![]()
Outline of 1 and 2 Thessalonians
Outline of 1 Thessalonians
I. Prescript (1:1)
II. Remembrance and Encouragement with Respect to the Past (1:2–3:13)
A. Opening Thanksgiving (1:2–10) [focus on the Thessalonians]
1. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (1:2–3)
2. The Thessalonians and the Gospel (1:4–10)
B. Apostolic Attitudes Toward the Thessalonians While Present (2:1–12) [focus on the missionaries]
1. Apostolic Responsibility to God (2:1–4)
2. Apostolic Ministry, Care, and Nurture (2:5–12)
C. Second Thanksgiving (2:13–16) [focus on the Thessalonians]
1. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (2:13)
2. The Thessalonians and Persecution (2:14–16)
D. Apostolic Attitudes Toward the Thessalonians While Absent (2:17–3:8) [focus on the missionaries]
1. Apostolic Concern (2:17–20)
2. Apostolic Action (3:1–5)
3. Apostolic Relief and Joy (3:6–8)
E. Third Thanksgiving (3:9–13) [focus on the Thessalonians]
1. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (3:9)
2. Prayer for the Thessalonians (3:10–13)
III. Exhortation and Encouragement with Respect to the Future (4:1–5:22)
A. General Introduction (4:1–2)
B. Holiness and Sexual Ethics (4:3–8)
C. Mutual Love (philadelphia) (4:9–12)
D. Questions Concerning the Parousia of Jesus (4:13–5:11)
1. Questions About the Fate of Deceased Believers (4:13–18)
2. Questions About “Times and Dates” (5:1–11)
E. Congregational Conduct (5:12–22)
1. Congregational Responsibilities Toward Leaders (5:12–13)
2. Congregational Responsibilities Toward Individuals (5:14–15)
3. Congregational Responsibilities Toward God (5:16–18)
4. Congregational Responsibilities Toward the Holy Spirit (5:19–22)
IV. Letter Closing (5:23–28)
A. Closing Prayer (5:23–24)
B. Closing Requests and Benediction (5:25–28)
Outline of 2 Thessalonians
I. Prescript (1:1–2)
II. Thanksgiving and Encouragement in the Face of Persecution (1:3–12)
A. Thanksgiving Proper (1:3–4)
B. Instruction and Encouragement (1:5–10)
C. Prayer Report (1:11–12)
III. The Parousia of Jesus and the Man of Lawlessness (2:1–12)
A. Introduction to Topic and to Paul’s Concern (2:1–2)
B. Instruction and Encouragement (2:3–12)
IV. Transition (2:13–3:5)
A. Thanksgiving (2:13–14)
B. Exhortation (2:15)
C. Prayer (2:16–17)
D. Request for Prayer (3:1–2)
E. Expressions of Confidence (3:3–4)
F. Further Prayer (3:5)
V. The Problem of the Disorderly (3:6–15)
A. The Apostolic Command and Example (3:6–10)
B. Orders for the Disorderly (3:11–12)
C. Instructions for the Congregation (3:13–15)
VI. Letter Closing (3:16–18)
A. Benediction (3:16)
B. Personal Greeting (3:17)
C. Second Benediction (3:18)
![]()
Annotated Bibliography
Recent Major Commentaries
Best, Ernest. A Commentary on the First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians. HNTC. New York: Harper & Row, 1972; reprint, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1987. An outstanding and thorough treatment that on nearly every issue presents and thoughtfully considers all the interpretive options.
Bruce, F. F. 1 & 2 Thessalonians. WBC 45. Waco, Tex.: Word, 1982. An excellent, medium-length comprehensive treatment of the Greek text that reflects Bruce’s penetrating scholarship, wide knowledge of Paul’s other letters, and characteristic thoroughness and attention to detail. Includes a useful excursus on the Antichrist figure.
Elias, Jacob W. 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Believers Church Bible Commentary. Scottdale, Pa., and Waterloo, Ont.: Herald, 1995. A solid, responsible contribution from a Mennonite perspective, which is deeply concerned about the significance of the text for the church today.
Holtz, Traugott. Der erste Brief an die Thessalonicher. EKKNT 13. Zürich: Benziger, 1986. This recent German commentary is part of the influential Evangelisch-katholischer commentary series.
Marshall, I. Howard. 1 and 2 Thessalonians. NCB. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, and London: Marshall Morgan & Scott, 1983. A solid and reliable medium-length commentary that gives an especially detailed treatment of introductory and critical issues, including extensive attention to (and critique of) the influential work of W. Trilling.
Morris, Leon. The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians. Rev. ed. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991. A cautious and traditional commentary of moderate length by a careful expositor.
Richard, Earl J. First and Second Thessalonians. Sacra Pagina 11. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1995. A full-length comprehensive critical commentary that takes a fresh and often independent line. Based on the Greek text, but with all Greek transliterated; strong on lexical and grammatical issues.
Rigaux, Béda. Saint Paul: Les Épîtres aux Thessaloniciens. Études biblique. Paris: Gabalda, 1956. Still one of the best treatments of the letters.
Trilling, Wolfgang. Der zweite Brief an die Thessalonicher. EKKNT 14. Zürich: Benziger, and Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag, 1980. A solid commentary based on Trilling’s arguments against the authenticity of 2 Thessalonians (W. Trilling, Untersuchungen zum zweiten Thessalonicherbrief [Leipzig, 1972]; see the Introduction, fn. 10).
Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, and Exeter: Paternoster, 1990. An outstanding full-length commentary on the Greek text that gives particular (and fruitful) attention to the rhetorical aspects of the letters. Written in a South African context, it displays sensitivity to the context of the Thessalonian congregation as a persecuted minority movement and to the challenges Paul faced as he sought to “resocialize” his converts to a genuinely Christian worldview.
Older Major Commentaries
Frame, James Everett. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles of St. Paul to the Thessalonians. ICC. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1912. A full-scale treatment of the Greek text, still useful for its close attention to lexical and especially grammat...
