The Divine Lamp

Note: This and the next two posts on First Thessalonians were published 6 months ago.  I republish them here because I intend to begin posting further notes on that letter.
Authorship:

Virtually all scholars agree that this letter was written by Paul. In fact, the authorship was never seriously questioned except by F.C. Baur, who’s thesis was quickly rejected. There is some question as to how much input Paul’s companions had in the composition. The opening address clearly identifies Silvanus and Timothy, who had helped evangelize the city (2:1-16), as co-senders of the letter, other passages, however, clearly refer to Paul alone (5:25, 27). This has led some scholars to the conclusion that the opening address and the “we” sections of the letter are the result of a literary nicety on the part of Paul to include his co-workers as co-senders of the work. Most scholars rightly (in my opinion, for what it’s worth) reject this and think T and S had an active hand in determining the content of the letter.

Background:

After Attending the Council of Jerusalem and fulfilling the task assigned to them, Paul and Barnabas decided to make a tour of the churches they had founded to see how they were doing. Barnabas wanted to take along his cousin, John Mark, who had deserted them during what is commonly called Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 13:13); but to this Paul objected, not wanting a repeat performance of that event. As a result of this, Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement and parted company, with Barnabas taking Mark and going to Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas (aka Silvanus) to accompany him through Syria and Cilicia to “strengthen the churches” (see Acts 15). They came to the region of Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, and there met Timothy, a young convert of Jewish and Greek ancestry. He was highly spoken of by the Christians who knew him and he must have impressed Paul, for the apostle asked him to accompany them on their missionary endeavor (Acts 16:1-5). They made their way through Asia Minor and came to Troas, where Paul had a vision that he should evangelize Macedonia, thus began the evangelization of Europe (Acts 16:6-15).

They made their way into Philippi, “a leading city in the district of Macedonia and a Roman Colony.” While there, Paul healed a slave-girl of what Luke terms a “Python spirit,” meaning a demon that gave the girl oracular statements. The girl’s ability had been used by her owners to make money, and the fact that Paul had cured her did not sit well with them, as a result, something nearly like a riot started which resulted in Paul and his companions being beaten with rods and imprisoned. Paul, because he was a Roman citizen, and therefore protected by due process of Roman law, complained to the magistrates about this treatment, which led to the authorities seeking to placate him (Acts 16:16-40).

After this, the group left Phillippi and proceeded to Amphipolis, Apollonia, and into Thessalonica, which had a very sizable Jewish population. How much time they spent in that city is unknown, but they did spend three Sabbaths in the Synagogue preaching and demonstrating that Jesus was the Messiah. Some Jews, and a large number of Greeks were converted. This infuriated some of the Jews who then employed certain men of dubious character to search out the missionaries. Unable to find them they grabbed some other Christians and dragged them before the magistrates, accusing them of causing a disturbance and rejecting the decrees of Caesar. The Christians were ordered to pay some kind of a fine and released. As a result of this, Paul and Silas (and presumably Timothy) left the city for Beroea, where they preached in the synagogue and converted many. However, some Jews from Thessalonica, hearing of this success, came to Beroea and began to make trouble; as a result, Paul was forced to go to Athens, leaving his companions behind, though telling them to join him as soon as possible(Acts 17:1-15).

How much time Paul spent in Athens is unknown, but his stay was probably short. It appears he made an attempt at evangelizing the city but met with little success. From Athens he proceeded to Corinth where he began preaching in the synagogue. It was here that Silas and Timothy rejoined him and the three men spent a year and a half preaching in the city (Acts 17:16-18:11). It was during this stay in Corinth that word came to them about the persecution being suffered by the church in Thessalonica (Thess 2:14). Due to this report, Timothy was sent back to the city to strengthen them (1 Thess 3:1-5). He returned with a good report concerning them, and it is this report which occasioned the letter (1 Thess 3:6-8).

Outline

The letter is in three parts, with each part being sub-divided into three sections in concentric fashion.

Part 1. 1:1-2:16

A1) Salutation and thanksgiving for the Thessalonians reception of the word (1:1-10)

B) How the Missionaries acted among them (2:1-12)

A2) Another thanksgiving for the Thessalonians reception of the word (2:13-16)

Part 2 (2:17-3:13)

A1) The missionaries wish to see their converts “face to face” (2:17-20)

B) Timothy is sent to Thessalonica (3:1-8)

A2) The missionaries pray that they might see their converts “face to face” (3:9-13)

Part 3 (4:1-5:28)

A1) Exhortations concerning right and holy conduct (4:1-12)

B) The resurrection of the faithful and Christ’s second coming (4:13-5:11)

A2) Exhortations concerning right order in the community (5:12-28)