Throughout New Testament studies, and Pauline studies in particular, the topic of suffering is often treated as a peripheral issue, with scholars such as Schreiner, Jervis, and Wu highlighting the difficulty of finding monographs or even chapters on the subject. More specifically, regarding 1 and 2 Thessalonians, outside of commentaries and a few select works focused on identifying the type of persecution in the letters, the discussion of suffering in the Thessalonian epistles seems to be somewhat absent within scholarship. Todd Still even argues that the topic of suffering “is an important interpretive issue which has yet to receive adequate scholarly attention and presently requires further investigation” (Still, 17). Nevertheless, it quickly becomes apparent that suffering and affliction is a predominant theme woven throughout 1 and 2 Thessalonians as seen through the high frequency of suffering and persecution language that Paul uses to discuss his own suffering, the Thessalonians’ suffering, and general Christian suffering. Ultimately, considering both statistical and thematic analysis, suffering appears to be a predominant theme in the letter that is worthy of consideration.
Therefore, within this essay, I will first survey the status quaestionis of Pauline suffering in general. Then, I will explore the state of research related specifically to suffering in the Thessalonian letters and provide a taxonomy regarding the typical ways that scholars treat Pauline suffering. After this overview, I will examine 1 Thess 1:1–6, 2:1–12, 2:13–20, 2 Thess 1:3–12, and 3:1–5, using both historical-grammatical and intertextual methods. In doing so, I seek to explore the implications of these passages in relation to the topic of suffering, as well as the question of whether Paul’s theology of suffering in the letters resides within or expands beyond standard categorization. Ultimately, I argue that these passages point to a perspective that extends far beyond standard categories, requiring a broadening of our discussions in the academy. After all, within these passages, a study of intertextual connections reveals that Paul aligns himself and the Thessalonians with the Psalmist, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Job, and Jesus, bringing himself and the Thessalonians into a lineage of righteous sufferers, who experience affliction due to their enemies and deliverance due to their Lord. This lineage of suffering then shapes the view of suffering expressed in the Thessalonian letters. As a result, I argue that Paul develops an intertextually rich theology of suffering within 1 and 2 Thessalonians, revealing that suffering is intrinsic to the life of a believer, is a sign of the believer’s approval and righteousness before the Lord, and serves as a sign of hope for future, eschatological deliverance through Jesus. Such a perspective applies to Paul, the Thessalonians, and even Christians today, extending the discussion of Pauline suffering beyond the standard categorizations within scholarship.