In this series we offer brief introductions to the books of the Bible, including background, authorship, content, and application to the lives of today’s Christians.
J.B. Phillips, an English Bible translator and Anglican clergyman, titled his 1955 paraphrase of New Testament epistles Letters to Young Churches. The letter we’ll consider in this issue is the earliest epistle, and in fact the earliest book, of the New Testament.
Between A.D. 49-52, Paul was on his second missionary journey—the one where he passed through Asia Minor, heading westward, finally running out of land in Troas on the Aegean coast (see Acts 16). Then he and his associates sailed westward, landing near Philippi. The Spirit blessed that work, but Paul and Silas were victims of opposition, were jailed (leading to the conversion of the jailer), and finally quietly ushered out of town by city magistrates who had not realized that they had publicly scourged a Roman citizen. They then journeyed southwest along the coastline to Thessalonica.
Thessalonica (now known as Salonika, Greece) was the capital and largest city of the region. It also had a sizeable Jewish community and a synagogue. Acts 17 details Paul’s activities there, which began with him spending three Sabbaths in the synagogue (17:3-4). This resulted in significant success but, as typically happened, unbelieving Jews became hostile and soon made it impossible for Paul and Silas to remain in town. The believers led them out of town, and on to Berea. After similar opposition there, Paul went on to Athens, and finally to an extended residency in Corinth.
It was from Corinth, sometime around A.D. 52, that Paul wrote his first letter back to this fledgling congregation. His departure from the fine Christian group in Thessalonica had been traumatic for both parties; the time he’d had among the members to shepherd them in the Word was extremely limited. He no doubt felt he had so much more to say, and they obviously faced much difficulty.
Paul tried “time and again” to return to Thessalonica, but noted that Satan had prevented his return (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18). But he was able to send Timothy back to evaluate and “establish and encourage” them (3:2). Timothy’s report, on returning to Corinth, brought joy to Paul’s heart as he learned of their steadfastness in the faith.
Perhaps because Paul was addressing such a youthful congregation, the themes of the epistle are relatively straightforward and easy to grasp—not the soaring majesty of Ephesians or the breathtaking candor of Galatians. Much of the letter is very warm and personal, commending them for the work the Lord had done in their midst, of which they “became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.” (1:7) He reminded them that he and his associates had served among them with integrity, intent only on sharing the Good News in their midst. In an important passage, Paul asserts the inspiration of the message he preached: “When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” (2:13 ESV)
Any young Christian, and certainly a young congregation, needs diligent guidance and shepherding, and a group of issues Paul addressed were matters of godly life and behavior. In Chapter 4 he addresses matters such as marriage and sexual purity, and a pure and self-reliant life: “This is the will of God, your sanctification.” (4:3)
But perhaps the most striking point of content in this epistle—one delivered to a congregation so fresh and new—addresses the certainty of the Lord’s return in judgement and deliverance. Each of the five chapters in the letter ends with some reference to the second coming (see 1:10, 2:19, 3:13, 4:14-17, and 5:23). This emphasis on the coming of the Lord seems to have been prompted by some misinformation or distorted ideas troubling some—namely, that those who have “fallen asleep” (4:13) before the Lord comes might somehow be left out of that fantastic Day, or even miss out on an entrance into the heavenly kingdom. Therefore, Paul goes into the most detail on the second coming in chapter 4, where he provides a vivid account of how all believers will be gathered at the sound of the “trumpet of God,” and the living and the dead in Christ will be taken together to meet Him in the skies. “Therefore, comfort one another with these words.” (4:18)
And so they did, and so do we, at the home-going of every sister or brother in Christ.
is a former pastor who now teaches English at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He makes his home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.