Paul wrote the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians and the Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, commonly known as I Thessalonians and II Thessalonians, while he was in Corinth. Biblical scholars believe I Thessalonians is the earliest of the Pauline epistles, as Paul writes about establishing his first church as if it's something that happened recently. Here's a glimpse at what Paul says in these letters and why I Thessalonians and II Thessalonians are so important for Christians.
In Acts 17:1-9, Paul establishes a church at Thessalonica. Although Paul was dedicated to the church and its people, he was driven out of the Macedonian capital just three weeks after establishing his ministry. When Paul returned to Corinth, he was greatly concerned about his churches at Thessalonica and Philippi, prompting him to write his first letter to the Thessalonians.
He writes, "But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you — certainly I, Paul, did, again and again — but Satan blocked our way" (I Thessalonians 1:17-19). Fortunately, Timothy and Silas reported that the churches were flourishing even in Paul's absence.
Paul expresses gratitude several times throughout I Thessalonians, most notably in the first chapter. First he tells the Thessalonians that he thanks God for them and is always praying for them. Like all humans, the people at Thessalonica were far from perfect, but they displayed many admirable characteristics. Paul was grateful that the Thessalonians used these characteristics to establish a congregation that continued to embrace the word of God even after he'd been driven out of the city.
Paul was also grateful that the Thessalonians responded well to his ministry and decided to follow God. When he was in Philippi, he was "treated outrageously," but he had the courage to go to Thessalonica and dare to preach the gospel "in the face of strong opposition" (I Thessalonians 2:2). His efforts paid off, with the Thessalonians accepting the message "not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God" (I Thessalonians 2:13).
Just because Paul's followers embraced the word of God doesn't mean they never experienced any suffering. In II Thessalonians, Paul mentions that the Thessalonians rose above "persecutions and tribulations" to express their faith (II Thessalonians 1:4). He encourages his followers in Thessalonica to continue expressing their faith and love, noting that those who persecuted them would one day be subject to God's judgment. Today's believers can take comfort in these words and use them as motivation to continue practicing their faith regardless of what other people think.
Paul ends II Thessalonians much the same way he began I Thessalonians, by assuring his followers he was always praying for them. He also tells the Thessalonians that God would find them worthy of his call. Paul goes on to explain how Christians can fulfill their calling, noting that it's important to display God's goodness when interacting with believers and nonbelievers alike. You can also fulfill your calling from God by having faith and believing in Jesus even when times are tough.
I Thessalonians even provides some insight into what might happen in the future, removing some of the uncertainty that makes it difficult for many Christians to maintain their faith. Paul explains that the Thessalonians should remain hopeful in the face of persecution because "...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" (I Thessalonians 4:16). He goes on to state that anyone left alive will be "caught up together with them in the clouds" to meet the Lord (I Thessalonians 4:17).
Anyone who believes in Christ can take comfort in knowing they'll be reunited with him someday, making Paul's letters to the Thessalonians one of the most important books of the Bible for anyone who needs a little encouragement or inspiration.
Paul went through many trials and tribulations, but he praised God regularly and always showed gratitude for his blessings. It helped that he was able to confide in Silas, John Mark and Barnabas when he was feeling low. At Bethesda Gardens Monument in Monument, Colorado, we encourage our residents to socialize regularly and form friendships that can help them through tough times. We also have group activities and social events to keep residents engaged and excited about life.
