1 & 2 Thessalonians (Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 45 | WBC)

Top Highlights

“The gospel reached Macedonia less than twenty years after the death of Christ. One of the earliest Christian documents (if not absolutely the earliest extant)—the first Pauline letter to the Thessalonians—was sent, probably toward the end of a.d. 50, to the Christian community in Thessalonica.” (Page xxi)

“‘Word alone’ here means speech unaccompanied by the convincing power of the Holy Spirit. Such speech, however eloquent and moving, would be ineffective in evoking faith from the hearers.” (Page 14)

“It appears more probable from the context that a general abandonment of the basis of civil order is envisaged. This is not only rebellion against the law of Moses; it is a large-scale revolt against public order, and since public order is maintained by the ‘governing authorities’ who ‘have been instituted by God,’ any assault on it is an assault on a divine ordinance (Rom 13:1, 2). It is, in fact, the whole concept of divine authority over the world that is set at defiance in ‘the rebellion’ par excellence.” (Page 167)

“The hope which believing Jews and Christians had in face of death was the hope of resurrection; for Christians this hope was grounded in the resurrection of Christ.” (Page 96)

“‘The triad of faith, hope and love is the quintessence of the God-given life in Christ’” (Page 12)