated as well or “also.” These manuscripts are followed by the

(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) Most other English versions omit this word. If the word is included, the verse means: “We prayed for you, and now you should also pray for us.” (Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians was in 5:23.) This is the option followed by the Display.

us: This refers to Paul and his companions.

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Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.