Book of 1 Thessalonians: Overview and Scholarly Commentary
5 chapters · 55 video commentaries · covered in 18 courses
First Thessalonians is one of the earliest and most authentic letters attributed to the Apostle Paul. It addresses the community's concerns about the imminent return of Jesus, the fate of deceased believers, and ethical conduct in light of apocalyptic expectations.
AuthorCritical scholars widely agree that 1 Thessalonians was genuinely written by Paul, making it one of his seven undisputed letters.
WrittenAround 50-52 CE, making it one of the earliest New Testament writings.
GenreLetter, apocalypse
AudienceThe Christian community in Thessalonica, a mixed group of Jewish and Gentile converts, facing persecution and confusion about the end times.
PurposeTo offer comfort and instruction regarding the return of Jesus, the resurrection of the dead, and to encourage continued faithfulness amidst suffering.
Covered inAncient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years · Cities of the Bible · Did Jesus Really Exist? Evidence That Even Atheist Historians Accept · Earliest Christian Heresies · Face to Face on the Bible: John · Holy Pain: Why Early Christians Embraced Suffering +12
What our scholars get into
Our commentary on 1 Thessalonians delves into Paul's early apocalyptic expectations, where he anticipated being alive for Jesus' imminent return, a view that appears to evolve in his later letters (Bart D. Ehrman). We explore how Paul's teachings on the resurrection in chapter 4 are often misinterpreted as the 'rapture,' when in context, they describe believers meeting Jesus to escort him back to Earth for judgment and the establishment of God's kingdom (Bart D. Ehrman). Scholars also highlight the 'occasional' nature of Paul's letters, meaning his views on topics like gender are often fragmented responses to specific situations. Furthermore, we examine the significant eschatological differences between 1 and 2 Thessalonians, with the latter presenting a counter-forgery that delays the timing of the parousia, despite textual similarities (Bart D. Ehrman).
Introduction drafted from the lecture transcripts by AI, pending the team's edit.
Scholars generally identify seven authentic letters by Paul (Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon) that provide the most reliable insight into his views. Other letters attributed to him, such as Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians (Deutero-Pauline), and 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus (Pastoral/Pseudo-Pauline), are widely disputed or rejected as genuinely Pauline due to stylistic, theological, and historical discrepancies.
Summarized by AI · Must Women Keep Silent? Paul's Real Views on Gender, Desire, and Women · Lecture 1: The Apostle Paul in History and Legend | Apostle to the Gentiles · watch the clip
Similarities in 1 and 2 Thessalonians' Introductions
The introductions of 1 and 2 Thessalonians are remarkably similar, almost identical, which is unusual for Paul's letters. Paul typically varied his greetings, making this repetition a point of suspicion for scholars regarding the authorship of 2 Thessalonians.
Summarized by AI · The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Lecture 21: Are Some New Testament Letters Forged? · watch the clip
Undisputed Pauline letters are consistent and show no internal copying
Seven letters attributed to Paul (Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, Philippians, Philemon) are generally considered genuine because Paul was known to write letters, and these texts do not show signs of literary copying from one another. They exhibit consistent thought and surfaced early without ancient questioning, forming the bedrock for understanding Paul's theology.
Summarized by AI · The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Lecture 22: In Paul’s Name | The Disputed Letters · watch the clip
Paul's Early View of Resurrection
In his earlier letters, such as 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians, Paul anticipated being alive when Jesus returned to destroy God's enemies and initiate the resurrection of the dead. He expected to witness this event and be among those who would experience eternal life on Earth.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Did Jesus Actually Believe in Heaven? · watch the clip
Second Thessalonians' Eschatology vs. First Thessalonians
Second Thessalonians presents a different eschatological view than First Thessalonians. While First Thessalonians urges readiness for Jesus' imminent and unexpected return, Second Thessalonians counters this, stating that certain signs must precede Christ's return, implying it is not immediate. This fundamental difference in the timing of the parousia, despite textual similarities, suggests a different author.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Did Paul Actually Write the Pauline Epistles? · watch the clip
Seven Undisputed Pauline Letters
Out of the 13 letters attributed to Paul in the New Testament, scholars widely agree that seven were genuinely written by him. These are often referred to as the 'Undisputed Pauline letters' because their authorship by Paul is rarely contested among scholars, despite the technicality that all scholarly points are debatable.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Is the New Testament Actually *Filled* with Forgeries? · watch the clip
Second Thessalonians and Forgery
Second Thessalonians, a disputed Pauline letter, contains a warning from the author (claiming to be Paul) against other letters circulating in his name that he did not write. This passage itself proves that forgeries in Paul's name existed, regardless of whether Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians or if it is itself a forgery.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Faking It: Is the Bible Full of Forgeries? · watch the clip
Background and context
Paul's Early Apocalyptic Expectations
The Apostle Paul, in his earliest letters like 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians, strongly emphasized the imminent return of Jesus. He urged believers to be prepared and alert, indicating that the end could happen at any moment and that he expected to be alive for this event.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Why isn't Christianity a Doomsday Cult? · watch the clip
Inclusive Language for 'Adelphoi' (Brothers/Siblings)
The Greek word 'adelphoi', often translated as 'brothers', poses a challenge for inclusive language. In Greek, 'adelphoi' can refer to a group of men or a mixed group of men and women, with the masculine form being used even if only one woman is present. Recognizing that the early Jesus movement included women, the NRSV and its updated edition aimed for inclusive language. The NRSV Updated Edition decided to consistently translate 'adelphoi' as 'brothers and sisters' when referring to members of the Jesus movement, to better reflect the likely presence of women, even if the original NRSV sometimes used terms like 'believers'.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · How to Translate the Bible: Problems and Pitfalls · watch the clip
Courses that cover 1 Thessalonians
Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years
Cities of the Bible
Did Jesus Really Exist? Evidence That Even Atheist Historians Accept
Earliest Christian Heresies
Face to Face on the Bible: John
Holy Pain: Why Early Christians Embraced Suffering
Must Women Keep Silent? Paul's Real Views on Gender, Desire, and Women
Paul and Jesus: The Great Divide
The Bible and the Quran: Comparing Their Historical Problems
The Genius of the Acts of the Apostles
The Mysteries of the Synoptic Gospels: Discovering Matthew, Mark, and Luke
The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible
The Parables of Jesus: Jewish Insights into Gospel Ethics, Humor, and Provocation
Through the Eye of a Needle: Jesus's Teachings on Wealth and Their Modern Relevance
What the Hell? Jesus' Teachings on the Afterlife
Why I am Not a Christian: How Leaving the Faith Led to Life of More Meaning and Purpose
