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New Testament

1 Thessalonians

5 chapters

Start reading: 1 Thessalonians 1

About this book

First Thessalonians is probably the earliest letter of Paul that we have, a warm and personal note to a young church he had to leave in a hurry after opposition in the city. Timothy has just returned with encouraging news, and Paul pours out thanks for their faith, love and hope, reminding them of how he lived among them like a gentle nurse and a caring father. He answers their worries: they are to keep living to please God, to love one another more and more, to work quietly with their hands and to respect their leaders. The letter also comforts believers who are grieving loved ones who have died, assuring them that those who have fallen asleep in Jesus are not lost, and that Christ will return. Christians understand the details of that hope in different ways, but the emphasis here is encouragement, not speculation. Paul closes with short, practical instructions: rejoice, pray, give thanks, test everything, and hold on to what is good. The whole letter breathes pastoral tenderness.

Author
The apostle Paul, writing with Silas and Timothy; authorship is almost universally accepted.
Date
About AD 50–51, written from Corinth, which makes it one of the earliest New Testament writings.
Audience
The young church in Thessalonica, a busy port city in Macedonia founded during Paul's second journey.

Themes

Faith, love and hopePastoral careHoly livingComfort about those who diedHope in Christ's return

Outline

  1. 1:1–1:10Greeting and thanks for their faith
  2. 2:1–2:20Paul's ministry among them
  3. 3:1–3:13Timothy's visit and Paul's prayer
  4. 4:1–4:12Living to please God
  5. 4:13–5:11Hope for those who died and readiness for the Lord's return
  6. 5:12–5:28Final instructions and blessing

Key verses

1 Thessalonians 1:2-31 Thessalonians 4:13-141 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Chapters of 1 Thessalonians

  1. 11 Thessalonians 1Paul, Silas, and Timothy greet the young church in Thessalonica and thank God for their work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope.
  2. 21 Thessalonians 2Paul recalls how he and his companions brought the gospel to Thessalonica despite opposition, not seeking praise or money but caring for the believers like a nursing mother and encouraging them like a father.
  3. 31 Thessalonians 3Unable to bear the separation any longer, Paul sent Timothy to strengthen the Thessalonians and find out how their faith was holding under pressure.
  4. 41 Thessalonians 4Paul urges the church to live to please God, growing in holiness, especially in sexual purity, and in love for one another, working quietly with their own hands.
  5. 51 Thessalonians 5Paul says no one can know the timing of the Lord's day, which will come like a thief in the night, so believers should be awake and sober as children of the light, wearing faith, love, and the hope of salvation.
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