Let's EXEGETE 2 Thessalonians 1!

[Matthew24:34]

First of all, what is exegesis?

Exegesis From Theopedia

Biblical exegesis is a systematic process by which a person arrives at a reasonable and coherent sense of the meaning and message of a biblical passage. Ideally, an understanding of the original texts (Greek and Hebrew) is required. In the process of exegesis, a passage must be viewed in its historical and grammatical context with its time/purpose of writing taken into account. This is often accomodated by asking:

Who wrote the text, and who is the intended readership?
What is the context of the text, i.e. how does it fit in the author's larger thought process, purpose, or argument in the chapter and book where it resides?
Is the choice of words, wording, or word order significant in this particular passage?
Why was the text written (e.g. to correct, encourage, or explain, etc.)?
When was the text written?

Considering these RULES of Bible study, let's consider the first verse of 2 Thessalonians. (Please no personal application at this point and no rabbit trails). Just the facts.

Verse 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a personal letter whose content comes from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. Who actually penned the letter is not given. It would seem that all three of them had some input into it. However, to make things easier, I will attribute the letter and its contents to Paul when dealing with the text.

The letter is clearly addressed to the first-century church at Thessalonica. The foundation that binds Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the believers at Thessalonica is their position "in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." It is not a church building which is being addressed but fellow saints who reside at Thessalonica.

It is to those very saints at Thessalonica that Paul affirms that they have "grace and peace" from "God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." It is supposed cultists that the distinction between "God our Father" and "the Lord Jesus Christ" here makes them two very separate entities. Since this is a thread for believers, it is perhaps not necessary here to get into arguments concerning the Trinity? That would be a great study, but I would like to avoid it here if possible. Agreed?

I look forward to your EXEGESIS of this verse. Thanks!

Sincerely, Matthew24:34

 

[Paidion]

It is to those very saints at Thessalonica that Paul affirms that they have "grace and peace" from "God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." It is supposed cultists that the distinction between "God our Father" and "the Lord Jesus Christ" here makes them two very separate entities. Since this is a thread for believers, it is perhaps not necessary here to get into arguments concerning the Trinity? That would be a great study, but I would like to avoid it here if possible. Agreed?

If we agree not to discuss trinitarianism, then what is left to "exegete"?

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy composed a letter and sent it to the Thessalonian church. They wished them grace and peace (well-being), which would have its origin in the Father and the Son. Is there theological disagreement even about such a plain statement?

 

[Matthew24:34]

It is to those very saints at Thessalonica that Paul affirms that they have "grace and peace" from "God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." It is supposed cultists that the distinction between "God our Father" and "the Lord Jesus Christ" here makes them two very separate entities. Since this is a thread for believers, it is perhaps not necessary here to get into arguments concerning the Trinity? That would be a great study, but I would like to avoid it here if possible. Agreed?

If we agree not to discuss trinitarianism, then what is left to "exegete"?

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy composed a letter and sent it to the Thessalonian church. They wished them grace and peace (well-being), which would have its origin in the Father and the Son. Is there theological disagreement even about such a plain statement?

Greetings, Paidion: There is much to discuss. You know full well how things go in trinitarian debates. If you want to start that thread, that would be great. I am trying not to get sidetracked here.

I have no theological disagreement with you so far! Perhaps some others would still like to join in?

Matthew24:34

 

[Matthew24:34]

Verse 3--We are bound to thank God for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of everyone of you all abounds toward each other,

οÆειλομεν--1 pers. plu. pres. act. indicative of οÆειλÉ--"to be bound or obliged by what is due or fitting or consequently necessary"

ÀανÄοÄε--adverb--"always, at all times"

αξιον--adj.--"worthy of, deserving, suitable, due"

ÅÀεÃÂαÃ…ξανει--3 pers. sing. pres. act. indicative of ÅÀεÃÂαÃ…ξανÉ, "to increase exceedingly"

Àλεοναζει--3 pers. sing. pres. act. indicative of ÀλεοναζÉ, "to abound, be abundant"

αγαÀη--"love, generosity, kindly concern, devotedness"

εκαÃĀοÃ…--genitive, sing. neuter of εκαÃĀοÂ, "each one, every one separately"

αλληλοÅÂ--reciprocal pronoun

"We" is clearly Paul, Silvanus and Timothy. Again, this letter is a personal letter from actual first-century people to the actual first-century believers in Thessalonica. Paul expresses not only that they are thankful to God for those believers but that they are "bound" or obligated to thank God. It was God who was ultimately responsible for their faith and the growth in their faith. It was fitting for Him to thank God. It was not an occasional thankfulness--they thanked God for the faith of those Thessalonian believers ALWAYS (ÀανÄοÄε)!

The faith of the Thessalonians did not grow nominally or slowly but exceedingly! Their love for one another involved not just some of them but every one of them. And their love for each other was also not nominal or minimal but it abounded! Clearly, this group of believers did nothing in a small way! Each and every one of them (ενο εκαÃĀοÃ…) demonstrated this agape love for one another. This is seen in the reciprocal pronoun used here--their love was reciprocating in nature; it was not one way! These were flesh-and-blood believers from that actual church at Thessalonica of that first-century, pre-A. D. 70 generation!

P.S. I have posted the Greek words here only for those who are interested (Paidion perhaps?). This is not necessary for proper exegesis, so don't let that stop anyone from joining in!

 

[Osgiliath]

Originally posted by Matthew24:34

Let's EXEGETE 2 Thessalonians 1!

Let's not, and say we did.

 

[Matthew24:34]

Originally posted by Matthew24:34

Let's EXEGETE 2 Thessalonians 1!

Let's not, and say we did.

Osgiliath: Please stay out of my thread if you are going to ridicule and make snide remarks. Perhaps it is because you cannot exegete, that you resort to cheap shots. :naughty

Again, you are not welcome here with that attitude. Start your own thread! Perhaps you could even call it "Let's NOT Exegete 2 Thessalonians 1 and Say We Did!"

Matthew24:34

 

[Osgiliath]

Oh lighten up Matthew. I was just kidding around. Anyway, you need a better sales pitch; no one's buying . Figured I'd help out.

 

[Matthew24:34]

Oh lighten up Matthew. I was just kidding around. Anyway, you need a better sales pitch; no one's buying . Figured I'd help out.

Osgiliath: I don't need a "sales pitch" to interest people in the study of the Bible. The reason many don't get involved in what I'm trying to do here is often either that they don't know how to exegete a passage or they simply don't WANT. There's much more excitement on the other threads where they don't have to do the hard work of exegesis.

And if this is you way of helping out, forget it. How have you helped? You've done nothing about exegeting the passage. Whether someone joins in here or not, I will continue. Again, I ask that you respect the nature of this thread or stay away.

Matthew24:34

 

[Osgiliath]

There's much more excitement on the other threads where they don't have to do the hard work of exegesis.

Oh, I'm sure that's it. Couldn't possibly be some "other" reason.

 

[Matthew24:34]

There's much more excitement on the other threads where they don't have to do the hard work of exegesis.

Oh, I'm sure that's it. Couldn't possibly be some other reason.

Osgiliath: Exegete or please go away!

Matthew24:34

 

[Matthew24:34]

verse 4--so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations you endure,

αÅÄοÅ ημα (autous hmas)--This form is quite possibly used for emphasis. The direct middle voice is probably in use here (εγκαÅÇαÃθαι), although many scholars dispute whether the direct middle is even used in the NT, viewing it only as a classical Greek usage. However, there are scholars (e.g. Daniel B. Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics) who contend that the direct middle voice is still found in rare instances in the Koine! Regardless, the meaning here is reflexive and emphatic--WE OURSELVES boast!

Paul, Silvanus and Timothy boasted among the churches of God (Asia Minor) concerning the patience and faith of those very Thessalonians of that day. It is commonly believed that the letters of Paul to the Thessalonians were written in the A. D. 50's. In 1 Thessalonians 1:6 we find that they had already begun to suffer because of their faith--they received the word with "much affliction." In 1 Thessalonians 2:14 we see that much of their suffering was at the hands of their own countrymen. These were those who persecuted Paul and forbade him from preaching to the Gentiles. They were of those same scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites upon whom Jesus pronounced His woes and to whom He said "fill up the measure of your fathers' guilt" (Mat. 23). Paul had sent Timothy to Thessalonica to help to establish them and encourage them concerning their faith. Paul's love and concern for them is plainly seen. He was afraid that the tempter had gotten to them and that his labor among them had been in vain. What joy must have filled his heart when he learned of their steadfastness and abounding faith!

The Thessalonians did not merely endure the persecutions and tribulations--they did so with patience and faith. And they did not merely endure some of the persecutions and tribulations--they endured them ALL! We can read of some of these persecutions and tribulations in Thessalonica in Acts 17:5-9 when Paul visited there and spoke in the synagogue of the Jews. When a "great multitude" of Gentiles believed, the Jews became envious. Enraged, they gathered a mob and began an uproar in the city. They sought to find Paul in the house of Jason. When they could not find him there, they dragged Jason to the rulers of the city and accused him and the others of harboring those who acted contrary to the decrees of Caesar by saying they had another king--Jesus--instead of Caesar. Paul and Silas were sent away by night by the brethren and they entered Berea where they again preached and many believed, even of the Gentiles. The Jews from Thessalonica followed them to Berea and again stirred up the crowd. Leaving Timothy and Silas in Berea, Paul headed to Athens where he addressed the Areopagus and some of the Greeks believed.

It seems clear that at this point in time the primary source of the Thessalonians' persecutions and tribulations came from the Jews! These persecutions and tribuluations by the Jews would not go unpunished by God!

 

[parousia70]

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy composed a letter and sent it to the Thessalonian church. They wished them grace and peace (well-being),

That's mighty preteristic of you Paidion, to insist that this letter was written and sent TO the 1st century Thessalonians.

I'm impressed.

 

[Matthew24:34]

2 Thessalonians 1:5--which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;

ενδειγμα (endeigma)--proof, evidence
δικαια κÃÂιÃεÉ (dikaias kriseos)--righteous judgment
καÄαξιÉθηναι Ã…μα Äη βαÃιλεια (kataxiothevai humas tes basileas)--you may be counted worthy of the
kingdom. (καÄαξιÉθηÉαι--aorist passive infinitive of καÄαξιοÉ).
ÀαÃÇεÄε--(paschete) you (plural) suffer

It is not the patience and faith of these Thessalonians in the midst of "persecutions and tribulations" that makes them worthy of the kingdom. Rather, it is the fact that they are patient and faithful in the midst of those things that manifests that God has already made them worthy (passive voice) of the kingdom of God. God's righteousness judgment in calling them to Himself is proven through the evidence of the way they live in the midst of trials. Not only do they prove His righteous judgment evident in their lives, but their godly response to persecution exposes the righteousness of God's judgment against the perpetrators of that persecution. Those upon whom He has poured out His grace are worthy of His kingdom; those who do not know God are worthy of His vengeance.