Introduction

This letter, was written by Paul and sent to the group of believers there in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-10). Paul had been forced to leave Thessalonica because there were Jews there who got upset about his preaching to non-Jews. So he went on to Corinth and from there he wrote both of his letters to the believers in Thessalonica.

At that time, the believers in Thessalonica were confused because there was teaching that troubled them, because they were told that the master Yeshua, the messiah, had already returned. Because they were confused, Paul blocked that teaching by explaining to them that wars and destruction would come before the messiah returns. The one who brings that destruction is the enemy of the messiah, a miracle-working teacher named the ‘lawless man’.

Paul taught the readers of this letter that it’s necessary to stay alert about everyone teaching them, despite difficulties and sufferings. They need to continue to work for their living and to do good just as Paul himself had done.

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.