Book Introduction - 1 Thessalonians
WRITER: The apostle Paul (1 Thessalonians
1:1)
DATE: The Epistle was written from Corinth, A.D. 54, shortly after
Paul's departure from Thessalonica (Ac16:, 17.), and is the earliest of his
letters.
THEME: The theme of the Epistle is threefold:
- To confirm young disciples in the foundational truths already taught them;
- To exhort them to go on to holiness;
- To comfort them concerning those who had fallen asleep. The second coming
of Christ is prominent throughout. The Epistle is incidentally most
interesting as showing the richness in doctrine of the primitive evangelism.
During a mission of about one month the apostle had taught all the great
doctrines of the Christian faith.
The divisions of the Epistle are sufficiently indicated by the Chapters.
- The model church, and the three tenses of the Christian life1:1-10
- The model servant and his reward2:1-20
- The model brother, and the believer's sanctification3:1-13
- The model walk, and the believer's hope, 4:1-18
- The model walk, and the day of Jehovah, 5:1-28