First and Second Thessalonians

“The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series aspires to fuse solid biblical scholarship with sensitivity to Catholic faith and tradition. This volume by Nathan Eubank is a prime example of what achievement of that worthy goal should look like. He probes the background and content of Paul’s Thessalonian correspondence with great clarity and with full awareness of current scholarship on the historical, literary, and theological dimensions of the text, while at the same time opening the meaning of these Pauline letters for the community of faith. An excellent work.”—Donald Senior, CP, president emeritus and professor of New Testament, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago

“I hope I am not the only Christian who has found Thessalonian correspondence to be strange, preferring other Pauline letters. Nathan Eubank’s erudite commentary has cured me! Eubank shows how Paul sets forth a vision of Christians as the family of God, called to grow in love and holiness, in need of instruction about the hope of resurrection and the day of the Lord, and facing persecution and suffering. Not only that, Eubank cites Augustine, Bernard, Catherine of Siena, C. S. Lewis, Cardinal Journet, and others to show how the teachings of Paul echo richly through the ages, and he demonstrates how historical-critical and theological erudition unite to open our eyes to the word of God. These letters are written for us today!”—Matthew Levering, James N. and Mary D. Perry Jr. Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary

“This fine commentary makes the fruits of ancient and modern interpretation available in a nuanced, attractive, and welcoming format. Fair-minded presentations and assessments of alternative critical views empower readers to form their own judgments at every step, while constantly returning to the task of hearing the text on its own terms—which necessarily means in and to its abiding ecclesial setting. This latest contribution to the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series compellingly exemplifies (Gadamer’s insight) that the interpreter’s job is never ‘just’ critical but inescapably switched-on and self-engaging, above all for the community whose text this is: application is integral to understanding.”—Markus Bockmuehl, Dean Ireland’s Professor in the Exegesis of Holy Scripture, Keble College, University of Oxford