SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Thessalonians 2002 – Page 11

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:3

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.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Thessalonians 1:7

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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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Thessalonians 3:11

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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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:14

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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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Thessalonians 2002

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:3

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Thessalonians 1:7

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Thessalonians 3:11

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:14

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