2 Thessalonians 3:13

3:13 But you, brothers and sisters, ¹  do not grow weary in doing what is right.

2 Thessalonians 2:1

The Day of the Lord

2:1 Now regarding the arrival ²  of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, ³  we ask you, brothers and sisters, ⁴ 

2 Thessalonians 2:15

2:15 Therefore, brothers and sisters, ⁵  stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter. ⁶ 

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Request for Prayer

3:1 Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, ⁷  that the Lord’s message ⁸  may spread quickly and be honored ⁹  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, ¹⁰  and rightly so, ¹¹  because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

Call to Stand Firm

2:13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters ¹²  loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning ¹³  for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 3:6

Response to the Undisciplined

3:6 But we command you, brothers and sisters, ¹⁴  in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined ¹⁵  life ¹⁶  and not according to the tradition they ¹⁷  received from us.

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

[2:1]  ² tn Or perhaps “return” (cf. CEV).

[2:1]  ³ tn Grk “our gathering with him.”

[2:1]  ⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[2:15]  ³ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[2:15]  ⁴ tn Grk “that you were taught whether by word or by letter of ours.”

[3:1]  ⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[3:1]  ⁵ tn Or “the word of the Lord.”

[3:1]  ⁶ tn Grk “may run and be glorified.”

[1:3]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ tn Grk “as is worthy.”

[2:13]  ⁶ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[2:13]  ⁷ 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.

[3:6]  ⁷ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

[3:6]  ⁸ tn Or “unruly, out of line.” The particular violation Paul has in mind is idleness (as described in vv. 8-11), so this could be translated to reflect that.

[3:6]  ⁹ tn Grk “walking in an undisciplined way” (“walking” is a common NT idiom for one’s way of life or conduct).

[3:6]  ¹⁰ tc The reading “you received” (παρελάβετε, parelabete) is found predominately in Western witnesses (F G 1505 2464 pc), although the support of B and the Sahidic version strengthens the reading considerably. The reading “they received” is found in two different forms: παρελάβοσαν (parelabosan; in א* A [D*] 0278 33 pc) and παρέλαβον (parelabon; in א² D² Ψ 1739 1881 Ï). (παρέλαβον is evidently a correction of παρελάβοσαν to the more common spelling for the third person aorist form). The external evidence is divided fairly evenly, with παρελάβετε and παρελάβοσαν each having adequate support. Internal evidence leans toward “they received”: Given the second person reading, there is little reason why scribes would intentionally change it to a third person plural, and especially an archaic form at that. There is ample reason, however, for scribes to change the third person form to the second person form given that in the prior context παράδοσις (paradosis, “tradition”) is used with a relative clause (as here) with a second person verb (see 2:15). The third person form should be regarded as original.