2 Thessalonians 3:1

Request for Prayer

3:1 Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, ¹  that the Lord’s message ²  may spread quickly and be honored ³  as in fact it was among you,

2 Thessalonians 1:3

Thanksgiving

1:3 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, ⁴  and rightly so, ⁵  because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater.

2 Thessalonians 1:11

1:11 And in this regard we pray for you always, that our God will make you worthy of his calling ⁶  and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith,

2 Thessalonians 2:13

Call to Stand Firm

2:13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters ⁷  loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning ⁸  for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

[3:1]  ¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[3:1]  ² tn Or “the word of the Lord.”

[3:1]  ³ tn Grk “may run and be glorified.”

[1:3]  ⁴ tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).

[1:3]  ⁵ tn Grk “as is worthy.”

[1:11]  ⁷ tn Or “your calling.”

[2:13]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[2:13]  ¹¹ tc ‡ Several mss (B F G P 0278 33 81 323 1739 1881 al bo) read ἀπαρχήν (aparchn, “as a first fruit”; i.e., as the first converts) instead of ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς (ap’ arch", “from the beginning,” found in א D Ψ Ï it sa), but this seems more likely to be a change by scribes who thought of the early churches in general in this way. But Paul would not be likely to call the Thessalonians “the first fruits” among his converts. Further, ἀπαρχή (aparch, “first fruit”) is a well-worn term in Paul’s letters (Rom 8:23; 11:16; 16:5; 1 Cor 15:20, 23; 16:15), while ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς occurs nowhere else in Paul. Scribes might be expected to change the text to the more familiar term. Nevertheless, a decision is difficult (see arguments for ἀπαρχήν in TCGNT 568), and ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς must be preferred only slightly.