December 1, 2014
1 Thessalonians
This is, most likely, the earliest of Paul’s letters. He wrote it from Corinth around AD 51. It’s good to remember that Thessalonica was a city Paul had to flee from. He wrote this letter, in part, to encourage and instruct a relatively young congregation, most of whom were converts from paganism. His encouragement takes the form of...
- Thanksgiving for their faith and works (1:2-10),
- A defense of Paul’s ministry in their midst (2),
- A ministry update (2:17-3:13),
- Affirmation in the midst of trials (3:1-5),
- Exhortations to live a holy life (4:1-12), and
- Teaching concerning the Second Coming of Christ (4:13-5:11).
But nowhere does the letter encourage readers more powerfully than in the three famous verses of chapter 5:16-18: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Tomorrow is Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
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