This is not be first time Paul discusses the need to work, and in verses 14-15 he turns to the problem of what should be done if this repeated order is not obeyed. Good News Translation makes explicit the fact that Paul is referring, not to earlier teaching, but to the teaching contained in this letter. A possible, but much less natural, alternative translation would be “but if someone does not obey our message (contained in) the (earlier) letter.” Good News Bible‘s more probable interpretation involves changing the present “obey” into the future will … obey, inserting a present verb we send, and inserting this before letter. Similar procedures may be necessary in other languages (cf. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “but if someone does not want to follow the instructions in this letter”).

In 1 Thess. 2.13, “word” (Good News Translation message) clearly referred to a spoken word (cf. 1 Thess. 1.5, 8), but the present context makes no contrast between “word” and letter, and a general term such as message or even “teaching” should be chosen in translation. The translator should avoid any term which would suggest a single word rather than a message consisting of a number of words. Greek-speaking Jews, following Exodus 34.28, referred to the Ten Commandments as the “Ten Words” of the covenant, and the meaning is similar here. For once, Paul’s message is not (at least not directly) “good news” in the form of a narrative about Jesus, but instructions intended to correct an error.

The possibility suggested by it may be that someone there may be made a conditional clause, for example, “if there is anyone.” Will not obey may be more precisely described in some languages as “refuse to do” or “refuse to conform to.”

Take note of him is so rendered by Jerusalem Bible and Translator’s New Testament. Moffatt has “mark him” Knox “he is to be a marked man,” New English Bible Barclay “mark him well” (cf. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Bijbel in Gewone Taal has “hold him in view.” A simple equivalent may be “name him” or “recognize who he is.”

Have nothing to do with him is, more literally, “do not mix with him.” The meaning of this verb is similar to that translated keep away from in verse 6. The same verb is used in 1 Corinthians 5.9, 11.

The problem of deciding how the Thessalonians were to have nothing to do with the disobedient member and still treat him as a brother (v. 15) involves both translation and exegesis. The translator should avoid expressions which suggest (like Bible en français courant) that the Thessalonians were to have no contact with the disobedient brother. Barclay has “refuse to associate with him” (cf. Best). La Sainte Bible: Nouvelle version Segond révisée and Le Nouveau Testament. Version Synodale “have no relationship (relation) with him.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has rapport. Bijbel in Gewone Taal has “do not go around with him.” In some instances this may be expressed as “treat him as though he didn’t exist”—which is almost equivalent to “make his a nonperson!” In other cases an equivalent may be “do not talk with him,” or “do not invite him to your house.” All of these expressions may be simply various ways of describing what is essentially a kind of ostracism.

So that he will be ashamed may be spelled out in some detail in some languages as “so that he will know that what he has done is wrong.” Shame is often expressed idiomatically as “so that he will become red,” “so that he will become pale,” or “so that his real name will be found out” (in which case “name” is a reference to real character).

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