uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: headings

General Information:

Paul now changes topics. If you are using section headings, you could put one here before verse 13. Suggested heading: “Paul gives thanks to God for the believers and encourages them.”

(Occurrence 0) δὲ

but

The word translated Now marks a change in topic. You can use a natural way in your language to indicate/show that this is a new section with a different topic than the previous section.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ἡμεῖς & ὀφείλομεν εὐχαριστεῖν & πάντοτε

we & ought ˓to_be˒_giving_thanks & always

The word always is a generalization. This is used to emphasize the importance of the action. If this is not natural in your language, you could use the alternative renderings given. Alternate translation: [we should continually give thanks] or [we must thank God at all times]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμεῖς & ὀφείλομεν

we & ought

Here, we refers to three men, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. If you have exclusive and inclusive first-person pronouns in your language, this should be an exclusive pronoun.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀδελφοὶ ἠγαπημένοι ὑπὸ Κυρίου

brothers ˓having_been˒_loved by ˓the˒_Lord

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: [for the Lord loves you, brothers]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀδελφοὶ

brothers

Here, brothers means fellow Christians, including both men and women. If your readers understand that it is addressed only to men, you may need to use both the masculine and the feminine forms of that word in your language. If you use a nonfigurative word such as “believers”, see that both the genders are addressed. Alternate translation: [brothers and sisters]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀπαρχὴν εἰς σωτηρίαν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἡμεῖς δὲ ὀφείλομεν εὐχαριστεῖν τῷ Θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν ἀδελφοὶ ἠγαπημένοι ὑπὸ Κυρίου ὅτι εἵλατο ὑμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς εἰς σωτηρίαν ἐν ἁγιασμῷ Πνεύματος καὶ πίστει ἀληθείας)

Being among the first people to be saved is spoken of as if the Thessalonian believers were firstfruits. Alternate translation: [to be among the first people who believe] or [to be some of the first people whom God was saving]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἀπαρχὴν εἰς σωτηρίαν ἐν ἁγιασμῷ Πνεύματος καὶ πίστει ἀληθείας

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἡμεῖς δὲ ὀφείλομεν εὐχαριστεῖν τῷ Θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν ἀδελφοὶ ἠγαπημένοι ὑπὸ Κυρίου ὅτι εἵλατο ὑμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς εἰς σωτηρίαν ἐν ἁγιασμῷ Πνεύματος καὶ πίστει ἀληθείας)

If it would be helpful in your language, you could change the abstract nouns salvation, sanctification, belief, and truth into verbal forms. Alternate translation: [to be among the first people who believe what is true, and whom God has saved and set apart for himself by his Spirit]