« | 2 Thessalonians 3 |
1 And now, brothers and sisters, pray for us. Pray that the Lord's teaching will continue to spread quickly. And pray that people will give honor to that teaching, the same as happened with you.
2 And pray that we will be protected from crooked and evil people. Not everyone believes in the Lord, you know.
3 But the Lord is faithful. He will give you strength and protect you from the Evil One.
4 The Lord gives us confidence that you are doing what we told you and that you will continue to do it.
5 We pray that the Lord will cause you to feel God's love and remember Christ's patient endurance.
6 Brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ we tell you to stay away from any believer who refuses to work. People who refuse to work are not following the teaching that we gave them.
7 You yourselves know that you should live like we do. We were not lazy when we were with you.
8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked and worked so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We worked night and day.
9 We had the right to ask you to help us. But we worked to take care of ourselves so that we would be an example for you to follow.
10 When we were with you, we gave you this rule: "Whoever will not work should not be allowed to eat."
11 We hear that some people in your group refuse to work. They are doing nothing except being busy in the lives of others.
12 Our instruction to them is to stop bothering others, to start working and earn their own food. It is by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ that we are urging them to do this.
13 Brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
14 If there are some there who refuse to do what we tell you in this letter, remember who they are. Don't associate with them. Then maybe they will feel ashamed.
15 But don't treat them as enemies. Counsel them as fellow believers.
16 We pray that the Lord of peace will give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 Here's my greeting in my own handwriting— Paul. I do this in all my letters to show they are from me. This is the way I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.