A Discourse Analysis of First and Second Thessalonians

Abbreviations

1 Introduction

1 Framing the Debate

2 Reframing the Authorship Debate through a Linguistic Lens

3 Establishing the Argument

4 Outlining the Study

2 Major Arguments in the Authorship Debate of Second Thessalonians in Its Relationship with First Thessalonians

1 Preliminary Considerations

2 The Difference in Eschatology between First and Second Thessalonians

3 The Difference in Tone between First and Second Thessalonians

4 The Literary Similarity between First and Second Thessalonians

5 The Emphatic Authenticating Comment of 2?Thess 3:17

6 Concluding Remarks

3 A Theory of Register within Systemic Functional Linguistics for Discourse Analysis of First and Second Thessalonians

1 Preliminary Considerations

2 Defining Register in Systemic Functional Linguistics

3 Analyzing Registers of First and Second Thessalonians

4 Concluding Remarks

4 Analysis of First Thessalonians

1 Preliminary Considerations

2 Paul's Commitment to Maintaining and Strengthening Relational Ties with the Thessalonian Believers (1?Thess 1:1-10)

3 Paul's Reminder of His Ministry among the Thessalonians (1?Thess 2:1-13)

4 Paul's Account of His Ongoing Pastoral Ministry in His Absence from the Thessalonians (1?Thess 2:14-3:8)

5 Paul's Intercessory Prayer for the Thessalonians (1?Thess 3:9-13)

6 Paul's Exhortations on Holiness to the Thessalonians (1?Thess 4:1-8)

7 Paul's Exhortations on Brotherly Love to the Thessalonians (1?Thess 4:9-12)

8 Paul's Exhortations on Those Who Sleep in Death to the Thessalonians (1?Thess 4:13-18)

9 Paul's Exhortations on the Day of the Lord to the Thessalonians (1?Thess 5:1-22)

10 Paul's Intercessory Prayer for the Thessalonians (1?Thess 5:23-24)

11 Paul's Closing Remarks and Farewell Greetings (1?Thess 5:25-28)

12 Metafunctional and Situational Features in the Language of First Thessalonians

5 Analysis of Second Thessalonians

1 Paul's Commitment to Maintaining and Strengthening Relational Ties with the Thessalonian Believers (2?Thess 1:1-12)

2 Paul's Instructions on the Day of The Lord to the Thessalonians (2?Thess 2:1-15)

3 Paul's Intercessory Prayer for the Thessalonians and Prayer Requests (2?Thess 2:16-3:5)

4 Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonians Concerning Brothers Who Are Idle (2?Thess 3:6-15)

5 Paul's Intercessory Prayer for the Thessalonians (2?Thess 3:16)

6 Paul's Closing Remarks and Farewell Greetings (2?Thess 3:17-18)

7 Metafunctional and Situational Features in the Language of Second Thessalonians

6 Conclusion

1 A Linguistic Perspective on the Authorship Debate

2 Metafunctional Patterns of Meaning Construction in First and Second Thessalonians

3 Register of First and Second Thessalonians

4 Evaluating the Arguments in the Authorship Debate

5 Rethinking Authorship Criteria

Bibliography

Index of Modern Authors

Index of Ancient Sources