The New Testament Book of 1st Thessalonians

1st Thessalonians Overall Theme

The most prominent theme in 1st Thessalonians is the second coming of Jesus. It is mentioned in every chapter of the book. At Jesus’ future coming, the dead in Christ will rise and will be caught up along with the living to meet the Lord in the air. Unbelievers will be subject to his wrath, but Christians will be delivered from this, inheriting salvation instead. Those who are destined to participate as saints in the second coming must be holy and blameless, and God, who is faithful, will produce holiness in the lives of those whom he calls.

Paul wrote 1st Thessalonians from Corinth near the end of his second missionary journey. Paul and his companions had established the church in Thessalonica but were forced to leave by opponents of the gospel. Later, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on the church there, and Timothy’s report led Paul to write this letter. Thessalonica enjoyed privileged status as the capital of Macedonia and was located on a natural harbor along the busy east-west Egnatian Way.