2 Thessalonians 1:1-2
Praescriptio
Week 11
Last revised: 3/31/01
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1:1   Pau'lo" kai; Silouano;" kai; Timovqeo"
        th'/ ejkklhsiva/ Qessalonikevwn ejn qew'/ patri; hJmw'n kai; kurivw/  jIhsou' Cristw'/,
1:2   cavri" uJmi'n kai; eijrhvnh ajpo; qeou' patro;" hJmw'n kai; kurivou  jIhsou' Cristou'.		 1:1   Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
        To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
1:2   Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Determine the genre of the passage.

  1. Review the issue of the praescriptio in ancient letters and especially how it relates to the exegesis of epistolary materials.
  2. Discuss the formulas A>B: greetings, and also B<A: greetings, and the connection to 2 Thessalonians.
2. Determine the literary context of the passage.
  1. Explore in general the insights that aspects of the praescriptio, especially the expansion elements beyond the basic three items, can provide for exegeting the rest of the letter. For beginning explanation see my discussion for Religion 102.
3. Determine the time/place references in the passage.
  1. Assuming pauline authorship for 2 Thessalonians, reconstruct a probable historical scenario for the composition of 2 Thessalonians.
  2. Assuming 2 Thessalonians to be pseudonomyous, explore the possible historical scenarios for the composition of 2 Thessalonians.
4. Analyze the internal literary structure of the passage.
  1. Chart the texts of the pauline praescriptia using an English translation. The listing for Religion 102 may be a helpful starting point.
  2. Assess the structure and extent of the praescriptio in 2 Thessalonians, against the pattern of the pauline praescriptio generally.
5. Determine the interpretative issues -- both theologically and exegetically -- present in the passage.
  1. Explore in depth the arguments both for and against pauline authorship of 2 Thessalonians.
6. Determine a central theme of the passage
 
7. Develop an exegetical outline of the passage.
 
8.  Develop a short, one page sermon brief from the passage.