Proverbs 29-30 & 2 Thessalonians 1

Proverbs 29-30

Again the teachers seek to emphasize the need for a righteous ruler, for they will bring harmony and prosperity in Proverbs 29. The contrast between the righteous and the wicked is again demonstrated in the chapter, as is the difference between the disciplined and undisciplined person.

Proverbs 30 is a unique section to the Book of Proverbs, for it would seem that the primary "author" is Agur, a non-Israelite, who comes from a tribe that was known to exist outside of Israel. The content of the chapter would seem to be an argument between an "atheist", Agur, and a scholar of Israel, as the two discuss the existence of God. The last portion of the chapter is marked by numerical sayings that speak to the existence of the wicked and the unclean.

2 Thessalonians 1

There is much discussion about the relationship between the Second Letter to the Thessalonians and the First Letter because they seem so different. First, the tone is much warmer in the first as opposed to the second, Paul seems aloof and academic as opposed to the loving pastoral style of the first. Second, they seem to be speaking of two different contexts; in the first letter, Paul seems to right about the Second Coming as one that is to come, while in the second he seems to be trying to dispel the rumor that the Day of Resurrection had already occurred. Perhaps Paul was clearing up some miss-communication, or perhaps, this is a different author.

Paul, or the author, opens the letter with the normal greeting and then gives thanks for the community; for their love and faithfulness to God and one another. Their example is one in which Paul is able to boast to other churches.

The author then gets into the meat of the letter, the Second Coming of Christ, but he speaks about in apocalyptic terms. It would seem that, perhaps, the community or the church is suffering from some sort of persecution and the author points to the day when God's justice will reign down and the afflicted will be exalted.