2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Call to Stand Firm

2:13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters¹ loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning² for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 2:14 He called you to this salvation³ through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.⁴ 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 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 2:17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you⁷ in every good thing you do or say.⁸

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

²tc ‡ 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.

³tn Grk “to which,” referring to the main idea of v. 13.

⁴sn That you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. For Paul the ultimate stage of salvation is glorification (Rom 8:30).

⁵tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.

⁶tn Grk “that you were taught whether by word or by letter of ours.”

⁷tn Grk simply “strengthen,” with the object understood from the preceding.

⁸tn Grk “every good work and word.”