| Discerning the Word of the Lord: The Word of the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Contributor(s): Pahl, Michael W. (Author), Keith, Chris (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0567690180 ISBN-13: 9780567690180 Publisher: T&T Clark OUR PRICE: $46.48 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: August 2019 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Biblical Studies - New Testament - Paul's Letters |
| Dewey: 227.810 |
| Series: Library of New Testament Studies |
| Physical Information: 0.46" H x 6.14" W x 9.21" (0.68 lbs) 216 pages |
| Themes: - Religious Orientation - Christian |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: In 1 Thessalonians 4:15, the Apostle Paul appeals to a word of the Lord to provide authority for his eschatological encouragement. This appeal has left a perplexing problem related to the nature and function of the specific authority to which the phrase refers. Two theories have predominated in the history of interpretation: either 1) it refers to a directly received prophetic revelation, whether to Paul or to another Christian prophet; or 2) it refers to a teaching of Jesus received as tradition, whether preserved in the Gospel tradition or otherwise unknown.This book investigates this problem from three angles: epistemological analysis, examining Paul's authorities for his knowledge, particularly in his eschatology; linguistic analysis, including both grammatical and lexical study of the phrase; and contextual analysis, setting the statement within its historical and literary contexts. These approaches converge to suggest a fresh solution to the problem: while Paul does appear to employ traditional Christian eschatological teaching in his response to the Thessalonian crisis (4:16-17a), the phrase does not refer to this tradition, but rather refers to the proclaimed gospel message about Jesus centred on his death and resurrection which forms the theological foundation of Paul's response (cf. 4:14). |
Contributor Bio(s): Pahl, Michael W.: - Michael W. Pahl took his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Birmingham, U.K., and has taught New Testament studies in Canada and the U.K. Keith, Chris: - Chris Keith is Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity and Director of the Centre for the Social-Scientific Study of the Bible at St. Mary's University College, Twickenham, UK. He is the author of The Pericope Adulterae, the Gospel of John and the Literacy of Jesus, a winner of the 2010 John Templeton Award for Theological Promise, and Jesus' Literacy: Scribal Culture and the Teacher from Galilee. He is also the co-editor of Jesus among Friends and Enemies: A Historical and Literary Introduction to Jesus in the Gospels, and was recently named a 2012 Society of Biblical Literature Regional Scholar. |
