{"product_id":"9780567723666","title":"Children's Lives and Deaths in 1 Thessalonians Impacts on Interpreting Context and Text","description":"\u003ch3\u003eLibrary of New Testament Studies\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch1\u003eChildren's Lives and Deaths in 1 Thessalonians\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eImpacts on Interpreting Context and Text\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDavid E. Bell | Chris Keith\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003eReligion \/ Biblical Commentary \/ New Testament \/ Paul's Letters\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis volume offers new insights into 1 Thessalonians by demonstrating how children and childhood are a key part of its social setting. \u003c\/b\u003eAround one third of this first-century Macedonian society and community would be under 15 years old: a segment easily ignored by modern scholarship but essential to interpreting the social context and so Paul's letter itself. Based on new research, David E. Bell reveals how Paul transforms common ideas about early death in his response to the Thessalonian community's bereavement, pointing to fresh explanations for his unexpected word choices, metaphors, strategies and structural elements throughout the letter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Bell introduces the reader to a rich set of contemporary evidence, especially from epitaphs and documentary papyri; drawing on, and adding to, recent scholarship on ancient childhoods. He suggests that while patterns of 'ordinary' experience placed children at the heart of everyday thinking and speaking about death and bereavement; young lives are also seen to be significant for other themes in 1 Thessalonians: sexual exploitation, work and community relationships, collective identity as siblings and an ekklesia. Bell places detailed discussion of the text alongside careful attention to children and childhood even where they are not explicitly mentioned, and ultimately, argues that children's presence is not a side issue in 1 Thessalonians but integral to interpreting the whole.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDavid E. Bell\u003c\/b\u003e is an independent researcher investigating ways in which recognition of children's presence in ancient communities and societies can affect interpretation of New Testament\/Early Christian texts. He was previously Adviser for Ministry among Children for the Diocese of Chester, UK.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e06 August 2026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eT\u0026amp;T Clark\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9780567723666\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHardback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e312\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e21.76\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51669711552652,"sku":"9780567723666","price":108.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/9545\/1788\/files\/getimage_79bb20a4-f3e5-4a78-9490-043d2340b8e0.jpg?v=1785203572","url":"https:\/\/fh90cf-fv.myshopify.com\/products\/9780567723666","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}