5:7a

For: The Greek conjunction gar, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as For, has a number of functions. Here it indicates that Paul was amplifying what he had just said in 5:6. In many languages it may not be necessary to translate the conjunction here.

those who sleep, sleep at night: Here Paul was stating something that is obviously true: “people usually sleep at night.” He was probably continuing the metaphors of “sleep” and “night” that he had already used in this chapter.

at night: The Greek word nuktos, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as at night, is emphasized in Greek. Show this emphasis in a natural way in your language. For example:

It is at night when people sleep (Good News Translation)

5:7b

those who get drunk, get drunk at night: Paul was once more stating what people knew to be true, that usually people become drunk and behave badly during the night, after dark. This introduces Paul’s next point in 5:8, that since Christians “belong to the day,” they should be self-controlled and not behave like unbelievers.

at night: As in 5:7a, the Greek word nuktos, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as at night, is emphasized in Greek. Show this emphasis in a natural way in your language. For example:

it is at night when they get drunk (Good News Translation)

© 2002 by SIL International®

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.

2:2a

In the Greek text, the conjunction alla (“but”) actually occurs at the beginning of the verse. Versions such as the English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, and NET Bible place it there. This makes it clear that what Paul was about to say in 2:2 connects to 2:1. Paul was saying that his visit had not been a failure but, on the contrary, it had been a success because, despite persecution, he had still preached in Thessalonica. However, other versions, including the Berean Standard Bible and the Contemporary English Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), and New Living Translation (2004 Revision), place this conjunction before 2:2b-c. This indicates the contrast between Paul’s boldness and the persecution that could have made him afraid. Place this conjunction where it would be natural in your language.

If you translated 2:1 using litotes, you could use an expression such as “on the contrary” here. If, however, you used a positive statement, you will need to use a word such as “indeed” to link the two verses.

As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi: See Acts 16:16–40 for details of Paul’s suffering at Philippi.

2:2b

in the face of strong opposition: The Greek is literally “in much struggle.” Most commentators and versions agree that Paul was referring to the people who had opposed him and tried to stop him preaching everywhere he went.

2:2c

we were bold in our God to speak to you: It was God who had enabled Paul and his companions to preach boldly in Thessalonica, even after they had been persecuted in Philippi.

our God: In some languages, using a possessive such as “our” with God might imply that God was in some sense possessed or owned. Clearly this is not the meaning here, since God cannot be owned by anyone. In other languages it might mean that Paul’s God was only one God among many. This is also not true, because Paul’s God is the only God. The meaning is “God whom we worship/serve.”

the gospel of God: God is the source of the good news concerning Jesus Christ. So you could translate the phrase the gospel of God as “the good news that God gave” or “the good news that came from God.”

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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.

4:3

Verses 4:3–6 are one sentence in the Greek text. You will probably need to use several sentences in your translation, as many English versions have done. All four verses, however, deal with the same topic, that is, instructions to avoid being sexually immoral.

4:3a

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For shows that what Paul was about to give was a specific example of what he had instructed them while he was in Thessalonica. Many English versions have chosen to leave this conjunction implied. Introduce this verse in a natural way in your language.

that you should be holy: To be holy means “to be sanctified” or “to be set apart for God.” Most commentators agree that in this verse Paul was referring to “becoming sanctified/holy” rather than “being set apart for God.”

4:3b

You must abstain from sexual immorality: Here Paul gave one specific example of morally impure behavior. The Greek word porneia, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as sexual immorality, is a general term that means any kind of sexual immorality, that is, any kind of sexual act other than that between a man and his wife.

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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.

5:18a

Give thanks in every circumstance: Paul instructed the Thessalonians that whether good things or bad things should happen to them, they should still thank God. He did not say what they should thank God for, and you should not try to explain this in your translation.

in every circumstance: The emphasis in this command is on the Greek phrase en panti, literally “in every thing.” See the note on 5:15b above. You should emphasize this in your translation in the way that is natural in your language.

5:18b

for: Paul now gives the grounds for the previous three commands: Since it is God’s will that they should do so, the Thessalonians should be joyful, pray, and give thanks.

this: The majority of commentators say that this refers to the previous three commands: 5:16, 5:17, and 5:18a.

in Christ Jesus: It is not clear which part of the verse this phrase is connected to. There are two possibilities:

(1) It is connected to “God’s will.” Most commentators support this interpretation, but they do not agree on what it means here. One possibility is that what Christ taught and how he behaved shows Christians that they should obey all the commands in 5:16–18a.

(2) It is connected to “you” and therefore means that these things are what God wants them, people who belong to Christ Jesus, to do.

(Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

It is most likely that the first option is grammatically correct, but it is still not easy to decide what the meaning is. If possible, you should avoid being too specific in your translation. However, if it is necessary to make information explicit here, you could translate 5:18b as follows:

because all these things are what God has shown you (plur) that he wants you to do through the way Christ Jesus behaved when he was on earth.

© 2002 by SIL International®

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.