1 and 2 Thessalonians Through the Centuries

I can think of no person better qualified to write a reception-history commentary than Anthony Thiselton, because he knows what reception history means and how it plays out in interpretation. This commentary is a treasure trove of exegetical and theological insights gleaned from the vast and interesting array of those who not only have interpreted these important letters to the Thessalonians but have responded in prose and poetry to their major themes and ideas. Stanley E. Porter, McMaster Divinity College With an uncanny grasp of the 'afterlife' of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Anthony Thiselton demonstrates why it is crucial that we understand that we aren't the first people to encounter these Pauline letters. Not surprisingly, with this foray into the emerging area of reception history, Anthony Thiselton has set a high bar for those who will follow. Joel B. Green, Fuller Theological Seminary It will be a key resource for all who would endeavor to understand how Paul has been read and should be read. Lucid in style, this volume is not only immensely scholarly, it is also an accessible and extremely enjoyable read! Professor Alan J. Torrance, University of St Andrews Thiselton's reception-history commentary on the first two of Paul's epistles investigates the evolution of religious beliefs and practices resulting from the letters, and their impact on social and political developments across the centuries. It also demonstrates how these events and changing customs in turn influenced the interpretation of the letters. Thiselton's analysis provides a broad range of original perspectives, offering the reader a depth and appreciation of these two important letters. In discussing the content, setting, and authenticity of the two Thessalonian letters, Thiselton examines the responses from leading scholars, poets, hymn writers, preachers, theologians, and biblical scholars throughout the ages. He also investigates the issues of feminist biblical interpretation raised by the letters, including Paul's allegedly manipulative strategy in laying claim to authoritative fatherhood. With the inclusion of a history of two-way influences, as exemplified by Ulrich Luz, Hans Robert Jauss, and Hans-Georg Gadamer, 1 & 2 Thessalonians Through the Centuries is a unique resource. Written by a leading New Testament specialist, the result is a text that offers genuinely new and illuminating insights into the evolution of the reception of these two early epistles. 1 & 2 Thessalonians Through the Centuries is published within the Wiley Blackwell Bible Commentaries series. Further information about this innovative reception history series is available at www.bbibcomm.info.