Zwischen Erwählung, Leid und Herrlichkeit: Die Ekklesia im 2. Thessalonicherbrief
Between Election, Suffering and Glorification: The Ekklesia in 2 Thessalonians

Summary/Abstract: 2 Thess is usually understood as a text focussed on eschatology. While 2 Thess is not interested in the development of ancient Christian ministries and organisation of the community and while the text does not develop a theology of the spirit, it is interested in the presence of the church which is described in terms of a "family" of "brothers and sisters" with its common "Father" God. This "family" has its roots in the past, in God's loving activity and it is already in close connection to Jesus Christ, the Kyrios. In its current relation to the Kyrios the community performs already now what will be revealed to everybody in the parousia. Compared to authentic Pauline Epistles the text shows a new idea of Pauline apostleship and his role as a teacher of the community. At the same time prophetic charisms are understood as dangerous. The community's current suffering for the kingdom of God is not just a historical problem, but has to do with the church's inner nature, as such it is a clear indication of its future glory.

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