2 Thessalonians 3
The full text of 2 Thessalonians 3 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Greek. Free to read.
1 Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be honored, just as it was with you,
2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone holds to the faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
4 We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.
5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's endurance.
6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,
8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. Instead, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so as not to be a burden to any of you.
9 We did this not because we have no right to such help, but to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat."
11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.
12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down, do their work, and eat their own food.
13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing good.
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person. Do not associate with them, so that they may be ashamed.
15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as a brother or sister.
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in every letter of mine. This is how I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Translation notes (10)
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1a "Spread quickly" translates the Greek word treche, which literally means "run," conveying the image of the word of the Lord racing ahead unhindered.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:2a "Not everyone holds to the faith" translates the Greek phrase ou panton he pistis, which may mean "not all have faith" or "the faith is not for everyone." It could also be a wry understatement about those just mentioned.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3a "The evil one" translates the Greek phrase tou ponerou, which could also be rendered "evil" (as a neuter noun). The word echoes the Lord's Prayer and is taken here to refer to the evil one.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:5a "God's love" and "Christ's endurance" could mean love for God and endurance like Christ's, or God's own love and the endurance Christ gives. The grammatical structure (genitives) allows for both interpretations.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6a "Idle" translates the Greek word ataktos, which is a military image of one out of rank, meaning undisciplined, and here refers to someone refusing to work. "Teaching" here again translates the Greek word paradosin, meaning "tradition."
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8a "Eat anyone's food without paying" translates the Greek phrase dorean arton ephagomen, which literally means "we ate bread free of charge from anyone."
- 2 Thessalonians 3:10a "Unwilling to work" translates the Greek phrase ou thelei ergazesthai, which stresses the refusal to work, not mere inability. This refers to those who will not work, not those who cannot.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:11a Paul uses a wordplay on the Greek words ergazomenous (working) and periergazomenous (working around, or meddling). This wordplay is captured by the translation "not busy but busybodies."
- 2 Thessalonians 3:12a 'Settle down' renders 'meta hesychias,' literally 'with quietness'—to work calmly and mind their own affairs (compare 1 Thess 4:11).
- 2 Thessalonians 3:16a Most manuscripts read 'in every way' (Greek en panti tropo), while some manuscripts read 'in every place' (Greek topo). The translation follows 'in every way'.
About this translation
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