This book proposes a theological reading of 1 Thessalonians, making an important response to the increasing demand to relate biblical scholarship more closely to theological concerns. Paddison's interpretation adheres very closely to the text and is divided into three parts. Part I offers a theological critique of dominant historical-critical readings of 1 Thessalonians. Part II examines the history of interpretation of 1 Thessalonians focusing on the pre-Modern exegesis of Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin. Paddison explores what theological exegetes can learn from Thomas Aquinas' Lectura and John Calvin's commentary on 1 Thessalonians. Aided by the insights of these neglected pre-Modern commentators, Part III presents a theologically driven interpretation of the letter. Theological exegesis is practised as a dialogue with Paul, the canon and a plethora of theological voices to elucidate Paddison's central argument, that the astonishing subject-matter of 1 Thessalonians is God's all-powerful hold over death.
Author(s): Angus Paddison
Series: Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 246
Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Series-title......Page 6
Title......Page 7
Copyright......Page 8
Dedication......Page 9
Contents......Page 11
Foreword......Page 13
Preface......Page 15
Abbreviations and notes about citation......Page 16
1 Recent scholarship on 1 Thessalonians......Page 19
2 Theological interpretation of Scripture and interest in Wirkungsgeschichte......Page 25
3 The contribution of this study......Page 27
Part I: The critical task......Page 33
Introduction......Page 35
1.1 Historicism......Page 36
1.2 Revelation......Page 38
1.3 Conversation......Page 43
2 Case-study and critique of the work of two historical critics......Page 46
3.1 Meaning and truth......Page 55
3.2 Historicism freezes the eschatological language of Scripture into a reflective relationship between text and original context......Page 68
3.3 Historicism blinds historical critics to the text's apostolic witness......Page 78
4 Conclusion......Page 82
Part II: An exploration of some pre-modern readings of 1 Thessalonians......Page 85
Introduction......Page 87
(a) Thomas and the canon......Page 91
(b) Thomas and the Fathers......Page 97
1.2 Thomas, Aristotle and the text of 1 Thessalonians......Page 98
2 Thomas' theological exegesis of 1 Thess. 4:13–18......Page 102
3 Conclusions......Page 114
Introduction......Page 118
1.1 Attention to the text......Page 119
1.2 Attention to the canon......Page 127
1.3 Calvin's use of the Fathers......Page 130
2 Eschatology and Calvin's reading of 1 Thessalonians......Page 133
2.1 Faith as eschatological......Page 134
2.2 The dualism between this world and the next......Page 136
2.3 The obscurity of the future......Page 137
2.4 The immortality of the soul......Page 138
2.5 Calvin's opposition to Chiliasm......Page 141
2.6 The universal transformation......Page 142
3 Conclusions......Page 145
Excursus 2 – Augustine on the tension between 1 Thess. 4:16–17 and 1 Corinthians 15......Page 147
Attention to the text......Page 149
Theological contribution......Page 151
Part III: A proposed reading of 1 Thessalonians......Page 155
Introduction......Page 157
1 Eschatology and hermeneutics......Page 161
2.1 The integrity of Paul's contribution......Page 166
2.2 The saving work of God in Christ......Page 168
3 God's grace in dying 'for us'......Page 170
3.1 The radically complete grace of God......Page 172
3.2 The radical love of God......Page 175
3.3 The radical exchange of God......Page 178
4.1 Theological prolegomena......Page 184
4.2 Transfiguration and transformation in 1 Thessalonians......Page 188
4.3 Light and prayer in 1 Thessalonians......Page 191
4.4 The 'dead in Christ'......Page 195
4.5 The 'sleeping' Christians......Page 199
4.6 The consummation of the world in God's grace......Page 200
Excursus 3 – a note on 1 Thess. 5:1–11......Page 204
1 The hermeneutical journey travelled......Page 205
2 The integrity of our hermeneutical conversation......Page 209
3 Some departing images in relation to theological exegesis......Page 211
2 Patristics......Page 215
(i) Primary sources......Page 216
(i) Translation......Page 217
8 Secondary literature......Page 218
Index of Biblical References......Page 241
Index of Authors......Page 244
Index of Subjects......Page 247
