Echoes of Daniel in 1 and 2 Thessalonians

Abstract

Over the last few decades there has been a growing interest regarding the use of the Hebrew Scriptures in the New Testament. One of the most frequently referenced books in the New Testament is the book of Daniel. However, the significance of Daniel as an influential source for the New Testament writers in general, and the apostle Paul in particular, has yet to be fully explored. Recognising this, the aims of the present study were to: 1) offer a methodological approach for identifying if and where Paul alludes to or echoes Daniel in 1 and 2 Thessalonians; 2) examine the effect these references have in their new context; and 3) explore how they inform us about Paul’s understanding of Daniel. vi Six potential references to Daniel were evaluated: four in 1 Thessalonians and two in 2 Thessalonians. Three of these were classified as probable (Dan 12:2 in 1 Thess 4:13-15; 5:10; Dan 7:13 in 1 Thess 4:17; Dan 11:31, 36 in 2 Thess 2:3-4) and three were classified as possible (Dan 8:23 in 1 Thess 2:16; Dan 2:21 in 1 Thess 5:1; Dan 7:9-10, 27 in 2 Thess 1:5-10). An examination of each of these references led us to conclude that: first, similarities with sayings of Jesus indicate that Paul had most likely re-read Daniel through the lens of the gospel tradition; second, Paul was not drawing on themes and passages that were disconnected from each other, but were part of the same apocalyptic narrative that had proved a source of comfort to many generations of believers in the midst of persecution; and third, as part of that, he understood himself and the believers to be living within that narrative, as indicated by his interpretation of the enemy of God’s people in Daniel 11:40-45 as still being future.