First Epistle to the Thessalonians
The First Epistle to the
Thessalonians, also known as the First Letter to the
Thessalonians.
The first letter to the Thessalonians was likely the
first of Paul's letters, probably written by the end of
A.D. 52, making it, so far as is now known, the
oldest extant Christian document (almost all scholars
hold that the gospels were written over a decade later).
It was written after Timothy had returned from
Macedonia, relating the state of the church in
Thessalonica (Acts 18:1-5; 1 Thes. 3:6). For the most
part, the letter is personal in nature, with only the
final two chapters spent addressing issues of doctrine,
almost as an aside. Paul's main purpose in writing is to
encourage and reassure the Christians there. Paul urges
them to go on working quietly while waiting in hope for
the return of Christ.
The church is believed to have been composed almost
exclusively of gentiles. This would reflect the ethnic
and religious makeup of Thessalonica, and is supported
by Paul's brief remark in 1:9 that they "turned to God
from idols," a remark that would have made little sense
to make to a Jewish audience. Paul was concerned because
of the infancy of the church. He had only spent a few
weeks with them before leaving for Athens. In his
concern, he sent his delegate, Timothy, to visit the
Thessalonians and to return with a report. While, on the
whole, the news was encouraging, it also showed that
important misunderstandings existed concerning Paul's
teaching of Christianity. Paul devotes part of the
letter to correcting these errors, and exhorts the
Thessalonians to purity of life, reminding them that
their sanctification is God's will for their lives.
Paul gives thanks for the news about their faith and
love; he reminds them of the kind of life he had lived
while he was with them. Paul stresses how honorably he
conducted himself, reminding them that he had worked to
earn his keep, taking great pains not to burden anyone.
He did this, he says, even though he could have used his
status as an apostle to impose upon them.
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