Conflict at Thessalonica a Pauline Churc: A Pauline Church and Its Neighbours

This book addresses an important issue in Thessalonian research that has hitherto received inadequate scholarly attention: the conflict relations between Christians and non-Christians in Thessalonica. By engaging in careful exegesis of pertinent texts and by drawing upon ancient literary parallels and the social-scientific study of deviance and conflict, Still is able to spell out in some detail the specifics and the dynamics of Paul's and his Thessalonian converts'clash with outsiders. In this study, he shows that the conflict (thlipsis) in Thessalonica was rather complex-having varied origins, multiple causes, and mixed effects. As a result, this work not only provides a nuanced analysis of the conflict in Thessalonica, but also demonstrates that the Thessalonian correspondence can be best read when insider and outsider interaction is kept clearly in view. Part I: A Treatment Of Disputed Texts -- Chapter 1. I Thessalonians 2.13-16: A Deutero-pauline Interpolation? -- Chapter 2. Is 2 Thessalonians Authentically Pauline? -- Chapter 3. Acts' Account Of The Conflict At Thessalonica -- Part Ii: The Social-scientific Study Of Deviance And Conflict -- Chapter 4. The Sociological Study Of Deviance -- Chapter 5. The Social-scientific Study Of Intergroup Conflict -- Part Iii: The Apostle's -- Chapter 6. Non-christian Opposition To Paul And His Thessalonian Mission -- Chapter 7. Why Did Some Jews Oppose Paul? -- Chapter 8. Apocalyptic And Polemic: Paul's Response To Non-christian Opposition In 1 (and 2) Thessalonians -- Part Iv: The Thessalonians' -- Chapter 9. The Nature And Source Of The Thessalonian Christians' Conflict -- Chapter 10. What Prompted The Thessalonian Christians' Compatriots To Oppose Them? -- Chapter 11. The Impact Of Intergroup Conflict On The Thessalonian Congregation. Todd D. Still. Revision Of The Author's Thesis (ph. D.)--university Of Glasgow, 1996. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [291]-317) And Index.