2 Thessalonians

Note: This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public. Some things (like capitalisation of ‘him’ referring to Jesus or ‘father’ referring to God) in the RV haven’t been decided yet so we’re still testing both ways.

Note: The Readers’ Version on the left is a translation into contemporary English aimed at the person on the street who hasn’t necessarily been brought up with exposure to Biblical jargon and/or 500-year old English. It’s designed to be used alongside the Literal Version on the right which gives the English reader a window into what’s actually written in the original languages. (See the introduction for more details—we recommend that you read the introduction first if you’re wanting to fully understand the Literal Version.) By comparing the left and right columns, you should be able to easily get the message of the text, while at the same time keeping an eye on what it was actually translated from.

Note that greyed words in the RV are words that the translators consider were most probably in the mind of the writer, but as none of us can double-check with the original speakers or writers, the reader is free to disagree. They are clearly marked because we’ve tried to be as honest and transparent as possible.

The lighter coloured words in the LV are words which aren’t needed in the grammar of the original languages but are required or implied in English. You can read the Key to learn more about them. The underlines joining words in the LV show when one original language word needs to be translated into two or more English words. (Just hide them with the button if you don’t need that information and find it distracting.) Also, the majority of sentences in the LV don’t have the words put into a sensible English order yet. (This should be completed by the end of 2023.)

The bold words in the OET New Testament are words that the original writers or copyists marked to indicate that they considered them to refer to God. (Sadly, this information is not displayed in most Bible translations, especially since it seems to confirm that the earliest writers/copyists considered both Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be God.)

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

It is our prayer that the Open English Translation of the Bible will give you a clear understanding of the accounts and messages written by the God-inspired Biblical writers.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

Greetings from Paul; Salutation

1 [ref]This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.

It’s written to the assembly of believers in God our father and the master Yeshua Messiah there in Thessalonica.

2 May God our father and the master Yeshua Messiah give grace and peace to all of you.

1  Paulos, and Silouanos, and Timotheos, to_the assembly of_the_ones_from_Thessalonikaʸ, in god the_father of_us and the_master Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) chosen_one /messiah: 2 grace be to_you_all and peace from god the_father of_us and the_master Yaʸsous chosen_one /messiah.

1:3 Paul’s thanking and praying

Thanksgiving and Prayer; Encouragement during Persecution; The Judgment at Christ’s Coming

3 We should be always thanking God for you brothers and sisters and it’s right that we do because your faith is growing and you all display plenty of love towards each other. 4 That’s why we boast about you all in God’s assemblies, because of your endurance and faith despite the persecutions you encounter and the tribulations that you put up with.

3 To_be_giving_thanks we_ought to_ the _god always concerning you_all, brothers, as worthy it_is, because is_growing_beyond the faith of_you_all, and is_being_plentiful the love of_one each, of_all of_you, to one_another, 4 so_as ourselves us in you_all to_be_boasting, in the assemblies of_ the _god, because/for the endurance of_you_all, and faith in all the persecutions of_you_all, and in_the tribulations that you_all_are_tolerating,

1:5 The Judgement after Yeshua’s return

The Judgment at Christ’s Coming

5 This shows God’s righteous judgement in that you’re considered worthy to enter God’s kingdom because of what you’ve had to suffer. 6 God is righteous and he’s the one who will repay those who oppress you and make life difficult for you all, 7 then all of you who’ve been oppressed will be able to relax when the master Yeshua comes back from heaven with his powerful army. 8 With a fiery flame he’ll judge those who don’t know God and those who haven’t accepted the good message of our master Yeshua Messiah. 9 [ref]They’ll be sentenced to eternal destruction—banished from Yahweh’s presence and from the display of his strength 10 when he’ll be honoured by his righteous followers and to be admired by those who believe in him just as you believed our testimony to all of you.

11 We’re also praying all the time for you all that you’ll be considered worthy of our God’s calling and will live out your good intentions and demonstrate your faith with power 12 so that the reputation of our master Yeshua will be honoured in you all, and you in him, thanks to the grace of our God and of the master Yeshua Messiah.

5 a_display of_the righteous judgement of_ the _god, in_order that to_be_considered_worthy you_all of_the kingdom of_ the _god, because/for which also you_all_are_suffering, 6 if_indeed righteous it_is with god, to_repay to_the ones oppressing you_all in_tribulation, 7 and to_you_all which being_oppressed, relaxation with us at the revelation of_the master Yaʸsous from heaven, with messengers of_power of_him, 8 in a_fire of_flame giving vengeance on_the ones not having_known god, and on_the ones not submitting to_the good_message of_the master of_us, Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), chosen_one /messiah, 9 who justice will_be_paying with_destruction eternal, from the_presence of_the master, and from the glory of_the strength of_him, 10 whenever he_may_come to_be_glorified_in in the holy ones of_him, and to_be_marvelled among all the ones having_believed, because was_believed the testimony of_us to you_all in the day that.

11 For/Because which also we_are_praying always for you_all, in_order_that you_all may_consider_worthy of_the calling the god of_us, and may_fulfill every good_pleasure of_goodness, and work of_faith with power, 12 so_that may_be_glorified_in the name of_the master of_us, Yaʸsous, in you_all, and you_all in him, according_to the grace of_the god of_us and of_the_master Yaʸsous chosen_one /messiah.

2:1 The false man-God

The Man of Lawlessness; Events prior to the Lord’s Second Coming; Christ’s return; The Wicked One

2 [ref]Now concerning the return of our master Yeshua Messiah and our being gathered together with him, we are asking you all, brothers and sisters, 2 to not be alarmed or have your thinking jolted back-and-forth by any ‘spirit’ or message or letter that seems to come from us that tries to say that the master has already returned. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, because before that happens many people will turn away from the good message and the lawless man will be revealed—the conveyor of destruction 4 [ref]who opposes every god or object of worship and puts himself above them all—seating himself in God’s temple and (supposedly) demonstrating that he is God.

5 Don’t you remember how I told you all this when I was still with you all? 6 Now you know what is restraining him so that he’ll be revealed at the proper time 7 because the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, except that it’s being restrained until he’s taken out of the middle 8 [ref]and then the lawless man will be revealed. The master Yeshua will kill him with his breath and neutralise him with the appearance of his coming. 9 [ref]The lawless man was coming and working under Satan with his power and signs and false miracles 10 and with every unrighteous seduction. Those deceive those who are perishing because they never had the love for the truth that could have saved them. 11 That’s why God is sending deceptive practices to them, so that they can continue to believe in the falsehood, 12 so that all of those who didn’t believe in the truth but took pleasure in wicked actions, will be judged and sentenced.

↑ 2  And we_are_asking you_all, brothers, concerning the coming of_the master of_us, Yaʸsous chosen_one /messiah, and of_us gathering_together to him, 2 in_order that not quickly to_be_shaken you_all in the mind, nor to_be_being_alarmed, neither by spirit, nor by message, nor by letter, as_though by us, as that has_presented the day of_the master.

3 Not someone you_all may_deceive in not_one manner, because if not may_come the apostasy first, and may_be_revealed the man of_ the _lawlessness, the son of_ the _destruction, 4 the one opposing and exalting himself over every being_called a_god or object_of_worship, so_as him in the temple of_ the _god to_sit_down, demonstrating himself that he_is god.

5 Not you_all_are_remembering that still being with you_all, these things I_was_saying to_you_all?

6 And now the thing restraining you_all_have_known, in_order that to_be_revealed him in the of_him time.

7 For/Because the mystery already is_working of_ the _lawlessness, only the one restraining it now there_is, until out_of the_midst it_may_become.

8 And then will_be_being_revealed the lawless one, whom the master Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) will_be_killing with_the breath/spirit of_the mouth of_him, and will_be_nullifying by_the appearing of_the coming of_him, 9 of_whom is the coming, according_to the_working of_ the _Satan/(Sāţān) in every power, and signs, and wonders of_falsehood, 10 and in every seduction of_unrighteousness, in_the ones perishing, because/for which the love of_the truth not they_received, in_order that to_be_saved them.

11 And because_of this, is_sending to_them the god a_working of_deception, in_order that to_believe them in_the falsehood, 12 in_order_that may_be_judged all the ones not having_believed in_the truth, but having_taken_pleasure the in_unrighteousness.

2:13 Keep hold of the truth

Stand Firm; Believers Should Stand Firm; You Are Chosen for Salvation

13 But brothers and sisters, we here should always be thanking God for you who were loved by Yahweh. From the beginning God chose you for salvation in the holiness of the spirit and faith in the truth 14 which he called you all to. That was through the good message that we brought so that you all might obtain the power that comes from our master Yeshua Messiah. 15 So as a result, brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep hold of the practices that we taught you—whether it was spoken or written in our letters.

16 May our master Messiah Yeshua and God our father who loved us and gives us eternal comfort and by his grace gives good hope, 17 comfort your minds and strengthen you all in everything you do and every good message you share.

13 But we ought to_be_giving_thanks to_ the _god always concerning you_all, brothers having_been_loved by the_master, that chose you_all the god, from the_beginning to salvation in the_holiness of_the_spirit and faith of_the_truth, 14 to which he_called you_all, through the good_message of_us, to the_procuring of_the_glory of_the master of_us, Yaʸsous chosen_one /messiah.

15 Therefore consequently, brothers, be_standing_firm and be_taking_hold_of the traditions that you_all_were_taught, whether by message, or by letter from_us.

16 And himself the master of_us, chosen_one /messiah, Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) and the god the father of_us, the one having_loved us and having_given comfort eternal, and hope good by grace, 17 might_comfort the hearts, of_you_all and might_strengthen you_all in every work and message good.

3:1 Pray for us as well

Christian conduct; Paul’s Request for Prayer

3 The other thing, brothers and sisters, is to keep praying for us so that the master’s message will keep spreading and being honoured just like it was among you all 2 and so that we might escape from the schemes of perverse and evil people, because not everyone believes this message. 3 But the master is faithful and will strengthen you all and will keep you from the evil one. 4 We are confident that with Yahweh’s help, you are following all of our instructions and will continue to do so.

5 May the master direct your thoughts towards God’s love and Messiah’s endurance.

↑ 3  For/Because_the rest, be_praying, brothers, because/for us, in_order_that the message of_the master may_be_spreading and may_be_being_glorified, as also with you_all, 2 and in_order_that we_may_be_rescued from the perverse and evil people, because/for not is of_all are the faith.

3 But faithful is the master, who will_be_strengthening you_all, and will_be_keeping you_all from the evil one.

4 And we_have_persuaded in the_master to you_all that the things we_are_commanding, and you_all_are_doing and will_be_doing.

5 And the master might_direct of_you_all the hearts into the love of_ the _god, and into the endurance of_the chosen_one /messiah.

3:6 The warning against laziness

Warning against Idleness; The Obligation to Work; An Exhortation to Proper Living

6 Brothers and sisters, we are instructing you all to avoid those who are only lazily living out their faith and not according to the practices that they were taught by us. 7 You yourselves know that it’s appropriate to be imitating us, because we didn’t loaf when we were among you all, 8 nor did we each food from anyone that we didn’t deserve, but we worked even when it was hard—day and night so that we wouldn’t be a burden on anybody, 9 not that we didn’t have the right but in order to make ourselves a good example that you all could emulate. 10 Even when we were there with you all, we had instructed you that anyone who’s not willing to work doesn’t deserve to eat.

11 Yes, we have heard that there are some who associate with you all, but they’re lazy—not doing any work but just meddling, 12 so we’re instructing those people and urging them by the authority of the master Yeshua Messiah, to just quietly get down to work and then they’ll have food to eat. 13 But the rest of you, brothers and sisters, doing get discouraged from doing good.

14 And if there’s anyone there who won’t submit to the contents of this letter, then take note of that person and don’t associate with them, in order that they might be persuaded. 15 Don’t consider them as an enemy, but reprimand them like you would to a brother or sister.