- Sep 24, 2018
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Is it "from the beginning" or "as the first fruits"?
"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" (2Thess 2:13, ASV)
"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." (2Thess 2:13, RSV)
We are always bound to thank God for you, my friends beloved by the Lord. From the beginning of time God chose you to find salvation in the Spirit who consecrates you and in the truth you believe. (2Thess 2:13, REB)
Or the following:
"But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth." (2Thess 2:13, NRSV)
"But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." (2 Thess 2:13, ESV)
"My friends, the Lord loves you, and it is only natural for us to thank God for you. God chose you to be the first ones to be saved. His Spirit made you holy, and you put your faith in the truth." (2Thess 2:13, CEV)
The KJV, RV, YLT, NEB, REB, Weymouth, Phillips; these British translations all translate "from the beginning". For me, "from the beginning" is by far the most simple, natural and understandable translation, therefore the correct one. I see no way the Thessalonians could be "the first ones to be saved" since Paul went there on his second Missionary journey. When the Greek scholars can't agree, and I've read several views on it, the only answer for me is to go by the more natural and understandable translation. Other thoughts on this verse?
"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" (2Thess 2:13, ASV)
"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." (2Thess 2:13, RSV)
We are always bound to thank God for you, my friends beloved by the Lord. From the beginning of time God chose you to find salvation in the Spirit who consecrates you and in the truth you believe. (2Thess 2:13, REB)
Or the following:
"But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth." (2Thess 2:13, NRSV)
"But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." (2 Thess 2:13, ESV)
"My friends, the Lord loves you, and it is only natural for us to thank God for you. God chose you to be the first ones to be saved. His Spirit made you holy, and you put your faith in the truth." (2Thess 2:13, CEV)
The KJV, RV, YLT, NEB, REB, Weymouth, Phillips; these British translations all translate "from the beginning". For me, "from the beginning" is by far the most simple, natural and understandable translation, therefore the correct one. I see no way the Thessalonians could be "the first ones to be saved" since Paul went there on his second Missionary journey. When the Greek scholars can't agree, and I've read several views on it, the only answer for me is to go by the more natural and understandable translation. Other thoughts on this verse?