The letters Paul wrote to the early churches he established in the Mediterranean take the most prominent place in the New Testament. The oldest book in the New Testament is Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians which he wrote to the Thessalonian church in the early 50s. On that account the available essay will focus on the contribution of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians to early Christianity.
Response Paper: Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians
Paul the Convert, also known as Saint Paul, Paul the Apostle or Saul of Tarsus, is described as an important person and revolutionary figure in the history of Christianity. He travelled throughout the Mediterranean to spread his Christian beliefs and thoughts to Gentiles, non-Jews, rather than to other Jews. Paul laid the groundwork for the differentiation between Judaism and Christianity during his journeys and is therefore considered by many of the authors as the strongest Christian personality during the Apostolic Period. The letters Paul wrote to the early churches he established in the Mediterranean take the most prominent place in the New Testament. The oldest book in the New Testament is Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians which he wrote to the Thessalonian church in the early 50s. On that account the available essay will focus on the contribution of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians to early Christianity. To answer the question why this letter is so important for early Christianity the essay is subdivided into the following parts: first, the historical context has to be explained to understand the occasion of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian church. Afterwards, the essay briefly concentrates on the particular format of his letter. Finally, the content of this letter will be discussed to answer the question of that essay regarding the contribution of the first Thessalonian letter to early Christianity. Gregory K. Beale indicates in his book 1-2 Thessalonians the historical context in which the first Thessalonian letter was written by Paul. He shows that Paul established a church at Thessalonica around A.D. 49 or 50 during his second missionary journey (13-14). There Paul claimed that Jesus, the Messiah, would die and rise again. Beale reveals that as a result of that “some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul” (14), but the “unbelieving Jews instigated some Gentiles to help form a mob” (14). Typical for Paul’s journeys is that he preached in the synagogues and converted people to Christianity. So, Paul often caused trouble and that is why he left Thessalonica after the antagonistic Jews went to the synagogue to stir up people against Paul (Beale 14). Gregory K. Beale shows a logical explanation for the behavior of the mob stirring people up against Paul:
The pagans of the city viewed Paul as a traitor to Caesar both politically (as head of state) and religiously (as head of the imperial cult). Moreover, the Jews would have seen Paul as a defector from the true religion and as an illegitimate representative of God. (15)
Charles Foster Kent reveals in The Work and Teachings of the Apostles Paul’s concerns about the new established faith in Thessalonica. He went on to Athens and then Corinth while watching the course of events in Thessalonica. The authors argue that Paul, when he had left Thessalonica, was uncertain how the new Christians “would react to adverse circumstances, and he sent Timothy back to check on them” (Harbin 486). It is shown that Paul wrote the first letter to the Thessalonians to encourage the converts in their new belief and to clear up the questions Timothy brought back from his trip. Rebecca Moore, author of Voices of Christianity: A Global Introduction, adds a further fact to the necessity of the letter:
The Thessalonian church was made up of pagan converts who had little or no understanding of Judaism or of Christianity. (27)
Paul corrected the Thessalonians view on Christian principles by writing the first letter. The format of the first Thessalonian letter as well as the concrete content and principles are to analyze in the next part of the essay. Rebecca Moore explains that Paul had a classical Hellenistic education, as well as training in Jewish scripture and a sophisticated rhetorical style which is apparent in his letters (26). That is why the letters of Paul appearing in the New Testament “follow a particular format, one that he learned as an educated Jew living in the Roman empire and modified for his own uses” (Moore 26).
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. (Moore 28)
Paul opens his letter with giving the names of the Sender and the names of those to whom the letter is addressed. The opening of the letter concludes with the Greek word grace and the equivalent of the ancient Hebrew word peace (Kent 126). This salutation is followed by words of thanksgiving and Paul’s statement he wishes to emphasize.
Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens; and we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions. (…) For that reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor had been in vain. (Moore 29)
Michael A. Harbin argues that Paul focuses in his letter on three main disciples: faith, hope and love (486). On the one hand, Harbin reveals that the Thessalonians were strong in faith and love, but on the other hand weak in their hope. When Paul left Thessalonica he was followed by jealous Jews and leading Gentiles. After Paul left, the persecution continued and became more ferocious (Harbin 486). That is why in that context a question of hope arose.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. (Moore 29)
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- Citation du texte
- Anonyme,, 2012, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1000593
