Introduction

Thessalonikai was the capital city of the Romaios province of Makedonia (and is now the large, modern city of Thessaloniki in Greece). Paulos taught God’s message there in Thessalonikai after he left Filippou (Acts 17:1-4). Before long, there was disagreement from Yehudim upset about Paulos’s preaching to non-Jews (Acts 17:5-9). So Paulos was forced to leave Thessalonikai and he went on to Beroia (Acts 17:10-13). Then after a while he went on to Athainai (Acts 17:14-15). Finally, he continued on to Korinthos (Acts 18:1-17). On his arrival there, he heard Timotheos’s account of his other work. He had been told by Timotheos about the what the group of believers there in Thessalonikai had been facing.

Paulos wrote this First letter of Paulos to the believers in Thessalonikai in order to encourage and strengthen the believers there. He gave thanks for the account about their faith and their love. He also reminded them about the lifestyle that he demonstrated to them while he was still there with them. He answered questions again from the believers concerning the return of the messiah, and if the deceased believers would come back to life before the messiah returns. Paulos used this letter to tell them it’s necessary that they continue to work in their day-to-day jobs while they wait for the return of the messiah.

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