Parainesis on ἁγιασ�ός (1 Th 4: 3-8) 137 matters. This is, however, unlikely both in itself and because it would introduce a thought foreign to the context (cf. also vs. 7).44 For a criticism of these arguments, see Best. The other basic interpretation, represented by e.g. Morris45, Bruce,46 Marshall,47 Wanamaker,48 et al. takes σκεῦος as ‘body’, especially in its sexual aspects. Morris thinks that the meaning of ‘body’ for σκεῦος con- flicts with κτᾶσθαι, which he takes to mean ‘to acquire’. Nevertheless, the inappropriateness of ‘vessel’ to designate a wife, and the altogether too low view of marriage, which this interpretation would attribute to Paul, lead him and the other interpreters of this group to choose ‘body’ as the meaning of σκεῦος, as a euphemism for genitalia. Accordingly they understand ϖορνεία generally of sexual immorality. Even for this interpretation the ἀδελφός of vs. 6 is a problem. Morris, followed by Best, understands it as referring to anyone in the community who is thereby offended, but particularly the brother who one day is going to marry the debauched woman. Marshall, thinks that it refers to “disregarding and taking advantage of somebody else by adulterous behaviour”. Bruce49 does not indicate how the ‘brother’ is affected. Before proceeding to a more detailed exegetical discussion of the com- plex issues of vv. 3-6, and hopefully to a solution, it is deemed necessary to clarify the parameters within which any interpretation of these verses must be contained. III. Clarifying the Parameters 1. Basic Presuppositions in the Interpretation of 1 Thessalonians a. Length of Paul’s Stay and Date of the Letter. The data of 1 Thes- salonians, Philippians, and Acts lead to the conclusion that Paul’s stay in Thessalonike lasted about two months,50 and that he wrote this letter See further Best, 1 Thessalonians, 165f. 44 Morris, First Thessalonians, 121-27. 45 Bruce, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 81-85. 46 Marshall, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 106-12 47 Wanamaker, The Epistles to the Thessalonians, 150-55. 48 Bruce, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 85. 49 On Macedonia and Thessalonike, see the basic study edited by M. B. Sakellariou, 50 Macedonia. 4000 Years of Greek History and Civilization, Athens 1983 rp. 1994, esp. 192-221. The presence of Jews in Thessalonike is very meagerly attested. The oldest refer- ence seems to be Philo, Legatio, 281, which, however, mentions no numbers. For Paul’s time Acts is the only source. There are some inscriptions from late Roman times, on which see