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WORD BIBLICAL COMMENTARY

1 & 2 Thessalonians

Second Edition

SEYOON KIM AND F. F. BRUCE

Old Testament Editor: Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford

New Testament Editor: David B. Capes

ZONDERVAN ACADEMIC

1 & 2 Thessalonians, Volume 45

Copyright © 2023 by Seyoon Kim and F. F. Bruce

First edition by F. F. Bruce, copyright © 1982 by Word, Incorporated.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Kim, Seyoon, author. | Bruce, F. F. (Frederick Fyvie), 1910-1990, author.

Title: 1 & 2 Thessalonians / Seyoon Kim, F. F. Bruce.

Other titles: Word biblical commentary

Description: Second edition. | Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 2023. | Series: Word biblical commentary | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2023003934 (print) | LCCN 2023003935 (ebook) | ISBN 9780785250210 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780310139874 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Bible. Thessalonians--Commentaries.

Classification: LCC BS2725.53 .K54 2023 (print) | LCC BS2725.53 (ebook) | DDC 227/.8107--dc23/eng/20230516

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023003934

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023003935

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture translations are those of the author.

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Editorial Board

Old Testament Editor: Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford (2011–)

New Testament Editor: David B. Capes (2020–)

Past Editors

General Editors

Ralph P. Martin (2012–2013)

Bruce M. Metzger (1997–2007)

David A. Hubbard (1977–1996)

Glenn W. Barker (1977–1984)

Old Testament Editors

John D. W. Watts (1977–2011)

James W. Watts (1997–2011)

New Testament Editors

Peter H. Davids (2013–2020)

Ralph P. Martin (1977–2012)

Lynn Allan Losie (1997–2013)

In grateful memory of Professor F. F. Bruce

Contents

Editorial Preface

Author’s Preface

Abbreviations

Commentaries on 1 & 2 Thessalonians

General Bibliography

Introduction

I. Background to the Thessalonian Letters

Bibliography

1. Macedonia and Thessalonica

A. Macedonia, a Roman Province

B. Thessalonica, a Roman Free City

C. Pagan Cults and Imperial Cult

2. The Gospel Comes to Macedonia

3. Christianity at Thessalonica

A. Paul Began His Preaching at a Jewish Synagogue

B. Paul’s Preaching Activities outside ...