The purpose of this thesis makes clear that the Cynic traditions are an important factor to understand the way of Paul's pastoral care, focusing on Paul's style in 1 Thessalonians. To date, studies on the first letter to the Thessalonians focused most...
The purpose of this thesis makes clear that the Cynic traditions are an important factor to understand the way of Paul's pastoral care, focusing on Paul's style in 1 Thessalonians. To date, studies on the first letter to the Thessalonians focused mostly on Paul's particular eschatological theme. This is because those studies on the religious background of Pauline Theology led to focus on Paul's thought. But 1 Thessalonians provides insight into how early Christian communities took place as no other Christian document does. In this sense, Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians should be interpreted in the relationship between Paul and his community concerning their situations.
Paul established a church in the important city of Thessalonica, the capital city of Macedonia, maintained contact with it in order to ensure its continuing nurture, and instructed its members on how to care for one another. Rather than simply organize a church, Paul founded, shaped, and nurtured a community. Especially, he was sensitive to the needs of individuals within the community who had committed themselves to new beliefs and a new way of life, considering their psychological condition and social circumstances. In so doing, he makes use of language he borrowed from the popular philosophers of his day and adapts it according to his own self-understanding and the needs of his readers. Thus, this thesis illuminated this Paul's pastoral practice by comparing Paul's description of his ministry in 1 Thess. 2:1-12 to that of his contemporary ideal philosopher Dio Chrysostom. At the same time, It paid attention to types of philosophers which is provided by Dio Chrysostom. This is because Paul's practice and teaching are seen in sharper profile against a background to which they belong. And this thesis also asked whether any other encompassing field of contemporary discourse available to us may have been popular enough and at least apparently appropriate enough for Paul to have adopted it in some measure. These works was done by accepting A. J. Malherbe who inaugurated a new era in the study of the relationship of Cynics, Paul and early Christianity.
Paul's pastoral care to the Thessalonians is revealed how often Paul uses traditions and conventions that were appropriate to their background. It was particularly expressed the images of gentle “wet nurse(2:7)” and “father(2:11)”. Paul's use of such an affective image was appropriate in writing to exhort and comfort and charge his readers in deep affection.
Paul was familiar with traditions and practice of his day. So he deployed and assimilated a number of strand of contemporary Cynicism to convert the Thessalonians and shape them into a community, and then to continue to exercise his care for them. As a result, “the Thessalonians became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia(1:7)”, finally this Paul's pastoral care establishes the foundation of Christianity's continuing.