2 Thessalonians
Chapter 1

1 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

保禄和息耳瓦诺及弟茂德，致书给在天主我们的父及主耶稣基督内的得撒洛尼人的教会。

2 grace to you and peace from God (our) Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

愿恩宠与平安，由天主父和主耶稣基督赐与你们！

3 2 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more, and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater.

弟兄们，我们常该为你们感谢天主，这真是相称的，因为你们的信德大有进步，你们众人之间彼此的爱德更为增进，

4 Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions you endure.

以致我们可在天主的各教会中，为你们夸口，因为你们在所受的一切迫害和磨难中，仍保持了坚忍和信德。

5 This is evidence of the just judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering.

这正是天主公义审判的明证，好使你们堪得天主的国，你们也正是为了这国才受了苦难。

6 For it is surely just on God's part to repay with afflictions those who are afflicting you,

既然天主是公义的，必要以苦难报复难为你们的人，

7 and to grant rest along with us to you who are undergoing afflictions, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels,

却赏你们受难为的人，同我们一起安宁；主耶稣由天上偕同他大能的天使显现时，

8 in blazing fire, inflicting punishment on those who do not acknowledge God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

要在火焰中报复那些不认识天主，和不听从我们的主耶稣福音的人。

9 These will pay the penalty of eternal ruin, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power,

这些人要受永远丧亡之罚，远离上主面，远离他威能的光荣。

10 when he comes to be glorified among his holy ones 3 and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, for our testimony to you was believed.

当他在那一日降来的时候，要在他的圣徒身上受光荣，在一切信众身上受赞美。你们也在其中，因为你们确信了我们的证言。

11 To this end, we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith,

为此，我们也为你们祈祷，求我们的天主使你们相称他的召叫；求他以德能，成全你们各种乐意向善的心，和信德的行为，

12 4 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

好使我们的主耶稣基督的名字，在你们内受光荣，你们也在他内，赖我们的天主和主耶稣基督的恩宠受光荣。



Footnotes(注解)

1 [1-2] On the address, see the note on Romans 1:1-7 and cf 1 Thes 1:1.

2 [3-12] On the thanksgiving, see the note on Romans 1:8 and cf 1 Thes 1:2-10. Paul's gratitude to God for the faith and love of the Thessalonians (2 Thes 1:3) and his Christian pride in their faithful endurance (2 Thes 1:4-5) contrast with the condemnation announced for those who afflict them, a judgment to be carried out at the parousia (2 Thes 1:6-10), which is described in vivid language drawn from Old Testament apocalyptic. A prayer for the fulfillment of God's purpose in the Thessalonians (2 Thes 1:11-12) completes the section, as is customary in a Pauline letter (cf 1 Thes 1:2-3).

3 [10] Among his holy ones: in the Old Testament, this term can refer to an angelic throng (cf also Jude 1:14), but here, in parallel with among all who have believed, it can refer to the triumphant people of God.

4 [12] The grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ: the Greek can also be translated, "the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Thessalonians
Chapter 2

1 1 We ask you, brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him,

弟兄们，关于我们的主耶稣基督的来临，和我们聚集到他前的事，我们请求你们，

2 not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a ＂spirit,＂ 2 or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.

不要因着什么神恩，或什么言论，或什么似乎出于我们的书信，好象说主的日子迫近了，就迅速失去理智，惊慌失惜。

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For unless the apostasy comes first and the lawless one is revealed, 3 the one doomed to perdition,

不要让人用任何方法欺骗你们，因为在那日子来临前，必有背叛之事，那无法无天的人，即丧亡之子必先出现。

4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship, so as to seat himself in the temple of God, 4 claiming that he is a god—

他即是那敌对者，他高举自己在各种称为神或受崇拜者以上，以致要坐在天主的殿中，宣布自己是神。

5 do you not recall that while I was still with you I told you these things?

你们不记得我还在你们那里时，给你们说过这些事吗？

6 And now you know what is restraining, 5 that he may be revealed in his time.

你们也知道现今那阻止他在自己的时辰才出现的是什么。

7 6 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. But the one who restrains is to do so only for the present, until he is removed from the scene.

罪恶的阴谋已经在活动，只待这阻止者一由中间除去，

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord (Jesus) will kill with the breath of his mouth and render powerless by the manifestation of his coming,

那时，那无法无天的人就要出现，主耶稣要以自己口中的气息将他杀死，且以自己来临的显现把他消灭。

9 the one whose coming springs from the power of Satan in every mighty deed and in signs and wonders that lie,

那人来到，依靠撒殚的力量，具有各种德能，行欺骗人的奇迹异事，

10 and in every wicked deceit for those who are perishing because they have not accepted the love of truth so that they may be saved.

并以各种邪恶骗术，煽惑那些丧亡的人，因为他们没有接受爱慕真理之心，为获得拯救。

11 Therefore, God is sending them a deceiving power so that they may believe the lie,

为此，天主使一种错误的信念在他们身上运行，叫他们相信谎谬，

12 that all who have not believed the truth but have approved wrongdoing may be condemned.

为使一切不信真理而喜欢违法的人，被定罪受罚。

13 But we ought to give thanks to God for you always, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits 7 for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in truth.

主所爱的弟兄们！我们该当时常为你们感谢天主，因为天主从起初就拣选了你们，藉圣神的祝圣和信从真理而得到拯救。

14 To this end he has (also) called you through our gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

为此，他也借着我们宣讲的福音召叫了你们，为获得我们的主耶稣基督的光荣。

15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. 8

所以，弟兄们，你们要站立稳定，要坚持你们或由我们的言论，或由我们的书信所学得的传授。

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace,

愿我们的主耶稣基督，和那爱我们，并开恩将永远的安慰和美好的希望，赐与我们的父天主，

17 encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.

鼓励你们的心，并在各种善工善言上，坚固你们。



Footnotes(注解)

1 [1-17] The Thessalonians have been shaken by a message purporting to come from Paul himself that the day of the Lord is already present. He warns against this deception in eschatology by citing a scenario of events that must first occur (2 Thes 2:3-12) before the end will come. The overall point Paul makes is the need to reject such lies as Satan sends; he also reaffirms the Thessalonians in their calling (2 Thes 2:13-14). They are to uphold what Paul himself has taught (2 Thes 2:15). There is a concluding prayer for their strengthening (2 Thes 2:16-17). As in 2 Thes 1:8-10, the Old Testament provides a good deal of coloring; cf especially Isaiah 14:13-14; 66:15, 18-21; Ezekiel 28:2-9; Daniel 11:36-37. The contents of 2 Thes 2:3b-8 may come from a previously existing apocalypse. The details have been variously interpreted. An alternative to the possibilities noted below understands that an oracular utterance, supposedly coming from a prophetic spirit (2 Thes 2:2-3a), has so disrupted the community's thinking that its effects may be compared to those of the mania connected with the worship of the Greek god Dionysus. On this view, the writer seems to allude in 2 Thes 2:6-8 to Dionysiac ＂seizure,＂ although, of course, ironically, somewhat as Paul alludes to witchcraft (＂an evil eye＂) in Gal 3:1 in speaking of the threat to faith posed by those disturbing the Galatians (Gal 1:6-7; 5:10b). On this view of 2 Thes 2:2, the Greek participles katechon (rendered above as what is restraining) and katechon (the one who restrains) are to be translated ＂the seizing power＂ in 2 Thes 2:6 and ＂the seizer＂ in 2 Thes 2:7. They then allude to a pseudocharismatic force or spirit of Dionysiac character that has suddenly taken hold of the Thessalonian community (see 2 Thes 2:2). The addressees know (2 Thes 2:6) this force or spirit because of the problem it is causing. This pseudocharismatic force or spirit is a kind of anticipation and advance proof of the ultimate, climactic figure (the lawless one or the rebel, 2 Thes 2:3), of which the community has been warned (see the note on 1 Thes 3:3). It is, however, only the beginning of the end that the latter's manifestation entails; the end is not yet. For in the course of the mystery of lawlessness (2 Thes 2:7), false prophetism, after it ceases in the Thessalonian community, will be manifested in the world at large (2 Thes 2:8-12), where it will also be eliminated in turn by the Lord Jesus.

2 [2] ＂Spirit＂: a Spirit-inspired utterance or ecstatic revelation. An oral statement: literally, a ＂word＂ or pronouncement, not necessarily of ecstatic origin. A letter allegedly sent by us: possibly a forged letter, so that Paul calls attention in 2 Thes 3:17 to his practice of concluding a genuine letter with a summary note or greeting in his own hand, as at Gal 6:11-18 and elsewhere.

3 [3b-5] This incomplete sentence (anacoluthon, 2 Thes 2:4) recalls what the Thessalonians had already been taught, an apocalyptic scenario depicting, in terms borrowed especially from Daniel 11:36-37 and related verses, human self-assertiveness against God in the temple of God itself. The lawless one represents the climax of such activity in this account.

4 [4] Seat himself in the temple of God: a reflection of the language in Daniel 7:23-25; 8:9-12; 9:27; 11:36-37; 12:11 about the attempt of Antiochus IV Epiphanes to set up a statue of Zeus in the Jerusalem temple and possibly of the Roman emperor Caligula to do a similar thing (Mark 13:14). Here the imagery suggests an attempt to install someone in the place of God, claiming that he is a god (cf Ezekiel 28:2). Usually, it is the Jerusalem temple that is assumed to be meant; on the alternative view sketched above (see the note on 2 Thes 2:1-17), the temple refers to the Christian community.

5 [6-7] What is restraining . . . the one who restrains: neuter and masculine, respectively, of a force and person holding back the lawless one. The Thessalonians know what is meant (2 Thes 2:6), but the terms, seemingly found only in this passage and in writings dependent on it, have been variously interpreted. Traditionally, 2 Thes 2:6 has been applied to the Roman empire and 2 Thes 2:7 to the Roman emperor (in Paul's day, Nero) as bulwarks holding back chaos (cf Romans 13:1-7). A second interpretation suggests that cosmic or angelic powers are binding Satan (2 Thes 2:9) and so restraining him; some relate this to an anti-Christ figure (1 John 2:18) or to Michael the archangel (Rev 12:7-9; 20:1-3). A more recent view suggests that it is the preaching of the Christian gospel that restrains the end, for in God's plan the end cannot come until the gospel is preached to all nations (Mark 13:10); in that case, Paul as missionary preacher par excellence is ＂the one who restrains,＂ whose removal (death) will bring the end (2 Thes 2:7). On the alternative view (see the note on 2 Thes 2:1-17), the phrases should be referred to that which and to him who seizes (a prophet) in ecstasy so as to have him speak pseudo-oracles.

6 [7-12] The lawless one and the one who restrains are involved in an activity or process, the mystery of lawlessness, behind which Satan stands (2 Thes 2:9). The action of the Lord [Jesus] in overcoming the lawless one is described in Old Testament language (with the breath of his mouth; cf Isaiah 11:4; Job 4:9; Rev 19:15). His coming is literally the Lord's ＂parousia.＂ The biblical concept of the ＂holy war,＂ eschatologically conceived, may underlie the imagery.

7 [13] As the firstfruits: there is also strong manuscript evidence for the reading, ＂God chose you from the beginning,＂ thus providing a focus on God's activity from beginning to end; firstfruits is a Pauline term, however; cf Romans 8:23; 11:16; 16:5 among other references.

8 [15] Reference to an oral statement and a letter (2 Thes 2:2) and the content here, including a formula of conclusion (cf 1 Cor 16:13; Gal 5:1), suggest that 2 Thes 2:1-15 or even 2 Thes 2:1-17 are to be taken as a literary unit, notwithstanding the incidental thanksgiving formula in 2 Thes 2:13.

2 Thessalonians
Chapter 3

1 1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among you,

此外，弟兄们！请为我们祈祷，好叫主的圣道，也像在你们那里一样，顺利展开，并得到光荣；

2 and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith.

也叫我们脱离坏人与恶人，因为不是人人都有信德。

3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

主是忠信的，他必坚固你们，保护你们免于凶恶。

4 We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you, you (both) are doing and will continue to do.

我们在主内信赖你们；你们既然现今实行了我们所吩咐的，将来也必实行。

5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.

愿主指引你们的心去爱天主，并学习基督的坚忍。

6 We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. 2

弟兄们，我们还因我们的主耶稣基督的名，吩咐你们，要远离一切游手好闲，或不按得自我们的传授生活的弟兄。

7 For you know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,

你们自己原来知道该怎样效法我们，因为我们在你们中没有闲散过，

8 nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you.

也没有白吃过人的饭，而是黑夜白日辛苦勤劳地操作，免得加重你们任何人的负担。

9 Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us.

这不是因为我们没有权利，而是为以身作则，给你们立榜样，叫你们效法我们；

10 In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.

并且当我们在你们那里的时候，早已吩咐过你们：谁若不愿意工作，就不应当吃饭，

11 We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business ofothers.

因为我们听说，你们中有些人游手好闲，什么也不作，却好管闲事。

12 Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food.

我们因主耶稣基督吩咐这样的人，并劝勉他们安静工作，吃自己的饭。

13 But you, brothers, do not be remiss in doing good.

至于你们，弟兄们，行善总不可懈怠。

14 If anyone does not obey our word as expressed in this letter, take note of this person not to associate with him, that he may be put to shame.

但是如果有人，不听从我们书信上的话，应把这人记出，不要与他交际来往，好叫他惭愧；

15 Do not regard him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother.

可是不要把他当仇敌看待，但要把他当弟兄规劝。

16 May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

愿赐平安的主，亲自时时处处赐给你们平安！愿主与你们众人同在！

17 This greeting is in my own hand, Paul's. This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write.

我保禄亲笔问候，这是我每封信的记号；这是我的字体。

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

愿我们的主耶稣基督的恩宠与你们众人同在！



Footnotes(注解)

1 [1-18] The final chapter urges the Thessalonians to pray for Paul and his colleagues (2 Thes 3:1-2) and reiterates confidence in the Thessalonians (2 Thes 3:3-5), while admonishing them about a specific problem in their community that has grown out of the intense eschatological speculation, namely, not to work but to become instead disorderly busybodies (2 Thes 3:6-15). A benediction (2 Thes 3:16) and postscript in Paul's own hand round out the letter. On 2 Thes 3:17-18, cf the note on 2 Thes 2:2.

2 [6] Some members of the community, probably because they regarded the parousia as imminent or the new age of the Lord to be already here (2 Thes 2:2), had apparently ceased to work for a living. The disciplinary problem they posed could be rooted in distorted thinking about Paul's own teaching (cf 1 Thes 2:16; 3:3-4; 5:4-5) or, more likely, in a forged letter (2 Thes 2:2) and the type of teaching dealt with in 2 Thes 2:1-15. The apostle's own moral teaching, reflected in his selfless labors for others, was rooted in a deep doctrinal concern for the gospel message (cf 1 Thes 2:3-10).