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Last time we saw the use of κυριοs applied to Jesus and not Caesar. By definition that is a political statement. Next I want to look at the word ‘parousia’, in Greek παρουσια. I hope you’re not surprised, this word was also used by the Caesars of the time. They used it in reference to their own coming in glory. Now it is used in reference to Jesus’ coming in glory.

Again we have Paul co-opting the royal words of the time and applying them directly to Jesus. He does this often, especially when talking to Roman citizens. He uses παρουσια four times in this epistle (2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23), and three times in his second epistle (2:1, 8, 9) to these same people. The people in Corinth (also an important Roman city) get the same treatment from Paul, he uses παρουσια five times (1 Cor 15:23, 16:17, 2 Cor 7:6,7 10:10) in reference to Jesus.

I think the message about the Kingdom of God, and even who Jesus is is muddied by Christianity today. Unfortunately we are separated from the environment the Bible was written in and their customs. Even their use of language is foreign to us casual readers today. If we read a lot of ancient documents we’d understand the references, but we don’t. As a result some of the emphasis that the first readers would understand we have lost. I find that the most affected part of our faith is in regard to politics, specifically the political aspects of the message of Jesus and his identity. So with that in mind, I want to embark on a three part mission to reclaim some of it. I’ll be focusing specifically on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11.