A Text-centred rhetorical analysis of 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

Abstract

This article analyses 1 Thessalonians 2:13–16 from a rhetorical perspective. Unlike previous attempts by scholars to analyse the letter in terms of ancient rhetorical theory, this article illustrates how the rhetorical strategy can be reconstructed from the text itself; therefore, it is identified as a text-centred rhetorical analysis, which follows a minimum theoretical approach. In practical terms, the overall rhetorical strategy needs to be identified and followed by an outline of dominant and supportive arguments, which includes an overview of the rhetorical techniques employed. This article illustrates how Paul utilised a second thanksgiving for the believers' actions to benefit his cause and to vilify his opponents. The integrity of Paul’s gospel is confirmed by including the believers’ collective experience of suffering in the history of persecution and by pointing to the immanent judgement that awaits their opponents.