1 Thessalonians: Motivation through Positive Feedback

I have found learning about ancient rhetoric tremendously helpful in understanding several New Testament books. Here, I will use this lens to look at 1 Thessalonians. Ben Witherington’s socio-rhetorical commentary on this letter has been sitting in my Logos library for far too long, and I finally got around to reading it.

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To be honest, I was not sure if it would bring much – in all likelihood, a clear indication that I was underestimating both 1 Thessalonians and the explanatory power of ancient rhetoric in NT studies. Without it, we can easily misunderstand what we are reading. As Witherington reminds us,

failure to recognize the species of rhetoric Paul is using and such crucial matters as where the thesis statement or final summary of the speech is leads to all sorts of misinterpretations of these documents. In short, rhetorical criticism of Paul’s letters is essential, not optional, for understanding them … Paul has structured his discourses according to the rhetorical conventions of his day … (Witherington 2006: xiv)

Which means…

Quick Review of Ancient Rhetoric

… Paul had essentially three forms or strategies to choose from (see Socio-Rhetorical Criticism, CALS 12, for more):

Forensic rhetoric focused on the past. Its aim was to come to a verdict. Its main use was therefore in the court room. Paul uses it in 2 Corinthians.
Deliberative rhetoric focused on the future. Its purpose was to argue for a particular decision or course of action. This matches the form of Romans and 1 Corinthians.
Epideictic rhetoric seeks to affirm and strengthen convictions already held by means of praise or blame. It is often used in speeches that aim to inspire or reinforce shared values, such as good deeds or moral behavior. NT examples include Ephesians and Hebrews – and 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians as Epideictic Rhetoric

With this understanding of epideictic rhetoric in mind, we can see how Paul uses this form of rhetoric throughout 1 Thessalonians to praise and encourage the Thessalonian church. As Witherington puts it:

This letter [1 Thessalonians] reflects no evidence of “opponents” in the traditional Pauline sense, nor of a divided congregation, nor of any attempt to get the audience to change policy or orientation (which requires deliberative rhetoric). This is a progress-oriented letter of encouragement, not a problem-solving letter, unlike 1 Corinthians or 2 Thessalonians. (Ibid.: 21f)

Because Paul uses this kind of rhetoric, 1 Thessalonians is all about remembering, understanding, reminding, celebrating, praising, and affirming. Its tone is warm and emotional, and it uses effusive, exuberant language. As in: “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thess. 2:19f).

Epideictic also includes a fair bit of hyperbole (did the report of their faith really reach “everywhere”, as 1 Thessalonians 1:8 states?).

There is exhortation, but much of it is implicit and indirect. Instead of reprimanding or explicitly instructing the Thessalonians to change their behaviour, Paul uses praise and positive feedback to reinforce the positive actions they are already taking, encouraging them to continue in their steadfastness and hope. In essence: This is what you are doing (by implication: keep doing it!).

When the exhortation does become explicit, beginning in 1 Thessalonians 4:1, the appeal is, “do so more and more” (repeated in 1 Thess. 4:10). Or the appeal is followed by “as indeed you are doing” (1 Thess. 5:11). Again, it is not arguing for a change of direction.

A Rhetoric Outline of 1 Thessalonians

A simplified outline of the rhetorical structure in 1 Thessalonians would look as follows (see Witherington 2006: 28 for a more detailed structure):

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Letterhead

1 Thessalonians 1:2f Exordium (introduction of speaker & topics)

1 Thessalonians 1:4-3:13 Narratio (the facts; the story so far)

1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:15 Exhortatio

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 Peroratio (final appeal)

1 Thessalonians 5:23f Concluding prayer

1 Thessalonians 5:25-28 Letter ending

This outline documents the classical rhetorical structure that Paul employs. He starts with a warm introduction (exordium). This is followed by a recounting of facts (narratio), before moving into exhortations and final appeals (exhortatio and peroratio). Each section serves to deepen the reader’s understanding of and commitment to the virtues of faith, hope, and love.

A few comments. As usual in Paul, the exordium or introduction indicates some of the topics or emphases to be included in the letter. This preview, a brief prayer, also fits with the type of rhetoric he will use. He is “remembering” relevant virtues (faith, love, hope; 1 Thess. 1:3; cf. 1 Cor. 13:13, part of a celebration of love that is also epideictic rhetoric). He remembers:

Their work of faith
Their labor of love
Their steadfastness of hope

These virtues and the way they are manifested will keep reappearing in the letter. They are what Paul wants them to continue doing. Indeed, Paul and his team have exemplified the exact same virtues and behaviour, as he makes clear in recounting the story of their relationship in the narratio (1 Thess. 1:4ff).

The narratio finishes with a second prayer (1 Thess. 3:11-13) and then proceeds with direct exhortation. This parallels Ephesians, where the narratio also ends with a prayer (Eph. 3:14-21) and gives way to explicit exhortation in Ephesians 4ff.

Much like the exordium, the second prayer provides a preview of what is coming. It mentions love, one of the three virtues in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 and a central concern in 1 Thessalonians 4. It speaks of blamelessness and holiness, important throughout (but especially in 1 Thess. 4). And it refers to the coming of the Lord, which is our hope and the subject of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11.

The exhortatio that follows does not discontinue the warm tone of encouragement and affirmation. This is not a word of correction, much less rebuke (quite different from what we have in 1 and 2 Corinthians). The topics covered are:

Sanctification (especially in sexual matters, something that overlaps with the next point; 1 Thess. 4:1-8)
Love (1 Thess. 4:9-12)
The dead (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
Day of the Lord (1 Thess. 5:1-11; both are issues of eschatology and therefore of hope)
Church workers, their ministry, and church life (1 Thess. 5:12-15)

The peroratio, that final appeal full of pathos and emotion, is short but to the point: this is what they need to do to maintain their “steadfastness of hope” (1 Thess. 1:3): reaching out to God in rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving, and receiving what he speaks back to them, albeit with appropriate criticism (1 Thess. 5:16-22).

Let’s Be Thessalonians!

Helpful indeed to more fully grasp the message of this book, which encourages us, too, in our “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope” (1 Thess. 1:3) – let’s do so more and more.

Plus, in the process, Paul’s rhetoric gives us the guidebook on How to Encourage and Exhort through Praise.

Attribution

Faith love hope <https://pixabay.com/illustrations/faith-love-hope-path-straight-441401/> CC0

Ibid. <https://pixabay.com/illustrations/cross-heart-anchor-love-hope-793073/> CC0

Five stars < https://pixabay.com/illustrations/five-stars-stars-feedback-review-7292866/> CC0

Well done <https://pixabay.com/illustrations/praise-feedback-well-done-emotion-5257999/> CC0

References

Witherington, Ben. 2006. 1 and 2 Thessalonians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Chicago: Wm. B. Eerdmans) (paid link)

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