The Thessalonian Letters in Paul's early Period of Writing
A Structural Analysis
Lorin L. Cranford
last revised: 1/7/00
Letter Element: 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians
Praescriptio 1:1 1:1-2
    Superscriptio
    1:1a Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
    1:1a Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, 
    Adscriptio
    1:1b To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
    1:1b To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
    Salutatio
    1:1c Grace to you and peace.
    1:2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Proem 1:2-10 1:3-12
    Core expression(s)

    Expansion elements

    1:2 We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers
    1:3-10 constantly 1:3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:4 For we know, brothers and sisters [Gk brothers] beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 1:5 because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 
     1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 1:7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 1:8 For the word in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 1:9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
    1:3a We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren,
    1:3b-12 as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 1:4 Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring.
         1:5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be made worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering -- 1:6 since indeed God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 1:7 and to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, 1:8 inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 1:9 They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,  1:10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.  1:11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfill every good resolve and work of faith by his power,  1:12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Body 2:1-5:22 2:1-3:15
    Divisions:
    2:1-3:13 Ministry to the Thessalonians
      2:1-16 Earlier Ministry
      2:17-3:13 Anticipated Ministry
        2:17-3:5 Concerns
        3:6-10 Timothy's Report
        3:11-13 Prayer
    4:1-5:22 Instructions
      4:1-12 Christian Lifestyle
      4:13-5:11 The Lord's Return
      5:12-22 Relationships
    2:1-12 The Man of Lawlessness
      2:1-2 Partitio
      2:3-12 Probatio
    2:13-17 Prayers
      2:13-14 Thanksgiving
      2:15 Exhortation
      2:16-17 Wish Prayer
    3:1-15 Encouragements
      3:1-5 More Prayers