Sabidius' Classics Blog: ST. PAUL'S FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS

Introduction:

a. Date and background.

Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians was written in the winter of 50-51 A.D. during his eighteenth month stay in Corinth from 50 to 52 in the course of his Second Missionary Journey, and it is the earliest of Paul's letters that have come down to us, and also the earliest of all the documents that form the New Testament. He wrote the letter to the converts he had made in Thessalonica during the summer of 50. His companions in Corinth at this time were Timothy and Silas, and the former had paid a second visit to Thessalonica and had just returned with encouraging news about the loyalty and continuing devotion to the Christian faith of the congregation that Paul had formed there. Thessalonica was a thriving Aegean seaport situated at the head of the Thermaic Gulf, and it was the location of the junction between the great Egnatian Way from Dyrrachium to the Black Sea and the road which ran northwards to the Danube. With its population of around 200,000, it was both the capital and the largest city of the Roman province of Macedonia. There is corroborative evidence of Paul's visit to Thessalonica in Acts 17: 1-9, although Paul will almost certainly have spent longer there than Acts appears to suggest from the reference to his visit to its Jewish synagogue on "three sabbath days" (see 17:2). At the same time, as is clearly indicated in 17: 4, the congregation formed by Paul in Thessalonica seems to have been almost entirely composed of gentiles (see 1 Thess.1:9, where he says his congregation had "turned to God from idols", something he would not have said if Jews had constituted a significant part of it.) Indeed, Paul makes no reference in this letter to the Jews, despite the account in Acts that it was Jews, allegedly, who drove him out of the city before the end of the year 50.

b. Outline structure.

1. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (Ch. 1).

2. Defence of the Apostolic Action and the Apostolic Absence (Chs. 2-3)

3. Exhortations to the Thessalonians (Ch. 4: 1 - Ch. 5. 22)

a. concerning their personal lives (Ch 4: 1-12)

b. concerning the second coming of Christ (Ch. 4: 13 - Ch. 5. 11)

c. concerning church life (Ch. 5: 12-22)

4. Concluding prayers and benediction (Ch. 5: 23-28)

c. Purpose.

As Paul appears to have left Thessalonica somewhat abruptly, whether or not the Jews were behind this, and recent converts were left with little external support in the midst of persecution, Paul wrote to encourage his new converts in the midst of their tribulations (see 3:3-5), to give them instruction in godly living (4: 1-8), to urge them to earn their own livings (4: 11-12) and to give them an assurance concerning the future of Christian believers who die before Christ's return (4: 13-17), a particular anxiety of gentile converts.

d. Theme.

Throughout this epistle Paul's teachings on eschatology (i.e. the doctrine of last things) predominate. These teachings were structured around the question of how the resurrection and the "parousia" (i.e. the second coming) of Christ can bring salvation to believers, whether alive or dead. Indeed, every chapter of 1 Thessalonians terminates with a reference to the "parousia" and Chapter 4 focuses upon it in particular. Paul describes this "parousia" in terms of traditional Jewish and early Christian apocalyptic writings (see the eschatological passages in the Synoptic Gospels, especially Matthew). Moreover, Paul emphasises the unpredictable imminence of the "parousia" and the need for vigilance, and accordingly implies that both he and his readers would live to see it.

At the end of this translation, Sabidius has followed his usual practice, in relation to his translation of Paul's letters, of providing a list of quotations. In each case, he has provided the words firstly in the original Greek, then a version in Latin according to the "Vulgate", and then the translation according to the Authorised Version of the Bible.

CHAPTER 1.

Salutation (v. 1).

(1) Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the congregation of the Thessalonians in (union with) God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; (may) grace and peace (be) with you.

Thanks to the Thessalonians for their faith and example (vv. 2-10).

(2) We always give thanks to God when we make mention of all of you in our prayers, (3) bearing in mind unceasingly your work in the faith, and your labour of love, and your perseverance in the hope of our Lord before God and our Father, (4) as we know, brothers loved by God, of his choice of you, (5) because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit with much assurance, just as you know what sort of (life) we lived among you for your sake; (6) and you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received his word amid much hardship with the joy of the Holy Spirit, (7) so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

(8) For from you has the word of the Lord rung out, not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but in every place has your faith in the Lord become known, so that we have no need to say anything about it; (9) for concerning us they report what kind of reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, (10) and to wait for his Son from the heavens, whom he raised from the dead, (namely) Jesus, who saves us from the wrath that is coming.

CHAPTER 2.

Paul's ministry in Thessalonica (vv. 1-12).

(1) For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a vain (one), (2) but, having previously suffered and been mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had the courage with the help of our God to tell you about the gospel of God in the midst of great opposition. (3) For our exhortation does not (come) from any error or impurity or in trickery, (4) but even as we have been authorised by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so do we speak as (those) seeking to win the favour, not of men, but of God who tests our hearts. (5) For neither were we ever found using words of flattery, as you know, nor as a pretext for covetousness, (as) God (is) my witness, (6) nor seeking glory from men, neither from you or from others, when we could have been a burden to you as apostles of Christ; (7) but we were gentle in your midst, as when a nurse cherishes her own children. (8) So, having a tender affection for you, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, as you had become (so) dear to us.

(9) For you remember, brothers, our labour and travail; (for) working night and day, so as not to burden any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. (10) You and God (are) witnesses that we have behaved in a devout and righteous and blameless manner towards you, the believers, (11) just as you know how, (12) we encouraged each one of you, as a father (does) his own children, and cheered (you) on, and implored you to walk worthily (in the sight) of God, who is calling you into his own kingdom and glory.

The faith and patience of the Thessalonians (vv. 13-16).

(13) And (it is) for this reason that we also thank God unceasingly, that, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted (it) not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which is also at work in you who believe. (14) For you, brothers, became imitators of the congregations of God which are in Judea in (union with) Christ Jesus, because you also suffered the same (things) from your own fellow-countrymen as they also (are suffering) at the hands of the Jews, (15) who killed even the Lord Jesus and the prophets and severely persecuted us, nor are they pleasing to God and they are hostile to all men, preventing us from speaking to the gentiles, in order that they may be saved, with the result that they always fulfil the (measure) of their sins. But (God's) retribution has finally come upon them.

Paul longs to see the Thessalonians again (vv. 17-20).

(17) But we, brothers, who have been separated from you for (but) a short time, in person, not in mind, tried even harder to see your face with a great longing. (18) For this reason we wanted to come to you, yes, I, Paul, again and again, but Satan prevented us. (19) For what (is) our hope or joy or crown of pride in the presence of our Lord at his coming? - it is you, is it not? (20) For you are our glory and our joy.

CHAPTER 3.

Paul's anxious wait in Athens (vv. 1-5).

(1) Therefore, when we could not bear (it) any longer, we thought it good to be left behind in Athens alone, (2) and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the gospel of Christ to strengthen and exhort you on behalf of your faith, (3) so that no one should be unsettled by these (present) hardships. For you, yourselves, know that we were appointed to (do) this; (4) for, assuredly, when we were with you, we warned you that we were bound to have hardships to bear, as in fact happened, as you know. (5) For this reason also, when I could not bear (it) any longer, I sent (a messenger) to learn about your faithfulness, for fear that, somehow, the tempter might have tempted you, and then our labour would have been in vain.

Timothy's good report about the Thessalonians (vv. 6-10).

(6) But, when Timothy came to us just now from you, and brought us the good news about your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us, and are always longing to see us, just as we (are) also (longing to see) you, (7) for this reason, brothers, we are greatly relieved concerning you, amid all our distress and tribulation, on account of this faith of yours, (8) because now we can breathe again, so long as you are firm in the Lord. (9) For how can we give (enough) thanksgiving to God concerning you for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, (10) as we pray so earnestly night and day to see your faces and to make good the shortcomings in your faith?

Prayer for the Thessalonians (vv. 11-13).

(11) Now, may our God and Father, himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you; (12) and may the Lord make you grow and abound in love towards one another and towards all (men), just as we also (do) towards you, (13) so that he may make your hearts strong (and) faultless in holiness before our God and Father in the presence of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

CHAPTER 4.

A life that is pleasing to God (vv. 1-12).

(1) Finally, brothers, we request and exhort you in (the name of) the Lord Jesus that, as you have received from us (instructions) about how you ought to live and please God, as you are in fact living, so you should keep on doing so all the more. (2) For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus Christ.

(3) For this is the will of God, (and it is) your sanctification, that you abstain from fornication, (4) (and) that each one of you should know how to keep his own private parts in (a state of) sanctification and respect, (5) not in the passion of lust, like the gentiles, who do not know God, (6) and that no one should take advantage of and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these (things), just as we also forewarned you and gave (you) our testimony. (7) For God called us not to uncleanness but in sanctification. (8) Therefore, he who rejects (this), rejects not man but God, who has given his Holy Spirit to you.

(9) But, with regard to brotherly love, you have no need (for us) to write to you, for you, yourselves, are taught by God to love one another; (10) for, in fact, you are acting in this way towards all the brothers who are in the whole of Macedonia. But we entreat you, brothers, to go on doing so all the more, (11) and that you make it your aim to lead a quiet life and to attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you (to do), (12) so that you may lead a respectable life in the eyes of outsiders and have no need for anything.

The dead and the living at the time of the Lord's coming (vv. 13-18).

(13) But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest (do) who have no hope. (14) For, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so will God bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. (15) For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are left alive will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep; (16) for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry, (and,) with the voice of the archangel and with Gods' trumpet, and the dead in Christ will rise first; (17) then, we who remain alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall be with the Lord forever. (18) Therefore, you should comfort one another with these words.

CHAPTER 5.

Watchfulness while awaiting the coming of the Lord (vv. 1-11).

(1) But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need for anything to be written to you, (2) for you yourselves are well aware that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. (3) Whenever they say (how) peaceful and safe (it is), then sudden destruction will fall upon them like the (woman) who has birth pains in her belly, and they will in no way escape. (4) But you, brothers, are not in such darkness that the day will overtake you like a thief, (5) for you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We belong neither to the night nor to darkness.

(6) So then, let us not fall asleep like the others (do), but stay on the alert and be sober. (7) For those who sleep, sleep at night, and then those who get drunk, get drunk at night; (8) but, as we belong to the day, let us stay sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation (as) a helmet. (9) For God, has not assigned us to his wrath, but to us winning our salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (10) who died for us, so that, whether we fall asleep or keep awake, we should live together with him. (11) So let us exhort one another and build each other up, just as you are in fact doing.

Exhortations (vv. 12-24).

(12) But we ask you, brothers, to have regard for those who labour among you, and are presiding over you and instructing you in (the name of) the Lord, (13) and to honour them as earnestly as possible with your love on account of their work. Live peacefully among yourselves. (14) Yet, we exhort you, brothers, to admonish those who are ill-disciplined, to encourage the faint-hearted, to support the sick, (and) to show forbearance towards everyone. (15) See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seeks what (is) good for one another and for all.

(16). Always be joyful, (17) pray constantly, (18) give thanks for everything; for this (is) the will of God in (union) with Christ Jesus concerning you. (19) Do not extinguish the (flame of the) spirit, (20) do not be scornful of prophecy; (21) put everything to the test, keep hod of what (is) good, (22) abstain from every form of wickedness.

Closing prayer and farewell (vv. 23-28).

(23) May the God of peace himself sanctify you in every respect, and may the whole of your spirit, and soul, and body be kept faultless in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) The one who calls you (is) faithful, and he will also carry (it) out.

(25) Pray for us, my brothers.

(26) Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

(27) I am putting you under oath in (the name of) the Lord that this letter should be read to all the brothers.

(28) (May) the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (be) with you.

APPENDIX: QUOTATIONS FROM ST. PAUL'S FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS

Listed below are quotations taken from the above text. In each case, the words are given in the original Greek, followed by a translation from the Latin Vulgate, and the English of the traditional Authorised Version of the Bible. Where the wording of the latter may be somewhat opaque, the reader can of course consult the translation above for an alternative, and hopefully more readable, version.

1) iii. 3:

ἀδιαλείπτως μνημονεύοντες ὑμῶν τοῦ ἔργου τῆς πίστεως καὶ τοῦ κόπου τῆς ἀγάπης