This concluding sentence recalls verse 13, where Paul first stated his desire to meet his readers’ anxieties. Encourage is the word which is translated “help” in 3.2, and “encourage” in 2.12 and in the exact parallel 5.11. The word can also mean “comfort” or “console.” However it is translated, it should relate to be sad (literally “be pained”) of verse 13. That is, now that the Thessalonians have been given a new understanding of one aspect of the Christian faith, they need no longer grieve over the final outcome of those who have died. What Paul tells them and assures them can change their sadness into confident hope; they can be comforted and encouraged by this teaching of the Lord’s, and they are to comfort, encourage, and give hope to one another.

In choosing a translation for encourage, it is important to select a term which will be in contrast with sad in verse 13. In some cases one may wish simply to translate “remove the sadness from one another with these words,” or “with these words cause your hearts no longer to tremble.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .