2 Thessalonians
From Greek and Aramaic Sources
About
A letter from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the congregation in Thessaloniki, Greece.
It was likely written on behalf of Paul by either Timothy or Sylvanus, sometime around AD 52-54.
Source
We’ve translated it from Codex Sinaiticus, one of the oldest and most complete Greek manuscripts dating from the 300s AD.
Where the Aramaic Khabouris Codex disagrees with the Greek text, we defer to the Aramaic because it’s a reliable independent witness to the original text. It seems to preserve older, more original readings. Some even argue that this book could have been originally written in Aramaic, but this is difficult to prove. Learn more.
Translation
- Known and suspected fake words and phrases commonly included in popular translations are
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- Text that’s missing from our source manuscript, but filled in from another source, is marked with [[double brackets]].
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- The original texts had no chapter or verse numbers, paragraph breaks, line breaks, margins, punctuation, or capital letters. These are all added for clarity, but be aware that they can sometimes subtly alter the meaning. Learn more.
- Words [inserted] by the translator for clarity are always in [brackets]. These are not part of the original source text. Learn more.
1
1[From] Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the called ones among the Thessalonians who are in God our Father, and in our Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed:
2May you have loving care and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed!
3We’re always obligated to give thanks to God for you, our brothers, which is appropriate because of the super growth of your faith, and [because of] the love that you have for each other, which keeps on growing.
4We also take special pride in you among all the called ones of God because of the endurance and faith that you’ve shown throughout all the persecutions and difficulties that you’ve been enduring.
5It’s an example of the righteous judgment of God that you’re being counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you’re suffering.
6And, if it’s righteous before God, he will repay those who are persecuting you by crushing them. 7And you who are suffering [this persecution] he will make alive, with us, when the Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa is revealed in the sky with his powerful [angelic] messengers… 8when he’ll execute punishment, with flaming fire, upon all those who don’t know God and upon those who aren’t obeying the good news about our Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa.
9Yes, in justice, they’ll be repaid with age-long ruin away from the face of the Lord and the glory of his might 10when he arrives to be glorified among his Holy Ones and to be marveled at by all of you who are found to be believers in that day…
Because you’ve put faith in the testimony we gave.
11We’re always asking for this in our prayers for you:
That our God may count you worthy of the calling, and that He might fulfill in you all [His] good intentions through powerful deeds of faith, 12so that the name of our Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa may be glorified in you (and you in him), through the loving care of our God, and of the Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One.
2
1However, brothers, regarding the appearance of our Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One and our being gathered to him:
We urge you 2not to quickly lose hope or to be disturbed by [something from the] spirit, or by words, or [by things written] in a letter that may have come through us, indicating that the Lord’s Day has arrived.
3No, don’t allow anyone to mislead you in any way, because [that day] won’t arrive before there’s a rebellion and the person of sin (a son of ruin) is revealed… 4[a person] who opposes and puts himself above everyone who is called a god and revered – and even seats himself in the Most Holy Place of The God, where he publicly displays himself like he is God! [or, ‘like he is a god’]
5Don’t you remember how I used to warn you about such things while I was still with you?
6And you know what’s stopping him from being revealed during his time [of activity]… 7Indeed, this sinner has started operating in secret, but only until the one who is holding him back is no longer among us – 8for that’s when that sinner will be revealed. [He’s the one] our Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa will consume with the breath from his mouth and will eliminate by the appearance of his arrival.
9This one will come with the works of the Opposer, using great powers, lying signs, false wonders, 10and with every sort of deceit of the unrighteous (those who are ruined because they didn’t have any love for the truth that they received – which would’ve saved them)!
11Because of this, The God will send them active delusions so that they’ll believe a lie, 12and they’ll prefer unrighteousness to believing the truth…
Which is what will condemn them.
13However, we’re obliged to always thank God for you brothers who are loved by the Lord, since God chose you for salvation right from the start (through the holiness of the spirit) [because of] your belief of the truth.
14This is why He called you through the good news that we brought to you… So that you might also receive the glory of our Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One.
15Therefore, brothers:
Stand firm and hang onto the commands you were taught, either by word [of mouth], or in the letters that we sent to you.
16May our Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One himself and God (our Father who loves us and kindly gave us comfort and good hope in this age) 17comfort your hearts and make you firm in all good words and good deeds!
3
1Finally brothers… Pray for us!
Pray that the word of the Lord may be glorified and spread rapidly, just as it is currently being done among you.
2And [pray] that we might be delivered from unruly and wicked men, because not everybody has faith.
3However, you can trust that [Jehovah][Yahweh]“Lord” will watch over you and rescue you from evil.
4We also have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are following (and will continue to follow) the commandments that we’ve given to you.
5So may our Lord direct your hearts towards the love of The God, as well as towards the Anointed One’s patient endurance.
6Also brothers:
We’re ordering you – in the name of the Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One – to withdraw from any brother who is leading a wicked life… [someone] not following the commands that you’ve received from us. 7You know how important it is for you to imitate us, and we weren’t leading a wicked life when we were among you!
8Indeed, we didn’t even ask anyone to provide us with food… Instead, we worked hard day and night so we wouldn’t be a burden on any of you. 9This isn’t because we aren’t authorized to [ask for such things], but because we wanted to set an example for you to imitate.
10So when we were there with you, we told you:
‘If anyone isn’t willing to work, then he shouldn’t even chew [a bite of food].’
11However, we’re now hearing that some wicked men among you aren’t working, but are idle instead.
12So we are warning them and commanding them – through the Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One – to cease this and [begin] working so they’ll be able to eat their own bread.
13Brothers, don’t give up when it comes to doing what’s good!
14But if there is anyone who isn’t willing to obey the things we’re writing about in this letter, stay away from him, don’t mingle with him, so he’ll be shamed… 15But don’t consider him an enemy, instead council him as a brother.
16Now, may the Lord of peace himself give you peace in every way throughout all time.
Yes, may the Lord be with all of you.
17[Here’s] my greeting in my own (Paul’s) hand. Every letter proves it, because this is the way that I write.
18May the loving care of our Lord JesusYeshuaIshoa the Anointed One be with all of you.
May it be so!
Public Domain
This particular version of the translated text is public domain.
It will soon be replaced with a significantly updated version which will be freely available under a Creative Commons license.