AN ATHEISTIC SCEPTICAL BIBLE READING OF THE
TWO LETTERS TO THE THESSALONIANS
Two short New Testament letters from Paul to
the Thessalonians.
THE FIRST LETTER
The earliest existing Christian document, believed to predate the Gospels themselves.
Paul greets the Greek Thessalonians church community and advises them to rejoice in their faith and wait for the impending Second Coming (which obviously failed to occur in their lifetimes). Paul takes credit and some (sinful?) pride in being responsible for their conversion to Christ worship. He thanks them for accepting Jesus through his preaching. He assures them that his mission was sincere several times (implying that some of the Thessalonians may have doubts about this),
Paul slags off the Jews and persecutors of the early Thessalonians Christians.
Despite persecution, and a ban on Christian preachers attempting to convert Gentiles, Paul and Timothy (Timotheus) have helped the fledgling church take root.
A set of rudimentary commandments follows, such as avoiding fornication and not showing hatred to others, (despite John’s earlier display of rabid hatred for the Jews). Being good, getting on with life and work, and looking forward to the Rapture, which will come at any moment (er, no).
Staying alert, patient, trying to convert others, listening to and respecting the prophecies, etc.
THE 2nd LETTER
Very similar to the first letter, though clearly of different authorship when not plagiarising its predecessor. It seems odd for even Paul to send the same message to the same community in the same way twice.
There is a darker tone this time round. The emphasise moves to the smiting of the ungodly where the preceding letter was more concerned with keeping the faithful safely distant from the unconverted.
The Christian community are now encouraged to cast out the workshy and lazy, as well as anyone not observing the services properly. The impending Second Coming seems to have been an incentive to many to give up working, which the letter clearly takes umbrage with.
Sadly, said Second Coming still hasn’t come two millennia later. Back to work folks. Then again, maybe I should try to get out of work on the excise of awaiting the Apocalypse. Maybe not.
© Copyright. Arthur Chappell
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