February 4, 2007

Thessalonian Nuggets:
Introduction

This is the first installment of what will be an in-depth study into the Thessalonian epistles. It will not be a verse-by-verse series per se, nor will it be simply a topical study. It will be both. At times I will discuss particular verses or small units of text, and at other times, there will be thematic discussion.

Some of the articles will be relevant to the Prewrath position, and some will deal with other theological, apologetic, devotional, and "critical" matters. For example, were you aware that the shortest verse in the New Testament is not "Jesus wept"? Ok...it is the shortest in the English Bible, but not in the Greek Bible. The shortest Greek verse is found in Thessalonians--and though it is very short, it is one of the most difficult teachings to apply to the Christian life. What is this verse you ask? You will have to be patience until that time!

For more of a sampling of what is to come this year in this series:

1) The traditional interpretation of the "idle" persons in 2Thess 3 is an eschatological explanation. But there is a more compelling reason that is due to a particular social dynamic in the Thessalonian church that causes some to be idle.

2) There are many who deny the concept of a "rapture" in 1Thess 4:17, "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

Yes, I know what you are saying, "How can the rapture be more explicit than that?" Well, there is a verb and phrase construction that you need to be aware of that some attempt to argue a different meaning into the text. You need to be aware of this argument, and know how to respond to it.

3) The mantra you hear today in the Evangelical church is, "Eschatology is not important" or "This doctrine should not divide people."

If that is the case, then why does the apostle Paul admonish believers in his conclusion of his teaching of the Second Coming with,

“If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” (2Th 3:14-15 NIV)

Is Paul asserting that his teaching on the Second Coming is a touchstone of fellowship? This text will be responsibly engaged with biblically and in its context to find out what Paul means by this.

4) Most liberal Christians and non-Christians do not believe that the apostle Paul wrote 2Thessalonians. Learn why they would think this, and how to respond to it intelligibly .

5) Who is the Restrainer in 2Thess 2? One of the major exegetical breakthroughs in Thessalonian scholarship in the past five years have solved this enigmatic identity. I will introduce you to the scholar who has argued cogently that Michael the Archangel is the "Restrainer"; and possibly interview him for this series. His conclusions have been agreed upon by many Evangelical scholars, Thessalonian experts, and proponents of the postmill, amill, and premill positions--even world-renown Jewish scholars have confirmed his conclusions.

But his argument for his thesis speaks for itself, in that he demonstrates the exegesis of Daniel and Thessalonians, which are corroborated by Second Temple and Rabbinic literature which show that Michael was understood to have a role of "restraining evil."

6) There will be articles in this series explaining the historical, political, religious, socio-economic, and geographic context. This will be information that does shed light on some key texts.

7) And last but not least there will be articles in this series on Prewrath concerns, which will be interspersed. They will cover Paul's language of "Coming," "Day of the Lord," "man of lawlessness," "gathered to him," etc.

Again, all the above is just a sampling; there will be many more subjects and texts that I did not mention.

Thessalonians is very possibly the first written correspondance of Paul to a church (but Galatians is often strongly argued for preceding Thessalonians as the first). At any rate, I trust that you will prepare your mind and heart for a journey into two pivotal ancient letters and its teachings which should help us to conform to Christ more everyday, and prepare us for suffering in this lifetime--and glory in the next.

(*Photo above is the Via Egnatia, the Roman Road that Paul and his associates traveled when leaving Philippi to go to Thessalonica.)