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The book of I Thessalonians

Author

Most scholars believe Paul wrote this letter.

Place & Time of Writing

Paul was in Athens on his way to Corinth (about 50 miles).
Around 52 on Paul’s second missionary trip; see map.

Unique Characteristic

Probably the second letter Paul wrote (after Galatians).

Audience

Paul introduced Christianity to Thessalonica on his Second Missionary Trip.
He stayed in Thessalonica for about three weeks.
He then traveled south to Corinth and stopped in Athens on the way.
Paul also visited Thessaonica on his third missionary trip.

Theme

Paul is thankful for the faith of the Thessalonian Christians.
He describes the return of Jesus.

More details about I Thessalonians

Why did Paul write the letter?

Paul introduced Christianity to the city of Thessalonica while on his Second Missionary Trip. According to Acts 17:2 he stayed there for about three weeks. He then headed south and eventually came to Corinth, where he stayed for a year-and-a-half. Before arriving in Corinth, and about 50 miles away in Athens, he grew concerned about the Christians in Thessalonica and sent Timothy to check on them. When Timothy came back, Paul was in Corinth, and Timothy reported that the house churches had a healthy faith with no problems (3:6), except, for one question: some of them wondered about the return of Jesus. Probably Paul mentioned the return of Jesus when he was there for three weeks but did not explain it enough to satisfy their curiosity. Therefore Paul wrote this letter in which he wrote that he was thankful for their faith and described the return of Jesus in more detail.

The return of Jesus

This idea appears throughout the letter:

1:10: “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”
3:13: “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”
4:13-17: “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep [have died], or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him [have died]. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

This idea has led Christians to many different conclusions. I included the entire passage here so that you can read it and reach your own conclusion. I will discuss the different options more in the next letter, which also focuses on the return of Jesus.
One note: the word “rapture” is used by many Christians to describe the return of Jesus. The word “rapture” is in 4:17, but only in the Latin New Testament. "Raptio" is Latin for "carrying off" or "be caught up." So "rapture" comes from the Latin "raptio."

How to live as a Christian

4:7: “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”
4:11: “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind our own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you.”
5:16-18: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Outline

1:1: Greetings.
1:2-end of chapter 3: Paul discusses the Thessalonian Christians, their faith, his desire to see them, and Timothy’s encouraging report on their progress.
4:1-12: How to live as a Christian.
4:13-5:11: The return of Jesus.
5:12-28: Concluding remarks.

Quiz with hover answers (Hover doesn't work for some smart phones and pads, so questions and answers here)

1. Paul visited Thessalonica on his First and Second Missionary trips.

2. I Thessalonians was probably the second letter Paul wrote (Galatians was probably the first).

3. One main purpose of I Thessalonians was to discuss the return of Jesus.

4. As with the other shorter letters of Paul to house churches, the second part of I Thessalonians discusses how to live as a Christian.

5. I Thessalonians is the shortest of Paul's letters to churches.

6. The big picture: Why did Paul spend so much time writing about the return of Jesus? (In I and II Thessalonians)

Timeline up to the book of I Thessalonians

Dates are approximate.

Year	Event
63 B.C.	Romans conquer Israel.
27 B.C.	Pax Romana began and lasted until A.D. 180.
4 B.C.	Jesus born.
	All dates after this are A.D.
27	Jesus baptized.
30	Jesus was crucified, buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. Apostles travel to Jerusalem and choose Matthias to replace Judas as an Apostle. Day of Pentecost: Peter assumes leadership of Christianity.
30-50	Peter was leader of Christianity.
33	Jesus appeared to Paul and Paul became a Christian.
48-50	Paul's First Missionary Trip.
50	Council of Jerusalem; Paul became main Christian leader.
50-55	Paul's Second Missionary Trip.
51-53	Galatians, I Thessalonians written and I & II Corinthians
55-60	Paul's Third Missionary Trip.
55	Romans written.
60-62	Paul arrested in Jerusalem and taken to Rome. Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians written while Paul was under house arrest in Rome.
62-63	(Not in Acts) Paul probably released from prison during this time.
63-65	(Not in Acts) Paul probably traveled. He may have gone to Spain.
64	Fire in Rome and Christians persecuted by Emperor Nero.
65	(Not in Acts)Paul back in Rome; he and Peter arrested and martyred: Peter crucified upside down and Paul beheaded.
67	Gospel of Mark written.
70	Temple in Jerusalem destroyed by Romans (it has not been rebuilt).
80	Gospels of Matthew and Luke written.
90	Gospel of John and book of Acts written.
95	Christians persecuted by Emperor Domitian; Apostle John exiled on island of Patmos where he wrote Revelation.
96	Emperor Domitian died; Apostle John probably moved to Ephesus.
100	Apostle John died; he was the last Apostle to die.
390's	New Testament canon "closed" at Councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397).
1200's	Chapters added to the New Testament.
1500's	Verses added to the New Testament.

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