Ben C. Smith wrote: ↑Sat Jan 20, 2018 6:49 pm
The prediction in 1 Thessalonians, however, is mitigated by what I take to be an interpolation in 5.1-11. The relevant portion is:
1 Thessalonians 5.1-2: 1 Now as to the times and the seasons [τῶν χρόνων καὶ τῶν καιρῶν], brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
I don’t think 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 is an interpolation because it fits so well in the wider context of the letter.
In this situation, as is often the case, I think reducing Paul’s theological machinations to a secondary position in favor of a human and cultural framework can provide a fruitful approach.
As I have argued before, each of Paul’s congregations had their own “personality”.
The Philippians liked Paul and he liked them. They faced some persecution (Philippians 1:28), but it was apparently not particularly severe. They were adequately prosperous to provide Paul with support (Philippians 4:10-19), even when he was in Thessalonica (Philippians 4:16), Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:9), and likely in Ephesus as well. Their economic position would likely provide them with a relatively secure social status.
The Corinthians, though not prone to compensate Paul, were sophisticated and prosperous. They likely enjoyed a fair amount of social status and there is no hint they suffered any significant persecution.
The Thessalonians, in contrast, experienced significant persecution (1 Thessalonians 1:6 and 3:3). Paul apparently spent a significant amount of time evangelizing among them, but had to find work (1 Thessalonians 2:9) and to rely on the Philippians for support (Philippians 4:16). Paul had to encourage them to work (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 and 5:14) and his tone in the letter sounds to me as how one might talk to children.
I think the letter reveals that the Thessalonians were poorly educated, and were disadvantaged with a relatively low position of economic and social status. As in most societies, from a country to a middle-school, those of lower social status are always more vulnerable to being picked-on.
The Thessalonians glommed-on to Paul’s teaching that the Lord was coming soon to rescue them from their lowly and difficult lives. They took it quite seriously and some apparently stopped working or slacked-off. They were ready to be rescued by the heavenly Lord and they wanted it now.
Applying a cynical interpretation (justifiably I think), Paul took advantage of their vulnerabilities. He stoked their vulnerabilities with his most fantastical version of the parousia --- with the Lord arriving on a cloud with the trumpet of God and the voice of an archangel to sweep them all away into the heavens (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
But Paul, in the form of a reminder, needed to temper their expectations of an immediate rescue, or even one very soon --- starting with the verse in question here as a fitting transition and introduction, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2, for the entire pericope continuing through 5:10.
Paul encouraged them to work hard (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 and 5:14) ---- getting to the crux here ---
so they could pay him (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
nota Ben --- I haven’t forgot about your comments on the period of time that Jesus suffered and died as found in Paul’s letters --- I intend to get back to that issue when I can.