First and Second Thessalonians
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12. BDAG.
13. Letters to the Thessalonians, 458.
14. E.g., 1 Cor 5:9–13; Matt 18:15–20; Shepherd of Hermas Mandate 4.1.
15. Homiliae (PG 62:496 [my translation]).
16. Catechism 2830.
17. Samuel Kucherov, The Organs of Soviet Administration of Justice: Their History and Operation (Leiden: Brill, 1970), 198. See also the discussion of the verse in Max Weber’s 1905 classic, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, trans. Talcott Parsons (London: Routledge, 2001), 105–6.
18. De eleemosyna 51.269.
19. An Internet search of key words from the verse reveals multiple examples.
20. For a good introduction to this issue, see Gary A. Anderson, Charity: The Place of the Poor in the Biblical Tradition (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013).
21. In epistulam ad Hebraeos (PG 63:93–94 [my translation]).
22. In epistulam ad Hebraeos (PG 63:88 [my translation]).
23. On a number of occasions I have heard Walter Hooper tell the story of C. S. Lewis’s defense of giving to beggars in Oxford. Hooper noticed Lewis giving alms and asked him if he worried that the beggar would spend the money on booze. Lewis responded, “Well, if I keep the money, I’m going to spend it on booze.”
24. See commentary on 1 Thess 4:9.
25. In epistulam ad Hebraeos (PG 63:94 [my translation]).
26. Quadragesimo Anno 57.
27. Quadragesimo Anno 57.
28. See the discussion in Jeffrey A. D. Weima, 1–2 Thessalonians, BECNT (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014), 632.
29. See the discussion in Weima, 1–2 Thessalonians, 636–38. See also Stanley K. Stowers, Letter Writing in Greco-Roman Antiquity, LEC 5 (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1989), 61.
30. As noted by Chrysostom, Homiliae (PG 62:469).
31. Jerome, Commentary on Galatians, trans. Andrew Cain, FC 121 (Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press), 261.
Suggested Resources
Commentaries from the Tradition
Chrysostom, John. “Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the Second Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians.” In Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, edited by Philip Schaff, translated by James Tweed and John Albert Broadus, 377–98. NPNF1 13. New York: Christian Literature Company, 1889.
Gorday, Peter, ed. Colossians, 1–2 Thessalonians, 1–2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon. ACCS 9. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2000.
Scholarly Commentaries
Malherbe, Abraham J. The Letters to the Thessalonians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. AB 32B. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2000.
Richard, Earl J. First and Second Thessalonians. SP 11. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1995.
Weima, Jeffrey A. D. 1–2 Thessalonians. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014.
Midlevel Commentaries
Boring, M. Eugene. I & II Thessalonians. NTL. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2015.
Gaventa, Beverly Roberts. First and Second Thessalonians. IBC. Louisville: John Knox, 1998.
Gupta, Nijay K. 1–2 Thessalonians. NCC. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2016.
Popular Commentary
Wright, N. T. Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2004.
Glossary
amanuensis: a secretary or one who writes what another dictates. Paul ordinarily dictated his letters to an amanuensis but would sign a final greeting in his own hand. See Rom 16:22, where the amanuensis greets the Roman Christians, and Gal 6:11, where Paul writes a message in his own hand.
apocalyptic (from the Greek apokalypsis, meaning “revelation”): a genre of literature in which divine mysteries impinging on human events are revealed. The biblical books of Daniel and Revelation are two canonical examples. The word “apocalyptic” can also describe a worldview that shares the main concerns of such literature.
cosmology (from the Greek kosmos, meaning “world”): one’s understanding of the structure and nature of the world.
cultic: referring to worship, especially as expressed in ritual or sacrifice.
eschatology, eschatological (from the Greek eschatos, meaning “last”): a term referring to the end time and last things, such as the return of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead.
paraenesis: exhortation or moral instruction.
parousia: a Greek word meaning “presence” or “arrival.” In the New Testament it often refers to the future advent or coming of Jesus.
Septuagint (abbreviated LXX): the oldest Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible and other ancient Jewish Scripture.
Shema: a Jewish confession of faith from Deut 6:4–5.
textual variant: a discrepancy between manuscripts of a text.
typology, typological: the study of how biblical persons, things, and events prefigure later ones, especially the coming of Jesus.
Index of Pastoral Topics
dead in Christ, the, 1 Thess 4:13–18
faith, hope, and love, 1 Thess 1:3; 5:8
grief, 1 Thess 4:13–18
holiness, 1 Thess 4:1–12; 5:23
idlers, 1 Thess 5:14; 2 Thess 3:6–15
idols, 1 Thess 1:9–10
imitation of Christ, 1 Thess 1:6–7
leaders in the church, 1 Thess 1:1–12; 1 Thess 5:12–13
ministry, 1 Thess 2:1–12
recompense, divine, 2 Thess 1:3–12
resurrection, 1 Thess 4:13–18
return of the Lord, 1 Thess 4:13–5:11; 2 Thess 2:1–12
sexual immorality, 1 Thess 4:1–8
thanksgiving, 1 Thess 1:2–3:10
wrath, 1 Thess 1:9–10
Index of Sidebars
“Apostle” in the New Testament 55
Biblical Traditions in 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10 149
Blessed John Henry Newman on the Development of Doctrine 124
The Catechism of Trent on Following Paul’s Example with Money 61
The Catechism of Trent on Infants and Nurses 59
“Church” (ekklēsia) in Scripture 34
Dio Chrysostom 53
Divine Assistance in Doing Good according to 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 179
Gregory the Great on Enduring Conflict 50
Grief for the Dead in Christian Antiquity 103
Humans and Angels as “Saints” 82
Jesus Tradition in Paul’s Teaching 115
Joy in Suffering according to St. Catherine of Siena 41
The Life of Prayer 36
Manual Labor 96
The Necessity of Forgiveness and Love of Enemies 129
The Obligation to Thank God 142
Origen on Night Signifying Evil 118
Resurrection from the Dead according to Paul 105
Salvian the Presbyter (Early Fifth Century) on 1 Thessalonians 3:3 75
2 Thessalonians 3:10 among Monks and Ascetics 187
The Second Vatican Council on How the Apostles Preached the Gospel 52
St. Athanasius and St. Ambrose on the Unity of the Father and the Son in 1 Thessalonians 3:11 80
St. Augustine on Being “Taught by God” 95
St. Augustine on the Divine Origin of the Thessalonians’ Faith and Love 141
St. Augustine on the Mutual Prayer of the Bishop and the People 135
St. Bernard and St. Augustine on God’s Self-Gift through Revelation 65
St. Ignatius of Antioch on Respect for Leaders 126
St. John Chrysostom on Living a Life Worthy of God’s Call 155
Strong Emotions in Ancient Letters 77
Textual Criticism 57
The Universal Call to Holiness 86
“Work” (ergon) in Paul 37
Table of Contents
Cover
Endorsements
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Illustrations
Editors’ Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction to First and Second Thessalonians
Outline of First and Second Thessalonians
Thanksgiving for God’s Work in Thessalonica
Paul’s Behavior in Thessalonica
Continuing the Story of the Apostles in Thessalonica
Paul’s Relief at the Return of Timothy
Life Pleasing to God
The Fate of Dead Christians and the Return of the Lord
The Day of the Lord
Final Admonitions
Thanksgiving for Endurance in the Midst of Suffering
Events Presaging the Day of the Lord
Rebuke of the Idle
Suggested Resources
Glossary
Index of Pastoral Topics
Index of Sidebars
Back Cover
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