1 Thessalonians

The book of First Thessalonians is the first of two letters that are included in the New Testament of the Bible that were written by the apostle Paul to the church in Thessalonica. It was written around a.d. 51 and is one of the earliest and possibly the oldest letter written by Paul in scripture. Thessalonica was an important provincial capital in Macedonia and its largest city. A busy seaport and centre of trade.

Having met considerable persecution of the church there, Paul had left Thessalonica and later wrote this letter from Corinth to build up the new Thessalonian converts who, although thriving as a church, were in need of teaching and encouragement. He speaks of the second coming of Jesus Christ and the end times, offering instruction in Christian living while we wait for Christ’s return.