A)  Paul uses kinship language extensively throughout 1 Thessalonians, whenever he expresses an idea he wishes to promote to the Thessalonians, he is sure to bring his listeners together under the kinship language. This can be seen right after the introduction, in which Paul states “For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you” (1 THS 1:4). Paul strongly wishes to bring his community together using kinship language to strengthen the bonds of his Christianity. Paul has been preaching of Christ and extensively performing missionary work because he is passionate about his believes and wishes to bring this idea to others. The community he has is extremely small and were outsiders to the pagan cults that existed in their environment (Ehrman 204). In addition, Paul and his followers did face persecution due to their beliefs from Romans and other Gentiles. Paul acknowledges this when he states “brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith.” (1 THS 3:7). He brings his followers together by saying that their perseverance is a matter of faith, that they endure together as a group. Furthermore, Paul states that he is a worker for God, and says “In fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you know.” Since Paul is closely working with God, this statement implies an almost prophetic prediction of the circumstances of their group, furthering and strengthening Paul’s message.

B)  Paul’s letter reveals that there is tension between his group of followers and the social and political world. Many of these people were criticized for their beliefs by pagans, and the nature of following Christ was rather anti-Roman, which would not lead to good standing in the political world of Rome, since in the eyes of the government, they are following a criminal. 1 THS 5:1-11 speaks of the apocalypse and return of Christ. Paul was an adamant apocalypticist who believed that Jesus was imminently coming to save Paul and his followers (Ehrman 206). Paul states in 1 THS 5:3-4 that destruction will come quickly when non-followers believe there will be peace. He believes that these non-followers are children of darkness, while Paul and his people are children of light. He encourages to let the good obtain salvation through Christ, and let the people of darkness suffer. This can be seen as an attack on the political authority of Rome, because he is essentially encouraging the Roman people and their political leaders alike, to die and suffer. This is especially significant when it is noted that he and his followers truly believe that this is going to occur very soon, essentially letting these people die.