212 christina m. kreinecker
Conclusions for παρακαλῶ in 2 Thessalonians
cutting a long story short, we may deduce the following observations
from our analysis of παρακαλῶ for our example in 2 Thess 3:12. The use of
παρακαλοῦμεν in 2 Thess 3:12 corresponds to this formula in documentary
papyri and also to the undisputed pauline epistles. even more, at 1 Thess
4:10–11 we find the same context of everyday life and the request of a quiet
life and work as in 2 Thess 3:12. The connection to the lord Jesus christ
in 2 Thess 3:12 also appears to be a “typical” pauline use, as, for example,
in 1 Thess 4:1.
nothing would make us suspicious about the request formula in 2 Thess
3:12 from a papyrological point of view or in comparison with the undis-
puted paulines, were it not for the combination of words in this verse,
namely παραγγέλλομεν καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν. as παραγγέλλω is here treated
like a request formula (or at least as part of one), it is worth observing this
verb in our sources as well.
The Verb παραγγέλλω and Its Combination with παρακαλῶ
as I have just noted, 2 Thess 3:12 treats παραγγέλλω as part of the request
formula, putting παρακαλῶ after the copula καί in second position. This
is formally parallel to the above-mentioned combination ἐρωτῶμεν καὶ
παρακαλοῦμεν, which is attested in both documentary papyri and undis-
puted paulines. The verb (and not only the form) παραγγέλλω is found four
times in 2 Thessalonians. all of these instances occur in the last chapter
of the letter (2 Thess 3:4, 6, 10, 12). In 2 Thess 3:4 the author shows himself
confident that the community will do what he asks for—πεποίθαμεν δὲ
ἐν κυρίῳ ἐφ ̓ ὑμᾶς, ὅτι ἃ παραγγέλλομεν [καὶ] ποιεῖτε καὶ ποιήσετε (“and we
have confidence in the lord concerning you, that you are doing and will
go on doing the things that we command”). a specific order follows two
verses later in 2 Thess 3:6: παραγγέλλομεν δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, ἐν ὀνόματι τοῦ
κυρίου [ἡμῶν] Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ στέλλεσθαι ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ παντὸς ἀδελφοῦ ἀτάκτως
περιπατοῦντος καὶ μὴ κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν ἣν παρελάβοσαν παρ ̓ ἡμῶν (“now
we command you, beloved, in the name of our lord Jesus christ, to keep
(“so we are ambassadors for christ, since god is making his appeal through us; we entreat
you on behalf of christ, be reconciled to god”). Thomas, “παρακαλέω,” 57–58, attempts
to extract the different nuances of παρακαλέω, ἐρωτάω, παραγγέλλω, δέομαι and others in
the corpus paulinum; in respect to δέομαι and παρακαλέω he states that both strengthen
a request (58).