Original Research

Ethics of prayer and work in 1 and 2 Thessalonians

Jean-Claude Loba-Mkole
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 69, No 1 | a2056 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v69i1.2056 | © 2013 Jean-Claude Loba-Mkole | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 29 August 2013 | Published: 06 November 2013

About the author(s)

Jean-Claude Loba-Mkole, Department of New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

This article raises the question of the balance between prayer and work. This topic is discussed through an intercultural approach of Paul’s recommendation about praying and working without ceasing (1 Th 1:9; 3:10). The main hypothesis postulates that constant prayer and work are associated with the concepts of thanksgiving (words of the εὐχαριστ-lemma) and exemplarity. It is argued that Pauline recommendations about praying and working without ceasing prove to be supported not only by an original biblical culture, but also by a church culture as well as a currently emerging African culture.

Keywords

Paul; 1 and 2 Thessalonians; prayer and work; intercultural hermeneutics; exemplarity; thanksgiving

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Crossref Citations

1. Intercultural constructions of the New Testament: Epistemological foundations
Jean-Claude Loba-Mkole
HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies  vol: 77  issue: 2  year: 2021  
doi: 10.4102/hts.v77i2.6739