Pauline Paternity in 1 Thessalonians

Abstract

Two aspects of Paul’s paternal relations, hierarchy/authority and affection, towards his Thessalonian ‘offspring’ are investigated against the first century Jewish and Graeco-Roman views of fatherhood. Paul’s relationship with the Thessalonians was a hierarchical one, similar to that of the paterfamilias (head of the household) who assumed the responsibility for socialising his children into the community. As the founder-father of the community, Paul may have regarded the Thessalonian church as in some sense belonging to him. However, his superordinate position is tempered by a more gentle formulation in that he exercised paternal (as opposed to apostolic) authority towards his converts. Contrary to some views, there is an abundance of evidence in 1 Thessalonians to show that Paul was not averse to showing affection towards his converts. The apostle demonstrates his love in different ways, but it is his sudden physical separation from the Thessalonians—a severance that is akin to a ‘death’ or a ‘bereavement’— which calls forth an unprecedented display of tenderness. This also compares favourably with the response of ancient fathers when their offspring died. The article concludes that any proper view of Paul’s paternity needs to account for the dialectic between his superordinate status and the deep love he also felt for his ‘children’.