robert j wrote: ↑Sat Jul 29, 2023 8:35 am
There is another relevant passage among the letters generally acknowledged as having been written by Paul. The tone is less angry, but in this verse it is clearly stated that the Jews are currently subject to the wrath of God ---
For if those of the Law are heirs, faith has been made void and the promise made of no effect. For Law brings wrath (ὀργὴν); and where there is no Law, neither is transgression. (Romans 4:14-15)
And in 1 Thessalonians ---
… hindering us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, so as always to fill up their sins. Now the wrath (ὀργὴ) has come upon them to the utmost. (1 Thessalonians 2:16)
A reasonable take ---
In 1 Thessalonians, according to this passage, with the Jews attempting to hinder Paul from promoting his circumcision-free Jewish-lite message among the Gentiles, the Jews have earned even more wrath --- piling it on to the utmost.
My point is that this passage in 1 Thessalonians is not a slam-dunk for interpolation.
Building on robert j's comment, I see the key as "hindering us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, so as always to fill up their sins". What are their sins? Rejecting Jesus. Thus through that failing, "wrath has come upon them to the utmost" by being cut off from salvation and having their chance passed onto the Gentiles.
This is spelt out in Romans 11 which contains all those elements:
Rom.11
[1] I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
[2] God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
[3] Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
[4] But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
[5] Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
[6] And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
[7] What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
[8] (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day.
[9] And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them:
[10] Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
[11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
[12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
[13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
[14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
[15] For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
[16] For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
[17] And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
[18] Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
[19] Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
[20] Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
[21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
[22] Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
[23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
[24] For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
[25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
[26] And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
[27] For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
God has actively "blinded them", "cast them away", "broke [their] branch" from the tree of salvation. Paul describes this as the "severity of God".
Compare the above with 1 Thes 2:
[14] For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
[15] Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
[16] Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
If the author of that passage in 1 Thes had used "severity" instead of "wrath", would anyone have any issue with that passage?
