The Epistle to the Thessalonians (New International Greek Testament Com (Eerdmans)) by Charles A. Wanamaker

Author:Charles A. Wanamaker
Language: eng
Format: epub

PROBATIO: 4:1-5:22

Theprobatio is the second main division of the letter. The first main division, 2:1-3:10, as I have shown, is a narratio with the philophronetic intention of reestablishing Paul's relationship with his converts. His friendship with his readers then becomes the basis for his exhortation in 4:1-5:22. Nevertheless, the first main section has a considerable amount of implicit parenesis, as has been noted.

The probatio section, 4:1-5:22, is a set of proofs demonstrating the contention in 4:1f. that as the Thessalonians know how to behave and to please God so they must continue to live as they have been instructed by Paul, but with renewed fervor. This gives the section its parenetic or exhortative quality (cf. Bjerkelund, Parakalo, 128-135; Boers, "Form-Critical Study," 154-158; Malherbe, "Exhortation in First Thessalonians"). That Paul does not call for changes in behavior but affirms his readers' current practices indicates that the parenesis is rhetorically epideictic or demonstrative, not deliberative in character (see the section on rhetoric in the Introduction, pp. 46-48 above). Not only does Paul wish to give advice to his converts about their behavior, he also seeks to comfort them regarding one of the fundamental beliefs of their Christian symbolic world, namely, belief in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven (4:13-18). The claim by Koester ("I Thessalonians," 38-40) that the material in 4:1-5:11 is of a general character and therefore does not reflect any of the specifics of the situation at Thessalonica seems unlikely (cf. Boers, "Form-Critical Study," 154; Malherbe, Moral Exhortation, 76f.).

The probatio divides into four main subsections that together constitute Paul's proof. 4:1-12 contains exhortative material directed toward the ethical conduct of the Thessalonians. A clear division occurs between vv. 8 and 9, so that Jewett (Thessalonian Correspondence, 75) may be correct in seeing two separate proofs in this section. 4:13-18 constitutes a proof that the dead in Christ will share in his parousia and the assumption of believers to heaven. This functions as an exhortation to maintain Christain hope even in the face of death. 5:1-11 comprises a proof regarding the need for readiness for the parousia of the Lord. This subsection has a decidedly parenetic intention. The final section, 5:12-22, which precedes the conclusion of the letter, has a rather general character and is a proof directed toward the proper functioning of the Christian community at Thessalonica.

The transition to the probatio with its parenesis is signaled by the words Xour6v ovv in 4:1. Xotnov can best be translated "finally," indicating the transition to the last main section of the letter (cf. 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 3:1; 4:8). (Boers, "Form-Critical Study," 156 maintains that 4:1-5:11 constitutes the main body of the letter. This, however, represents a failure to fully appreciate the importance of the narratio section of the letter as implicit parenesis through philophronesis.) The inferential conjunction ovv probably embraces the whole of 2:1-3:13 rather than merely the transitus, since what Paul says in this part of the letter is what he would have liked to tell the Thessalonians if he could have been present with them.

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