1Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: [1:2] Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [1:3] We are obligated to give thanks to God always for you, brothers and sisters, as is right — because your faith is growing beyond all measure and the love of each one of you all for one another is increasing, [1:4] so that we ourselves boast about you among the assemblies of God for your steadfast endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions you are enduring.
2TH 1:1-4
Greetings to the Thessalonians
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, letters often began with a formal greeting that established the sender’s authority and the recipient’s identity. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy address the Thessalonian (assembly), a term rooted in civic gatherings but here redefined as a community centered in God and Jesus Christ. The phrase 'grace and peace' blends Greek and Jewish salutations, signaling a fusion of cultural and theological identities. The writers express (a debt of gratitude) to God, a term tied to the honor-shame economy, where acknowledging benefactors was essential. The Thessalonians’ (super-abundant) faith and love reflect communal virtues prized in both Greco-Roman and Jewish contexts, particularly in a city like Thessalonica, where civic loyalty and mutual support were vital. Their (steadfast endurance) under persecution highlights their resilience in a society where public shame and suffering could fracture communal bonds. This letter reinforces their identity as a distinct, enduring community within the broader Roman world.
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How other translations render this
2TH 1:1
- KJV
- Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
- BSB
- Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
- Koinōnos
- Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2TH 1:2
- KJV
- Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- BSB
- Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Koinōnos
- Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2TH 1:3
- KJV
- We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
- BSB
- We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
- Koinōnos
- We are obligated to give thanks to God always for you, brothers and sisters, as is right — because your faith is growing beyond all measure and the love of each one of you all for one another is increasing,
2TH 1:4
- KJV
- So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
- BSB
- That is why we boast among Godʼs churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring.
- Koinōnos
- so that we ourselves boast about you among the assemblies of God for your steadfast endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions you are enduring.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
2TH 1:1
- church:The word translated 'church' referred to a formally summoned assembly of citizens for public business, not primarily a religious gathering. It emphasized the idea of a called-out group with a specific purpose.
2TH 1:3
- we ought:The term translated 'we ought' carried the sense of a moral obligation or a debt that is due, implying a strong sense of duty or necessity.
- is increasing exceedingly:The word translated 'is increasing exceedingly' is a compound term that emphasizes an extraordinary or super-abundant growth, going beyond normal increase.
2TH 1:4
- perseverance:The word translated 'perseverance' carried the sense of steadfast endurance or remaining firm under pressure, often implying active resistance rather than passive resignation.