1Thessalonians: Introduction

This book written by the Apostle Paul during his second missionary journey with Timothy and Silas. The background for Paul's time at Thessalonica, the establishment of the church, the riot by Jews offended by the message of salvation through Jesus Christ and that Jesus was the Messiah the Jews had been looking for, and his premature departure are all found in Acts 17. The wonderful aspects of this first letter from Paul to the church at Thessalonica, is Paul's overwhelming joy in hearing that their faith in Christ was firm and growing. Paul only had about three weeks to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ in that area, Acts 17:2-3, but a church was born out of a region steeped in idolatry, 1Thessalonians 1:9. After Paul's ejection from the city, and eventual arrival at Athens escorted by converts at Thessalonica, he sent word for the return of Timothy and Silas to him. He longed to hear of how the new fledgling church was fairing. Paul was ecstatic at the news from Timothy, and he responded by writing this first epistle to the church at Thessalonica, 1Thessalonians 3:6-13.

The letter from Paul, is an exhortation to the young church at Thessalonica, which furthered the teaching concerning the behavior and conduct of the body of Christ in response to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this letter Paul pointed to the imminent return of the Lord. This teaching was not to Christians who have grown in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, but to new converts. Yet, in the midst of the persecution that this young church was suffering, their hope was firmly placed on the Lord, and they were to be watching for that day of His return. This is applicable to ALL Christians whether young or old in Christ.