For the whole of this verse, compare 1 Thess. 3.13, Relief is not the word which, in verse 2, Good News Translation translates “peace” but “one which indicates the absence of tension and trial” (Best). Paul’s use of repetition (noted in the introduction to vv. 5-10) suggests that the relief is connected with life in the kingdom of God (see vv. 5 and 10). However, its immediate meaning is rather negative, an end to the suffering just mentioned in verse 6b.

Good News Translation‘s he will give relief to you who suffer and to us as well could be misunderstood as involving a contrast between “you,” who suffer, and “us,” who do not. This is certainly not the meaning of the Greek, which is simply “and to you the troubled relief with us.” Though there is, in a sense, a distinction made between you who suffer and us, in reality there is a comparison, for both, in another sense, are included in the relief which is going to come. Therefore, it may be more appropriate in some languages to translate “he will give relief to you who are suffering now, and to us also,” or “… both to you who are suffering now, and also to us.”

One may, however, find it difficult to render literally will give relief to. This is more likely to be rendered as a causative expression, for example, “cause you to experience comfort,” “cause you not to suffer,” or “cause your suffering to stop.”

He will do this is not in the Greek; Good News Translation adds it in order to begin a new sentence. Paul starts at this point a description of the last days which is full of images drawn from the Old Testament and from later apocalyptic writings which were circulating at that time. There is no need to avoid these images if they are natural in the receptor language. Indeed, some modern translations introduce additional figures of speech (e.g. Barclay “when the Lord Jesus bursts from heaven onto the stage of history”; Phillips 1st ed. “the final denouement”; but cf. 2nd ed. “the final appearance”).

Though in English the present tense is often used to refer to a future event, as in the clause when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven, it is usually necessary in translation to use a distinct reference to the future, for example, “when the Lord Jesus will appear from heaven,” or “when the Lord Jesus will come down from heaven and show himself.”

His mighty angels is literally “the angels of his power.” The translator has to decide whether “his” goes with “angels” or with “power.” “His angels of power” could be the equivalent of “his powerful angels,” as in Good News Translation (cf. King James Version Revised Standard Version Barclay New English Bible Translator’s New Testament Bijbel in Gewone Taal Bible en français courant Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). “The angels of his power” (Moffatt Jerusalem Bible cf. Bible de Jérusalem La Sainte Bible: Nouvelle version Segond révisée Le Nouveau Testament. Version Synodale Traduction œcuménique de la Bible Zürcher Bibel) is unclear and therefore lacking in impact. As Rigaux says (p. 627), “The angels and the power are two different entities, but it is not possible to specify the relation between them.” Knox boldly restructures to give “with angels to proclaim his power.” This has the extra advantage of reminding the reader that an angel is normally a heavenly being sent by God on a particular errand or mission. Good News Translation gives a clear and simple translation of a phrase whose exact meaning is uncertain.

With his mighty angels must be expressed in some languages as “his mighty angels will accompany him.” One must avoid in a rendering of mighty an expression which will merely imply that they are physically strong or muscular. In some languages the most appropriate equivalent will be “his angels who have great power,” or “his angels who can do mighty acts.”

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 .