The Literary Structue
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The Literary Structue |
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| Last revised: 1/15/00 |
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| Composition of the Letters | 1 Thessalonians | 2 Thessalonians |
| 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
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
2:17-3:13 Anticipated Ministry
3:6-10 Timothy's Report 3:11-13 Prayer
4:13-5:11 The Lord's Return 5:12-22 Relationships |
2:1-12 The Man of Lawlessness
2:3-12 Probatio
2:15 Exhortation 2:16-17 Wish Prayer
3:6-15 Exhortations |
| Conclusio | 5:23-28
5:23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound [Or complete] and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 5:24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. 5:25 Beloved [Gk Brothers] pray for us. 5:26 Greet all the brothers and sisters[Gk brothers] with a holy kiss. 5:27 I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them [Gk to all the brothers]. 5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you [Other ancient authorities add Amen]. |
3:16-18
3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. 3:17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. |
Click on here for summary of 1 Thessalonians.
Click on here for summary of 2 Thessalonians.
Study Questions