Scripture
1 Thessalonians 3:6-4:2
Questions
Chapter 3
Timothy’s Positive Report
6 But now, because Timothy has come to us from you and has brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, desiring to see us just as also we desire to see you, 7 because of this, brothers, we have been comforted because of you in all our distress and affliction through your faith, 8 because now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we repay to God concerning you, because of all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, 10 night and day praying beyond all measure that we may see your face and complete what is lacking in your faith?
Timothy had made a visit without Paul or Silas. What sort of report did he bring?
How desirous was Paul of seeing the Thessalonian Christians again [see also 2:17-20]?
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord [κύριος] Jesus direct [κατευθύναι] our way to you, 12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and to abound in love for one another and for all, just as also we do for you, 13 so that your hearts may be established blameless in holiness [ἁγιωσύνῃ] before our God and Father at the coming [παρουσίᾳ] of our Lord [κύριος] Jesus with all his saints [ἁγίων].
The verb κατευθύναι is [third person] singular. Who is the subject of the sentence? “Our God and Father” or “our Lord Jesus”? Plural or singular?
Κύριος means Lord. It is used today as “mister” and out of politeness BUT in the LXX it was substituted for YHWH. For a monotheistic Second Temple Jew like Paul and the Jewish converts at Thessalonica there is only ONE Κύριος. Hence, in the NT Κύριος is almost always used of God. What does this tell us about Paul’s Christology?
What is the coming of YHWH in the Hebrew bible [Isaiah 13:6; Joel 2:31; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:14-18]?
Paul has re-worked the hope of the Jews of his day in the παρουσίᾳ of YHWH to the παρουσίᾳ of Jesus! Some say that this high Christology came later. No, it was understood amongst the apostles before the NT was even written.
Who is with Jesus=YHWH at his παρουσίᾳ?
Chapter 4
4 Finally therefore, brothers, we ask you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus that, just as you have received from us how it is necessary for you to live and to please God, just as indeed you are living, that you progress even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave to you through the Lord Jesus.
What are the commands of Jesus [Matthew 28:16-20; Matthew 5-7]?