1 Thessalonians= An Introduction

Most New Testament scholars believe this is the first letter that Paul ever wrote; it is at least the oldest letter that we have preserved. If this is true- then it is the oldest canonized piece of New Testament literature, written approximately 49- 50AD (15 to 20 years post-crucifixion/ resurrection), probably from Corinth. Reminder- Paul was "converted" around 34-35 AD. Like the letter to the Romans that we just finished, Paul likely wrote this from Corinth. He had just left Thessalonica a few months ago on his second missionary journey. The fact that there is a Christian church in a major city 15 to 20 years after Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection is an amazing fact in itself!

Current day Greece was originally two different provinces: Macedonia in the north and Achaia in the south. Thessalonica and Philippi were in Macedonia and Athens and Corinth were in Achaia. See map below.

Map of Paul's Second Missionary journey

Paul and Timothy were forced to leave Thessalonica during their first visit (48- 50 AD)  by some "opponents of the Gospel"; Timothy returned a while later and this letter is in response to the information that Timothy provided from the visit. We learned, in Acts 17, that Paul preached in the Jewish synagogue while in Thessalonica, but the letter we will read puts out a different and broader picture of Paul's ministry in the city.

Thessalonica was the capitol city of Macedonia and probably one of the most important cities in the area. It was located at the crossroads of four major "highways" and had the best natural harbor on the norther Aegean Sea. Population approximately 100,000 during the time of Paul! Many different religious groups called Thessalonica home; there were found multiple shrines and temples for god like Isis, Osiris, Serapis,, and Cabirus.

Current day Thessaloniki
(spelling has changed since Biblical times)

Paul encourages their faithfulness, reminds them that their suffering at the hands of the Gentiles is similar to the suffering Jewish Christians endured from other Jews, and appreciates their steadfastness. Then, Paul "reminds" them to be pure and holy (sexually), live quiet and pure lives evidenced by mutual love and respect for neighbors, and behavior favorably to outsiders.

A big part of the letter is a topic that really bothered the church- what happens to those believers that have died. He assures them that the dead will not miss out on Christ's second coming and that the dead will "rise up to meet Christ in the air, and then the believers who are alive will be caught up in the air too" (4:13-18). The assurance is that both the living and the dead will have salvation. 

Theologians appreciate Paul's discussion of eschatology (end times) in this letter, as well as ideas/concepts of election, predestination, the word of God, sanctification and the spread of the Gospel.

The letter following, 2 Thessalonians, has many of the same thoughts with some interesting twists!