1 Thessalonians

About 1 Thessalonians

First Thessalonians was written soon after Paul had to leave a brand-new church in a hurry because of persecution. Relieved by Timothy's good report, Paul writes to encourage these young believers to keep going, to live holy and quiet lives, and to grieve with hope. Its most famous passages answer their worry about believers who had died: when Jesus returns, the dead in Christ will rise, and all His people will be with Him forever.

Written by

Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians together with Silvanus and Timothy, and his authorship is accepted on all sides.

When

It was written around AD 50-51, making it one of the earliest documents in the New Testament.

Themes

• Hope in Christ's return
• Faith under pressure
• Holy living
• Encouraging one another

Key verses

• 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain 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 5:16-18Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.