SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Thessalonians 2002 – Page 2

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 2:2

2:2a

easily: The Greek word tacheōs, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as easily, literally means “quickly” (as Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, SSA). However it can also mean “hastily, rashly, easily” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, NET Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible). The commentators and English versions are evenly divided about which is correct in this context. The Display follows the Berean Standard Bible.

2:2b

by any spirit: The Greek text here is literally “by [a] spirit.” However, many commentators agree that it refers to “prophecy,” that is, a message that the Holy Spirit might give.

message: This probably refers to a spoken message rather than a written message (see the next note).

letter: This refers to a written message.

seeming to be from us: There are two problems with this part of the verse.

The first problem is to decide how 2:2c is connected to 2:2b. There are three possibilities:

(1) It is connected to each of the three terms in 2:2b: “spirit,” “message,” and “letter.”

(2) It is connected only to the last two in the list: “message” and “letter.”

(3) It is only connected to the final item, “letter.”

Each of these has support among the commentators and versions, but the first option has the best support and so it is recommended that you follow it.

The Greek here is literally “as through us.” The second problem therefore with this part of the verse is to decide what this means. There are two ways to understand this expression:

(1) It means that someone had claimed that Paul and his companions had actually said this (in a “spirit,” “message,” or “letter”), even though they had not.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

(2) It means that some message from Paul had been misunderstood. For example:

Perhaps it is thought that we said this (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation)

The majority of commentators and versions support the first option. So it is recommended that you follow the first option (1).

2:2c

alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come: In the New Testament, the phrase the Day of the Lord always refers to the day when the Lord Jesus will return. See the note on 1 Thessalonians 5:2b. If it is not possible in your language to say that a day comes (as if it were moving), then you could simply say:

that our Lord Jesus has already returned

General Comment on 2:2

In some languages it may be easier to understand the logic of 2:2 if it is reordered. One way you could do this is:

We ask you, brothers not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by people who claim that the Lord has already come. They may say that they heard this in a prophecy, report, or letter that was supposed to have come from us.

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.

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 3:5

3:5a

May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love: Here, Paul was praying that the Lord would help the Thessalonians to know how much God loved them.

the Lord: This probably refers, as before, to the Lord Jesus, rather than to God the Father.

God’s love: The translation God’s love, which is found in most English versions, is ambiguous. It could mean:

(1) God’s love for Christians. Because they were suffering much persecution, the Thessalonians needed to be re-assured about how much God loved them.

(2) It means the Christians’ love for God.

In Paul’s writings, the phrase “the love of God” usually refers to the love God has for Christians, and it probably means the same here. Most commentators support this first option, and it is recommended that you follow it.

3:5b

and Christ’s perseverance: The Greek word hupomonē, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as perseverance, means “steadfastness, endurance.” It implies being faithful in a time of difficulty. Most English versions translate the phrase here Christ’s perseverance in an ambiguous way, and it can be understood in one of two ways:

(1) It means the perseverance shown by Christ when he suffered while he was on earth. He remained faithful to God when he was persecuted by the Jews and the Romans. This example of Christ should comfort and strengthen the Thessalonian Christians so that they also will endure when they were persecuted. Most commentators support this option.

(Contemporary English Version, SSA)

(2) It means the perseverance that Christ gives to believers to help them endure persecution.

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

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1), as it has the best support among scholars.

Christ: It may be misleading to refer to “the Lord” at the beginning of the verse and to Christ later. Make sure that it is clear in your translation that these are not two different persons. Both words refer to Jesus.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 2:3

2:3a

Let no one deceive you in any way: Paul was reenforcing what he said in 2:2. The rumors stating that Paul had said that Jesus had already returned were deceiving the Thessalonians, and he needed to correct this.

2:3b

for: Here Paul stated the reason why the teaching that the Lord Jesus has already returned was false.

it will not come: This phrase is not in the Greek text, but the Berean Standard Bible supplies it for clarity. In this phrase, the word it refers to “the Day of the Lord” in 2:2c. See the note there. Here is another way to translate this:

that day will not come (New International Version (2011 Revision))

until the rebellion occurs: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the rebellion could mean one of two things:

(1) It could be describing a specific event that the Thessalonians already knew about, a time when people would rebel against God more strongly than at any other time. This would prepare the people to allow the man of lawlessness (2:3c) to rule them. For example:

the final rebellion (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, English Standard Version, NET Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Revised Standard Version)

(2) It could be describing general rebellion against God. For example:

a revolt (God’s Word)
-or-
People will rebel against God. (Contemporary English Version)

(Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), KJB)

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1).

2:3c

and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed: Although this clause is joined to 2:3b with a simple “and,” most commentators agree that the man of lawlessness will be revealed after the rebellion has begun. For example:

and then the man of rebellion will come (Living Bible)

the man of lawlessness: There is a textual problem with this verse:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts say ho anthrōpos tēs anomias, “the man/person of lawlessness.”

(English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Revised Standard Version)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts say ho anthrōpos tēs hamartias ,“the man of sin.”

(Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, Good News Translation, King James Version, New Century Version).

It is strongly recommended that you follow the first option (1). However, the meanings are very similar.

The phrase the man of lawlessness is a way of saying “the lawless person,” “the person who rejects God and his laws.” The word anomia, “lawlessness,” is also used in 2:7a, and the related word anomos, “lawless,” is used in 2:8a. Rather than try to include all the meaning of “lawlessness” in your translation of this expression, try to find a short expression. For example:

the Lawless Person
-or-
the Rebel (The Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the Wicked One (Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible)

man: The Greek word translated as man here is anthrōpos, which means “person” or “human being.” So the man of lawlessness will probably be a human being who acts like the devil, rather than a supernatural being like the devil himself. This man is referred to as “the Antichrist” in 1 John 2:18. (See Best, pp. 287–289, and Bruce, pp. 179–188, for a discussion of who the Antichrist might be.)

the son of destruction: This means a person destined for eternal destruction. Here is another way to translate this:

destined for hell (Good News Translation)

is revealed: The Greek verb used here, apokaluptō, is related to the word used in 1:7b about Jesus. This Wicked Person (“man of lawlessness”) will probably appear as suddenly as the Lord Jesus will later appear. Although the Greek text uses a passive here, as do many English versions, this does not imply that someone else (for example, the devil) will cause him to appear. So if you cannot use a passive in your translation, you should use an active verb. For example:

appears (New Century Version)

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 3:6

Section 3:6–15

Paul warned those among the Thessalonian believers who were lazy and told them that they should work

It seems that there were some believers in Thessalonica who had stopped working. This was probably because they thought the Lord Jesus was going to come back soon or that the Lord Jesus had already come back (see 2 Thessalonians 2:2). Therefore they had decided that there was no point in continuing to work. Paul warned people not to behave in this way. He reminded them how he and his companions had worked for their food when they stayed at Thessalonica so that they would not burden the other believers there. They did this in order to be a good example for the Thessalonians to follow, even though as apostles they had the right to be supported. Paul had already mentioned those who would not work in 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 and 5:14. But it seems that that warning had not had any effect.

Paragraph 3:6–10

3:6

This is a long sentence in the Greek text. You may need to divide it into several sentences in your translation.

3:6a

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: This is a strong command or warning. Paul used this full expression to show that this was not just a command from himself, it had the full authority of the Lord Jesus.

brothers: See the note on 1:3a.

3:6b

to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life: Paul was warning the Thessalonians that they should not associate with undisciplined people among the believers. It probably means that they should avoid eating with them or meeting them socially. Paul said more about this in 3:14c and 3:15a.

He did not mean that the Thessalonian believers should refuse to let these people attend meetings or exclude them completely. Avoid using a term that would make your readers think that this was what Paul was saying.

any brother who leads an undisciplined life: The word ataktōs, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as undisciplined, is related to the word used in 1 Thessalonians 5:14a. It usually means “disorderly.” As was discussed there, commentators suggest two possible meanings for the word, and the same problem occurs here. The two possibilities are:

(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 because they thought that Christ would return very soon. See 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12.

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

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

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

The commentators are evenly divided between these two views. However, it is clear from the rest of this section that idleness was a real problem among the believers at Thessalonica. Therefore, it is recommended that you follow the first option (1). Related words occur in 3:7b and 3:11a, so make sure you translate them the same way.

brother: Even if you normally translate the term brother (when referring to a Christian brother) using a kinship term, in this context it may be better to translate it “believer.”

3:6c

the tradition: The Greek word paradosis , which the Berean Standard Bible translates as tradition, is the same word that Paul used in 2:15b. It refers to something passed down from one generation to another. Paul used the word to emphasize that what he had taught the Thessalonians was not just his own ideas but something that had been passed on to him from Jesus and that he in turn was passing on to them.

you received from us: There is a textual problem with this part of the verse (In the United Bible Societies Greek New Testament, the evidence is fairly evenly balanced for the two readings “you” and “they.” It is more likely, however, that parelabosan is the original. See the discussion in the SSA for more details.):

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have the word parelabete (you received). This is followed by most English translations.

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), NET Bible, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts have parelabosan, “they received.”

(Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version)

There is no great difference in meaning between the two possibilities. It is therefore recommended that you follow the majority of English versions and use the second person plural pronoun “you” to make it clear that everyone in Thessalonica had received the same teaching from Paul and his companions and that it was not just something that had been given to the lazy people.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 1:1

Section 1:1–2

Paul greeted the believers in the town of Thessalonica

The way Paul began this letter is similar to the way he began many of his letters. Compare 2 Thessalonians 1:1–2 with 1 Thessalonians 1:1.

1:1a

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: Paul was the author of the letter, but he added the names of Silvanus and Timothy because they had been with him when he went to Thessalonica and were also greeting the Thessalonians.

Silvanus: Like Paul himself, Silvanus had two names: Silvanus and Silas. Silvanus was probably the Latin form of the Hebrew name Silas. At the beginning of 1 and 2 Thessalonians and 1 Peter, the Latin form “Silvanus” is used in the original Greek text (see Revised Standard Version). However, Luke used “Silas” when he wrote about him in Acts. The important thing, when you are translating these passages, is to make sure that your readers know that Silvanus and Silas were the same person. Many modern English versions do this by only using the name “Silas” in the text (as New International Version (2011 Revision) and Good News Translation have done) and having a footnote to say that the Greek text has “Silvanus.” Another possibility would be to use Silvanus in your translation and use a footnote to explain that he was the same person as Silas of Acts.

1:1b

To the church of the Thessalonians: There is no verb in the Greek text of this verse. It may be more natural in your language to include a verb such as “write,” for example,

I, Paul, along with Timothy and Silas write to the church of the Thessalonians…

the church of the Thessalonians: The Greek word ekklēsia, which is often translated as church in English, never refers to a building but to a group of Christians who met together to worship God. See the note on 1 Thessalonians 1:1b.

1:1c

in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: This is identical to the corresponding phrase in 1 Thessalonians 1:1c, except that Paul here said “our Father” rather than “the Father.”

in: The word in, where it relates to a person (for example, “in God…”), is one of the most difficult words to translate accurately and naturally, because its meaning depends on the context. Here it means “those who have a special relationship with God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Here are some other ways to translate this:

those who are united with God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (God’s Word)
-or-
those who belong to God and the Lord Jesus Christ (Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Revised English Bible)

our Father: As noted above, the one difference between this phrase and 1 Thessalonians 1:1c is that Paul says our here rather than “the.” If you needed to translate 1 Thessalonians 1:1c as “our Father,” these two verses will be identical in your translation. However, if you were able to translate “the Father” literally in 1 Thessalonians 1:1c, then you will need to allow for the difference here.

the Lord: This is translated from the Greek word kurios, which means “master,” “chief” or “leader.” It is a title that indicates respect and has a positive meaning. The Greek word kurios nearly always refers to Christ in the New Testament, though sometimes it refers to God or a human being. In some languages it is not possible to say “the Lord” without saying whose Lord is being referred to. It may always be necessary to say “our Lord” or “my Lord.” If this is the case in your language, you should use the possessive pronoun “our^(incl) .”

Jesus Christ: In this letter, as in most letters in the New Testament, Christ is not used as a title. Rather, it had become a proper name. It is often coupled with Jesus: Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus. You should transliterate these words, Jesus Christ, in this letter, as do almost all English translations.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 2:4

2:4a

He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship: When the Wicked Person (“man of lawlessness”) comes, he will be against every existing religion, no matter what kind. He will also claim to be more important than any idols or other false gods that people worship. (He will also oppose the one, true God, the only one who deserves worship. See 2:4b.) His purpose will be to ensure that all worship should be directed toward him alone.

every so-called god or object of worship: This refers to any sort of idol or false god.

2:4b

So: The Greek word hōste (So), with which 2:4b begins, indicates that this part of the verse is the result of 2:4a.

in the temple of God: Commentators do not agree about what the temple of God refers to here, but it would be best to translate temple with the term you normally use for the temple in Jerusalem.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 3:7

3:7a

For: This word introduces the grounds for the command in 3:6, that is, since Paul and his companions were a good example to the Thessalonians by working for their own food (3:7–9), the Thessalonians should avoid those who were idle (and not like Paul and his companions). Paul gives further grounds for his command in 3:10a and 3:10b.

to imitate us: This refers to the way Paul and his companions had behaved while they were in Thessalonica. It may be necessary to include this implied information in your translation. This has been done in the second Meaning Line in the Display.

3:7b

because we were not undisciplined among you: In Greek, 3:7b begins with hoti. This is a word that has a number of different uses. In this context it can mean one of two things:

(1) It introduces a specific example of the behavior the Thessalonians ought to imitate, that is, Paul and his companions not being lazy. This could be translated in English as “that is.” Perhaps you have a word or phrase in your language which means this. The English versions that omit the word probably also follow this option.

(New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, REV, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Revised English Bible, God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible, SSA)

(2) hoti means “because” and gives the reason for 3:7a.

(Berean Standard Bible, NET Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1), which is shown in the Meaning Line in the Display.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 1:2

1:2

Grace and peace to you: This is a typical greeting that both Paul and Peter used in their letters. See 1 Thessalonians 1:1d.

Grace: Here Grace refers to the way God blesses people both materially and spiritually.

peace: Here peace refers to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being in all circumstances, even when there is trouble and difficulty.

you: The word you throughout the whole letter of 2 Thessalonians is plural.

from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Here in 2 Thessalonians Paul made it very clear that such grace and peace came from God and Jesus.

God our Father: There is a textual problem with this verse:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts say patros hēmōn, “our Father.”

(Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version, God’s Word, Good News Translation, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

(2) Other Greek manuscripts say patros, “the Father.”

(New Century Version, NET Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1) along with the reading of the Berean Standard Bible and the majority of English versions. However, if the national language version that is most popular in your area says “the Father, you may wish to use that reading. If so, see how you translated that expression in 1 Thessalonians 1:1c. In some languages, it is not possible to say simply “the father.” Rather, it is necessary to specify whose father is being referred to, that is, “our father” or “his father.” If this is the case in your language, you should use the possessive pronoun “our^(incl) ,” even if you are translating the Greek expression “the Father.”

This verse is really a prayer. The second meaning line in the Display for 1:2 gives a way to express this.

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 2002

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 2:2

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 3:5

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 2:3

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 3:6

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 1:1

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 2:4

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 3:7

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Thessalonians 1:2

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