214 christina m. kreinecker
παραγγέλλω καὶ παρακαλῶ is not attested in documentary papyri within
the time frame of the third century bce to the third century ce.37
from this papyrological background, we can only conclude that the
usage in 2 Thess 3:12 is rather unusual and uncommon, particularly if we
take the content of the request into account, which deals with a practical
not a juridical matter. This is also true for all the other occurrences in
2 Thessalonians 3. from a papyrological point of view, the use of
παραγγέλλω in a private letter is untypical.
The Verb παραγγέλλω in the Undisputed Pauline Epistles
The seven undisputed pauline epistles feature the verb (and not only the
form) παραγγέλλω only three times in total: 1 cor 7:10; 11:17, and 1 Thess
4:11, where it refers to the life of the community as in 2 Thessalonians.38 In
1 Thess 4:11 the verb is found at the end of different instructions which all
deal with a life agreeable in the sight of god. within these are two requests,
one in 1 Thess 4:1 (λοιπὸν οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ἐρωτῶμεν ὑμᾶς καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν)
and one in 1 Thess 4:10 (παρακαλοῦμεν δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί). The command
itself, which takes the verb παραγγέλλω follows this second request for a
peaceful life full of work with one’s own hands: καθὼς ὑμῖν παρηγγείλαμεν
(“as we directed you”). This is exactly the same context as 2 Thess 3:12, in
which παραγγέλλω is used, albeit in a different form (see below).
In 1 cor 7:10 the word is used in the context of matrimony—τοῖς δὲ
γεγαμηκόσιν παραγγέλλω, οὐκ ἐγὼ ἀλλὰ ὁ κύριος, γυναῖκα ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς μὴ
χωρισθῆναι (“to the married I give this command—not I but the lord—
that the wife should not separate from her husband”). It is rather striking
that this one instance of a direct command within the undisputed pau-
lines is immediately retracted by paul and connected to Jesus christ. The
command goes back to the lord and not, as paul emphasizes, to himself.
The second instance stands in 1 cor 11:17 within a setting of rebukes to the
community. paul has heard about divisions which seem to lead towards
Αὐτοκράτορες (“oh philanthropic sovereigns”); cf. edwin mayser, Satzlehre. Analytischer
Teil (vol. 2/1, grammatik der griechischen papyri aus der ptolemäerzeit mit einschluss der
gleichzeitigen ostraka und der in Ägypten verfassten Inschriften; Berlin: de gruyter, 1926,
repr. 1970), 55–56.
37 This marks the methodologically appropriate time frame for the comparison of docu-
mentary papyri and new Testament writings, cf. arzt-grabner, Philemon, 37–56.
38 In studies based on the idea that 2 Thessalonians was not written by paul, 1 Thessa-
lonians and 1 corinthians are usually considered to be the two letters which the author of
2 Thessalonians would have known at least, cf. andreas lindemann, “Zum abfassung-
szweck des Zweiten Thessalonicherbriefes,” ZNW 68 (1977): 44–45.