AKA The First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians. Followed by 2 Thessalonians.
One of the Books of the Bible in the New Testament.
- Author: Obviously Paul, since it's signed, "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:1) Scholars agree that the letter matches Paul's vocabulary, style, and theology. The mention of Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy as co-senders may indicate Paul's care to present the missionaries as a united band in order to offset disappointment that Paul had not come to visit again but had sent Timothy instead. (2:17-18; 3:1-2,6,11)
- Date: A.D. 49-51
- Theme: The thankfulness of Paul for the success of his preaching, to establish them in the faith, to persuade them to a holy conversation, second coming of Jesus
- Audience: The church of the Thessalonians in Thessalonica
(The ESV Study BibleTM, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 2301)
When did Paul write this epistle?
This may be Paul's first epistle.
Early in Paul's 18-month stay in Corinth during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1-18). The Delphi Inscription dates Gallio's proconsulship of Achaia to A.D. 51-52, and Acts 18:12-17 mentions Gallio, toward the end of Paul's Corinthian stay. (The ESV Study BibleTM, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 2301)
Paul was diverted from going into the provinces of Asia and was directed to preach in Macedonia instead (Acts 16:9-10) and went from Troas to Samothracia, thence to Neapolis then Philippi, where he had good success in his ministry but was cast into prison with Silas. He was delivered then departed, passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia then coming to Thessalonica. He planted a church that consisted of some believing Jews and converted Gentiles (Acts 17:1-4). A riot of unbelieving Jews broke out, and Paul and Silas were sent away by night to Berea then Athens, leaving Silas and Timotheus behind but with instructions to come to him with all speed. When they came, Timotheus was sent to Thessalonica to ask about their welfare and to establish them in the faith (1 Thessalonians 3:2). He returned to Paul after tarrying at Athens then was sent again with Silas to visit the churches in Macedonia. Paul was left at Athens alone (1 Thessalonians 3:1) departed to Corinth where he stayed a year and a half, in which time Silas and Timotheus returned to him from Macedonia (Acts 18:5) and he then wrote this epistle.
(Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc, 2003. Page 2337)
Topics
Peoples
- Gentiles
- Church of the Thessalonians
- Thessalonians
Places
Other
- Apostolic authority
- Archangel
- Day of the Lord, Coming of the LORD, Second Coming
- Election
- Faith
- Father
- Labor of love (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
- Mother
- Prayer
- Rapture, caught up
- Salvation
- Sexual immorality
- Steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ
- Trumpet of God
- Work of faith
Verses
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3 - remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (The phrase "labor of love" originated in the Bible.)
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 - Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.