Brothers marks a transition, perhaps (see general notes on vv. 12-28), to a postscript in Paul’s own writing (see also notes on v. 27). Also is omitted in many good manuscripts, included in the 1st and 2nd editions of the UBS Greek New Testament, and placed in square brackets in the 3rd edition. It may have been added by a copyist who was thinking of Colossians 4.3. If it is original, it refers back either to verse 23, with the meaning “pray for us, as we have just prayed for you,” or more remotely to verse 17, with the meaning “pray at all times, and remember also to pray for us.”

Languages differ in the positions within sentences in which they introduce the names of persons or references to persons directly addressed. Throughout this book of 1 Thessalonians, the tendency is to place the term translated brothers immediately after some initial expression, often a transitional device. In this context in verse 25, however, it occurs in Greek at the beginning. In some languages any item of direct address must occur at the beginning of a sentence. A literal translation of the Good News Translation order could be confusing, since “us” could be immediately combined with “brothers” and thus imply “pray for us who are brothers.” This is not the meaning, and hence special care must be exercised in the location of “brothers.” If it is necessary to state in translation to whom the “brothers” are related, “our brothers” should be used in preference to “my brothers” (Bible de Jérusalem 1st ed.)

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 .