The Letters to the Thessalonians

The newest volume in the Pillar New Testament Commentary series interprets 1 and 2 Thessalonians in light of new knowledge about the first-century world of Thessalonica. This fruitful approach better illuminates the impact of the gospel on its original readers and, in turn, shows how potent a force it can be for the church and society today.Gene L. Green first provides an in-depth study of the Thessalonians themselves -- their history, land, socioeconomic conditions, and religious environment. This fascinating discussion leads into informed verse-by-verse commentary that extracts the fullest possible meaning from these important New Testament texts.By carefully bridging the biblical and modern worlds, Green clarifies just what these pastorally astute letters say about many areas in which Christians often seek guidance -- perseverance amid suffering and trials, attitudes toward daily work, questions concerning Christ's second coming, and more.

Gene L. Green is professor of New Testament at Wheaton College in Illinois.

Series Preface

x

Author's Preface

xiii

Abbreviations

xvi

Bibliography

xix

INTRODUCTION

Rivers, Roads, Rolling Mountains, and The Sea: Geography and Travel Through Macedonia and Thessalonica

1

(7)

A Summary History of Macedonia and Thessalonica

8

(12)

The Government of Thessalonica

20

(5)

The Social and Economic Worlds of Thessalonica

25

(6)

Religion in Thessalonica

31

(16)

The Gospel and the Thessalonians

47

(7)

The Authorship of 1 and 2 Thessalonians

54

(10)

Thessalonians

54

(5)

Thessalonians

59

(5)

Literary Arguments

60

(1)

The Argument from Form

61

(1)

The Theological Argument

62

(2)

The Order of the Epistles

64

(5)

The Structure of 1 and 2 Thessalonians

69

(12)

1 THESSALONIANS

``Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the Church of the Thessalonians'' - The Epistolary Greeting (1.1)

81

(5)

``We Always Thank God for all of You'' - The Coming of the Gospel and Its Reception (1.2-10)

86

(25)

``You Know...'' - The Body of the Letter (2.1-5.22)

111

(155)

``Our visit to you was not a failure'' - The Gospel Arrives in Thessalonica (2.1-3.13)

111

(70)

``Our visit'' - The Apostolic Entrance (2.1-12)

111

(27)

``We also thank God...you received the word of God'' - The Reception of the Gospel (2.13-16)

138

(12)

``We were torn away from you'' - The Exit of the Apostles and the Attempts to Return (2.17-20)

150

(6)

``We sent Timothy'' - The Mission of Timothy (3.1-5)

156

(9)

``But Timothy has just now come to us'' - Thanksgiving to God for the Thessalonians (3.6-10)

165

(10)

``Now may our God...clear the way for us to come to you'' - The Prayer to Return to Thessalonica (3.11-13)

175

(6)

``You know what instructions we gave you'' - The Life That Pleases God (4.1-5.22)

181

(85)

``We instructed you how to live in order to please God'' - The Introduction (4.1-2)

182

(5)

``You should avoid sexual immorality'' - Sanctification (4.3-8)

187

(15)

``Now about...'' - Responses to Questions (4.9-5.11)

202

(1)

Fraternal ``love'' (4.9-12)

202

(11)

``Those who fall asleep'' (4.13-18)

213

(16)

``Times and dates'' (5.1-11)

229

(17)

``Respect those who work hard among you'' - The Community and Its Leadership (5.12-13)

246

(6)

``Warn...encourage...help...be patient'' - Life in Community (5.14)

252

(3)

``Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong'' - The Life of Nonretaliation (5.15)

255

(2)

``Be joyful...pray...give thanks'' - Communion with God (5.16-18)

257

(3)

``Do not put out the Spirit's fire'' - Prophecy in the Community (5.19-22)

260

(6)

``May God Himself'' - The Final Prayer Greetings, And Blessing (5.23-28)

266

(11)

``May God...sanctify you through and through'' (5.23-25)

266

(4)

``Greet all the brothers and sisters'' (5.26-27)

270

(2)

``The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you'' (5.28)

272

(5)

2 THESSALONIANS

``Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the Church of the Thessalonians'' - The Epistolary Salutation (1.1-2)

277

(1)

``Your Faith is Growing and Your Love is Increasing'' - Thanksgiving and Prayers for the Faith, Love, and Steadfastness of the Persecuted Thessalonians (1.3-12)

278

(22)

``We must always give thanks to God for you'' - The First Thanksgiving (1.3-5)

279

(7)

``It is indeed just of God to repay with affliction those who afflict you'' - The Destiny of the Persecutors (1.6-10)

286

(10)

``To this end we will always pray for you'' - The Remembrance of Prayers to Be Worthy of God's Call (1.11-12)

296

(4)

``As to...'' - The Body of the Letter (2.1-3.15)

300

(57)

``As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ'' - The Time of the Day of the Lord (2.1-17)

300

(34)

Do not ``be quickly shaken'' - False Teaching about the Day of the Lord (2.1-12)

300

(25)

``But we must always give thanks to God for you'' - The Second Thanksgiving (2.13-14)

325

(4)

``Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions'' - Exhortation to Steadfastness - 2.15

329

(1)

``Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father'' - The First Prayer (2.16-17)

330

(4)

``Finally, brothers and sisters'' - Final Instructions (3.1-15)

334

(23)

``Pray for us'' Mutual Prayers (3.1-5)

334

(1)

``So that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly'' -The Prayer Request of the Apostles (3.1-2)

334

(3)

``But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you'' - Confidence in the Lord (3.3-4)

337

(2)

``May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God'' -The Second Prayer (3.5)

339

(2)

``Now we command you'' - The Problem of the Disorderly (3.6-15)

341

(2)

``Keep away from believers who are living in idleness'' - The First Exhortation (to the Community) (3.6)

343

(2)

``We were not idle when we were with you'' - The Example of the Apostles (3.7-10)

345

(5)

``Work quietly and earn your own living'' - The Second Exhortation (to the Disorderly) (3.11-12)

350

(3)

``Do not be weary in doing what is right'' - The Third Exhortation (to the Community) (3.13)

353

(1)

``Take note of those who do not obey'' - Discipline in the Community (3.14-15)

354

(3)

``Now May the Lord of Peace Himself Give You Peace'' - The Third Prayer and Final Greetings (3.16-18)

357

(1)

``Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace'' - The First Benediction (3.16)

357

(1)

``I, Paul, write this greeting'' - The Apostolic Greeting and Guarantee (3.17)

358

(1)

``The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all'' - The Final Benediction (3.18)

359

(2)

INDEXES

Modern Authors

361

(4)

Subjects

365

(2)

Scripture References

367

(24)

Extrabiblical Literature

391

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