1 and 2 Thessalonians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780802828361)

Paul's two letters to the Thessalonians stand as some of the very earliest Christian documents, yet they appear well into Paul's missionary career, giving them a unique context well worth exploring. In this first full-scale socio-rhetorical commentary on 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Ben Witherington gleans fresh insight from reading Paul's text in the light of rhetorical concerns and patterns, early Jewish theology, and the first-century historical situation in Macedonia.

Witherington's distinctive socio-rhetorical approach helps unearth insights that would otherwise remain hidden using only form criticism, epistolary categories, and traditional criticism. Witherington details Thessalonica's place as the "metropolis" of Macedonia, and he carefully unpacks the social situation of Paul and his recipients. Scholars will appreciate the careful analysis and rhetorical insights contained here, while Witherington's clear prose and sensitivity to Paul's ideas make this work ideal for all who desire a useful, readable commentary on 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

Author: Ben Witherington
ISBN-10: 0802828361
ISBN-13: 9780802828361
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Language: English
Published: 11/01/2006
Pages: 318
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.34w x 0.81d