Die paulinische Rede von den κεκοιµηµένοι – eine tote oder eine lebendige Metapher?

The participles κεκοιµηµένοι, κοιµηθέντες and κοιµωµένοι, used by Paul in 1 Thess and 1 Cor as metaphors for dead persons, are often merely taken as a euphemism, simply chosen for stylistic reasons. From the perspective of critical cognitive linguistics you can come up with a more differentiated picture if you discern within these Pauline utterances between lexicalized and innovative metaphors. By using the metaphor “to sleep” for “being dead” in 1 Thess 4,14 Paul can express his emotional sensitivity towards the Thessalonians (1 Thess 4,13), in 1 Thess 4,14–15 he can allude to the Christian belief in resurrection, and his talking of κοιµᾶσθαι ἐν Χριστῷ (1 Cor 15,18.20) might be understood as an innovative metaphor for the so called intermediate state („Zwischenzustand“).

,,… so dass ihr ein Vorbild geworden seid für alle Gläubigen in Makedonien und Achaia“: Übergemeindliche Verbindungen im 1Thessalonicherbrief : Teil I: Einführung und Vorkommen in 1Thessalonicher 1,1‐2,15

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGDieser Aufsatz untersucht die direkten und indirekten Hinweise auf übergemeindliche Verbindungen im 1Thessalonicherbrief. Nach einer knappen Einführung in die Bedeutung dieser Fragestellung für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft (Vergleichbarkeit von urchristlichen Gemeinden und antiken Vereinen, Rolle des Paulus, Einleitungsfragen) und methodischen Überlegungen (Verankerung des Paulus und seiner Mitarbeiter in Gemeinden) werden die Hinweise auf übergemeindliche Verbindungen in 1Thessalonicher 1,1‐2,15 untersucht. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt auf der Rolle, die Silvanus und Timotheus darin spielen. Sie sind in Gemeinden verankert, wirken in einer Vielzahl von Gemeinden und bilden ein wichtiges Verbindungsglied zwischen Gemeinden. Daneben thematisiert der Brief das Verhältnis der Thessalonicher zu anderen Christen. Im II. Teil dieses Aufsatzes werden die übrigen Vorkommen übergemeindlicher Verbindungen im 1Thessalonicherbrief behandelt. Nach einer Zusammenfassung werden abschließend die unterschiedlichen Implikationen für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und für die kirchliche Praxis skizziert.RÉSUMÉCet article étudie les références directes et indirectes aux liens entre communautés chrétiennes dans la première épître aux Thessaloniciens. Après une introduction sur l’importance de ce sujet pour les études néotestamentaires (la comparaison entre l’Église ancienne et les sociétés antiques, le rôle de Paul et autres questions d’introduction) et des réflexions méthodologiques (l’ancrage de Paul et de ses compagnons dans les Églises locales), les références à des liens potentiels entre communautés chrétiennes en 1 Thessaloniciens 1.1‐2.15 sont étudiées. L’auteur accorde une attention particulière au rôle joué par Silas et Timothée à cet égard. Ils oeuvrent dans le cadre d’Églises locales, prennent une part active à la vie d’une multitude d’Églises et constituent ainsi un lien important entre elles. En outre, la lettre aborde comme l’un de ses thèmes centraux celui des relations des chrétiens de Thessalonique avec d’autres chrétiens. La seconde partie de cet article traitera des relations avec des mouvements para-ecclésiastiques à partir de la même épître. Elle énoncera diverses implications de cette étude pour les études néotestamentaires et pour la pratique des Églises.SUMMARYThis essay investigates the direct and indirect references to connections between local churches in 1 Thessalonians. After a concise introduction into the relevance of this issue for New Testament studies (comparison between the early church and societies in antiquity, the role of Paul, matters of introduction) and methodological reflections (rootedness of Paul and his fellow workers in local churches), the references in 1 Thessalonians 1:1 ‐ 2:15 to potential connections between churches are analysed. Special attention is given to the roles of Silas and Timothy in this respect. They are rooted in local churches, they play an active part in many of them and they represent important links between them. Besides, a central theme in the Letter is the relationship of the Thessalonians to other Christians. Part II of this essay will deal with the remaining occurrences of relationships between churches in 1 Thessalonians. After the summary, various implications for New Testament studies and Church praxis will be sketched.

Paul and Sexuality

This chapter considers the topic, only raised in relatively recent intellectual history, of the apostle Paul and sexuality. First, it considers a number of common claims about Paul and sexuality for which there is in fact no historical evidence: that Paul held a ‘healthy’ modern view of sex, that Paul had a psycho-sexual dysfunction, that Paul had an early sexual trauma, that Paul was gay, and more. From there, the chapter builds a constructive case for what we can say about Paul and sexuality, beginning by identifying the relevant historical sources, then considering Paul’s identity as an apocalyptic Jew in the diaspora, then looking at key evidence from 1 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians, and Romans, in turn, then considering the crucial question of the meaning of Greek porneia, and finally touching on developments in the Pauline tradition after the death of the apostle. It is argued that early Christian interpreters managed to find both a pro-household and an anti-household Paul in their readings of Paul’s letters.

Learning of the Second Coming of Christ in 1 Epistle of the St. Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 5, 1-11): An Experience of Theologicaland Exegetical Commentary

В статье рассматривается отрывок из первого послания апостола Павла к Фессалоникийцам (1 Фес. 5, 1-11), темой которого является учение о последних временах, о Втором пришествии Христа и о времени его наступления. Эсхатологическое учение является основным в богословии этого послания. Данное учение следует рассматривать в контексте нравственных наставлений апостола Павла верующим фессалоникийцам, в которых образ «сынов света» является основным для обозначения христиан. The article examines a fragment from the First Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 5, 1-11), the theme of which is the doctrine of the last times, the Second Coming of Christ and the time of His coming. The eschatological teaching is fundamental in the theology of this Epistle. This teaching should be considered in the context of the moral instructions of the Apostle Paul to the faithful Thessalonians, in which the image of the «sons of the light» is the main one for designating Christians.

Bukti Penghakiman Allah Yang Adil di dalam 2 Tesalonika 1:3-10 Menurut Pendekatan Analisis Wacana

Penghakiman Allah yang adil merupakan tema yang penting di dalam 2 Tesalonika. Tema ini memiliki keterkaitan dengan keadaan jemaat Tesalonika yang saat itu sedang terus-menerus mengalami penganiayaan. Makalah ini akan memaparkan bagaimana Paulus mengembangkan tema penghakiman Allah yang adil di 2 Tesalonika 1:3-10 menurut pendekatan Analisis Wacana. Makalah ini juga akan memaparkan bahwa Allah adalah adil dan Allah akan menghakimi setiap orang dengan memberi pembalasan kepada para penindas dan upah kepada setiap orang yang tetap setia kepada Kristus. Untuk itu orang percaya saat ini memiliki penghiburan dan kekuatan ketika mengalami penganiayaan karena iman kepada Yesus Kristus. The theme of the righteous judgment of God is an important theme in 2 Thessalonians 1. This theme has a connection with the situation of the Thessalonians who were currently undergoing persecution. This paper will explain how Paul developed the theme of God's righteous judgment in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 by using the discourse analysis approach. This paper will explain that a righteous God will judge everyone by punishing the oppressors and rewarding the believers. Discourse analysis is used in this paper because it is an approach that can provide a stronger foundation when analyzing a text and provides objective criteria when investigating the problem of a text. The purpose of this paper is to encourage believers to have comfort and strength when experiencing persecution because a righteous God will judge every human being.

New Testament

This chapter maintains that two ideologies concerning marriage and sex pervade the New Testament writings. One ideology codifies a narrative that argues against marriage, and perhaps, sexual intercourse, and the other retains the basic cultural values of the upper classes of the Greco-Roman world. These two ideologies are termed “profamily” and “antifamily.” The chapter proceeds in a chronological fashion starting with 1 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians, and Mark. It concludes by examining Matthew, Luke, the Pastoral Epistles, and the Acts of Paul and Thecla.