Introduction
First Thessalonians is a book in the New Testament, and it is often regarded as one of Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonians. Research indicates that it was written in AD 52, which means that it is the oldest book in the Bible. The book examines Paul’s heart and mind as well as the message he relayed about knowing Jesus Christ (Wanamaker, 2013). In First Thessalonians, Paul had three critical purposes when writing the epistle. Primarily, he intended to encourage and motivate Christians Thessalonica, especially those who were progressing well in their new faith. Besides, Paul wanted to correct the misconception that people held about missionaries as well as the negative messages that the Thessalonica critics peddled about him (Morris, 2015). Thirdly, he wanted to offer additional instructions that would facilitate the spiritual growth of the Thessalonians. In Second Thessalonians, Paul intended to appreciate his children, in faith, not only for their faithfulness but also for their spiritual growth. Similarly, Paul wanted to streamline the doctrinal errors regarding the Lord’s Day. Furthermore, Paul wanted to warn individuals that had indolent tendencies to value and appreciate hard work (Morris, 2015).
Place in the Canon and Contribution to the Flow of Narrative
The two valuable letters, the First and the Second Thessalonians, are hidden near the end of the Pauline corpus. They provide invaluable insight into Paul’s mind and heart. Notably, the ordering of the New Testament does not follow a chronological system of writing. Rather, the organization is based on theological principles. In the Pauline letters, according to Wanamaker (2013), the early Christian collators started with the Romans heading the corpus as a form of summation regarding salvation.
The First and Second Corinthians and Galatians (these letters deal with inadequate responses to the value of salvation) followed it. These texts were followed by Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians (they treat diverse implications of Christology for the life of the church). The First and Second Thessalonians was found after these latter letters and just before the letters that have been addressed to individuals (Timothy and Philemon) (Wanamaker, 2013).
The Kind Of Greco-Roman Letters That the First Thessalonians Entails
Inferring from Coogan (2011), First Thessalonians is a paraenetic letter, which means that it is a letter of advice and exhortation. For example, 1 Thessalonians, 2:1-12 states, “our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery” (Coogan, 2011). In this verse, Paul is primarily trying to offer an advice of exhortation to the church. As a result, he warns the Christians against seeking greatness or recognition out of deceitful and dishonest behaviours.
Such a discourse deviates from God’s desire. As a paraenetic letter, First Thessalonians differs significantly with other Greco-Roman letters (Coogan, 2011). Specifically, the differences are evident in the pseudonymity. Most of the letters employ the use of pseudonyms, which means that the author uses other people’s names. However, this is not the scenario with First Thessalonians. Instead, Paul writes in a manner that a reader can easily identify the author.
Major Themes/Emphases
First Thessalonians has numerous themes and messages that Paul wanted to relay Thessalonians. According to Morris (2015), in First Thessalonians, the major concerns are the end-of-times and eschatology. Nevertheless, faith, love, and hope as defined in First Thessalonians 1:3, in that order. In First Thessalonians 9-19, Paul emphasises on the triad that entails “turned,” serve,” and “wait” (Morris, 2015).
The theme of hope for eternal life is also evident in First Thessalonians. Christ has brought about a new sense of hope to people on the Earth. As a result, pain and suffering that confirm people are visible to Paul. To visualize these aspects, Paul takes the ultimate perspectives glorification and resurrection and the judgment of evil (Morris, 2015). As a result of such reality, the readers are called upon to embrace the holy way of life. They are also exhorted to exemplify the values and principles of courage, love, diligence, peace, purity, faithfulness, patience, and courage.
Furthermore, the theme of imitation is also illustrated throughout the epistle. Paul grew up in a multicultural environment. Consequently, he was fully aware of the fact that authentic teachings were rooted in a teacher’s authentic living, regardless of whether he was a stoic philosopher in Tarsus or a Jewish Rabbi hailing from Jerusalem (Wanamaker, 2013). In the letters, Paul used the technical elements of imitation to challenge the congregation not only to replicate but also to follow his way of life as a standard paradigm. However, he clearly outlines that his way of life is not the ultimate model. He reiterates that he is only following the blueprint of Jesus Christ. Therefore, he urges the readers to copy Jesus’ approach to life (Wanamaker, 2013).
The theme of eternal life is also illustrated in the epistle. According to Paul, death is not the end of hope, as it is not the final state of a Christian (Morris, 2015). The underlying message from Paul is that the Thessalonians should never be worried about death as they are secure in the Lord’s hand. Additionally, Paul wants the congregation to acknowledge the fact that the timing of a person’s death is in God’s hands. This necessarily means people cannot know when they will die (Morris, 2015).
The Application of the Content of the Book in the Present
The messages presented in Paul’s letters are applicable in many ways. Primarily, they can be used as invaluable foundations for different governmental regimes such as socialism. At the heart of socialism is direct control and management of social and industrial services by the workers, which is facilitated by a democratic government founded on a nationwide economic organization.
Therefore, a socialist regime is centred on the love for an individual’s neighbour, which Paul taught his audience to exhibit. Socialism is based on the equitable distribution of resources among people in a community. Therefore, it thrives on the love for one another. Ideally, people who have resources ensure that they share them with their counterparts that do not have. If no love existed, the socialist governments would select particular groups of people to cater for while ignoring others. Such decisions may lead to resource disparities among individuals. However, socialist regimes are hardly affected by such issues because they are based on love and community.
Conclusion
This paper sought to analyse the book of Thessalonians, which is an essential and insightful epistle. Ideally, First Thessalonians was intended to encourage the Thessalonica Christians to appreciate and uphold their new faith, to clear the misconception that the critics were spreading regarding Paul and the Church, and to offer further instructions to facilitate the growth of the Gospel. Second Thessalonians was intended to appreciate the Thessalonica Christians, and to encourage them to streamline the doctrinal error regarding the Lord’s Day and to build a culture of industry among people. In regards to its place in the Canon, it has been revealed that the epistle is sandwiched between seven other letters. Thessalonians is a paraenetic letter because it offers advice regarding certain issues, which is not the case with other epistles. Several themes and emphases (the Triadic Emphases, hope of life, imitation and hope in the Hereafter) define the context of the Thessalonians. The message in the book is applied in almost every sphere of human life including governance.
References
Coogan, M. D. (2011). The Oxford encyclopedia of the books of the Bible (Vol. 1). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Morris, L. L. (2015). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (Vol. 13). Westmont, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Wanamaker, C. A. (2013). The Epistle to the Thessalonians.Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
