1 and 2 Thessalonians

by Witherington, Ben, III

• ISBN13: 9780802828361
• ISBN10: 0802828361
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-11-30
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

1 & 2 Thessalonians stand as some of the very earliest Christian documents, and yet they appear quite late in Paul's missionary career, giving them a unique context well worth exploring.In this first full-scale socio-rhetorical commentary on 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Ben Witherington gleans fresh insight from reading Paul's text in the light of rhetorical concerns and patterns, early Jewish theology and the first-century historical situation in Macedonia. As with any socio-rhetorical commentary, the unique approach helps readers to unearth insights that would otherwise remain hidden using only form criticism, epistolary categories and traditional criticism. Witherington's work also features a new, clear translation of the Greek text and a thorough bibliography that pays special attention to socio-rhetorical concerns. Additionally, he details Thessalonica's place as the "Metropolis" of Macedonia, and carefully unpacks the social situation of Paul and his recipients. Scholars will cherish the careful analysis and rhetorical insights, while Witherington's clear prose and sensitivity to Paul's ideas makes "1 & 2 Thessalonians" ideal for all who desire a useful, readable commentary on this important early manuscript.

Author Biography

Ben Witherington III is professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky

Table of Contents

Preface	x
Abbreviations	xvii
Bibliography	xix
Introduction	1	(46)
The "Metropolis" of Macedonia and Its History	1	(8)
Authorship, Date, and Occasion of the Letters	9	(7)
The Epistolary and Rhetorical Situation of the Thessalonian Correspondence	16	(20)
The Social Situation of Paul and His Converts in Thessalonike	36	(11)
COMMENTARY ON 1 THESSALONIANS
Epistolary Prescript —1.1	47	(5)
The Exordium — 1.2-3 — A Preview of Coming Attractions	52	(8)
The Narratio — The Story Thus Far — 1.4-3.10	60	(41)
A CLOSER LOOK: Election, Persecution, and Perseverance in 1 and 2 Thessalonians	65	(19)
A CLOSER Look: Was Paul Anti-Semitic?	84	(13)
Bridging the Horizons	97	(4)
Transitus — Closing Wish Prayer — 3.11-13	101	(5)
The Exhortatio — A Call to Holiness and Hope — 4.1-5.15	106	(3)
Part One: The Call to Holiness and Brotherly Love — 4.1-8, 9-12	109	(16)
A CLOSER LOOK: Holy Wedlock and Unholy Alliances	114	(8)
A CLOSER LOOK: A Christian Manual on Manual Labor?	122	(3)
Part Two: The Call to Hope and Alertness: The Tale of Sleepers Dead and Living — 4.13-5.11	125	(34)
A CLOSER LOOK: The Fate of the Dead	126	(16)
A CLOSER LOOK: Parousia	142	(12)
Bridging the Horizons	154	(5)
Part Three: Honor the Workers and the Work — 5.12-15	159	(24)
The Pero ratio — Parting Shots — 5.16-22	164	(7)
The Invocation/Wish Prayer — The God of Peace Who Sanctifies — 5.23-24	171	(4)
Epistolary Closing — 5.25-28	175	(2)
Bridging the Horizons	177	(6)
COMMENTARY ON 2 THESSALONIANS
Epistolary Prescript — 1.1-2	183	(3)
The Exordium/Thanksgiving Prayer — 1.3-10 — The Destiny of the Sacred Sufferers and the Terrible Tormentors	186	(13)
Propositio — 1.11-12 - Persuasion by a Praying Proposition	199	(6)
Bridging the Horizons	201	(4)
Refutatio — 2.1-12 - Prelude to the Parousia	205	(25)
A CLOSER LOOK: Exercising Restraint: Apocalyptic Answers to Difficult Questions	208	(18)
Bridging the Horizons	226	(4)
Prayer Matters — 2.13-3.5	230	(1)
Thanksgiving/Firm Living — 2.13-15	231	(7)
A CLOSER LOOK: On Doing Theology in Ad Hoc Letters	235	(3)
Transitus: Another Wish Prayer — 2.16-17	238	(2)
Final Request — 3.1-5	240	(5)
Working Hypothesis — 3.6-12	245	(9)
Peroratio — 3.13-15 — On Shunning and Shaming without Excommunicating	254	(4)
Epistolary Closing — 3.16-18	258	(8)
A CLOSER LOOK: The Ancient Art and Labor of Letter Writing	259	(4)
Bridging the Horizons	263	(3)
Index of Authors	266	(5)
Index of References	271