Page 54 - Pauline Epistles Student Textbook

In v13, Paul began his discussion with a coordinate conjunction “δὲ” (de [“and,” “but,” or “now”]).
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Is it functioning as resumptive/continuative, contrastive, or merely transitional? Paul appears to
contrast the believers at Thessalonica from the lost world. Take note also of the phrase “first fruits”
(NIV/ESV/NLT/LEB) and “from the beginning” (NASB/HCSB/KJV/NET).

“First fruits,” would denote that the believers at Thessalonica were the first ones to have come to
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ at Paul’s proclamation of the gospel. But in Macedonia, we
read based on Acts account that some accepted Jesus as their Lord and personal Saviour -- Lydia and
her household and the jailer and his household (Acts 16:15, 33-34) at Paul’s preaching of the gospel
before he arrived in Thessalonica. So, contextually, in comparison with Paul’s preaching of the
gospel in other canonical books, the phrase “from the beginning” is an apt reading in v13a. Paul and
his companions were giving thanks to God on their behalf because of God’s election of them from
the beginning. This election “from the beginning” was confirmed by means of the sanctifying work of
the Spirit and their belief in the truth.
Our careful observation of verse 13 strongly suggest that all the members of the trinity were
involved in the salvation of the believers at Thessalonica. That truth which they believed was
communicated to them by Paul with the purpose that they might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ (v14). The last clause concerning the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ meshes well with Paul’s
prayer for them where he stated that the purpose for that prayer was for the name of our Lord Jesus
to be glorified in them (cf. 2 Thess. 1:12). Paul wrote in Romans 1:14-15 when he was discussing
salvation:

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one
of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And
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how can anyone preach unless they are sent? . . .
The involvement of all the members of the trinity in man’s salvation is decisive; the proclamation of
the gospel is essential; the belief and acceptance of the proclaimed gospel is foundational to any
audience.

In v15, Paul begins with a double coordinate conjunction; Ἄρα (ara [“consequently,” “as a result”])
οὖν (oun [“therefore,” “then”]). This is the introduction of a conclusion “from what precedes.” It
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appears Paul wanted the believers at Thessalonica to use what he has discussed in the previous two
verses as grounds for their standing firm and holding fast to the teachings which was passed on to
them whether by word of mouth or by letter. Paul requested that they should stand firm and hold
fast to the teaching passed on to them by means of any medium.

In v16, the mentioning of our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father while being connected with
“and” indicate equality in being. The thrust for this verse is that our Lord Jesus Christ and God the
Father are the source and ground for our encouragement and strengthening in our exercise of good
deeds amidst much persecution, affliction, and suffering.

To conclude, the context of this passage concerns the godly response to false teachings by the
believers at Thessalonica. They were required to stand firm and hold fast to what they received from
the apostles. That was going to be both apologetic and offensive to any false teaching especially that
one which was formulated around the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Thess. 2:2). So, they

84 Wanamaker, The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Epistles to the
Thessalonians, 265.

85 Harvey, Greek is Good Grief: Laying the Foundation for Exegesis and Exposition, 41.

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