Name of the thirteenth book of the New Testament, that consists of a letter written by Paul of Tarsus, in which he addresses the church of Thessalonica, then the largest city of Macedonia, which during Paul’s time had an estimated population of about 200,000 inhabitants, the majority of them being Greeks, besides a mixture of other ethnic groups, including Jews.

The city was founded around 315 BC by Cassander, the son-in-law of Philip of Macedon, whom fathered Alexander the Great, by organizing the area villages into a new metropolis, which he named in honour of his wife, Thessalonike (Θεσσαλονίκη) of Macedon, i.e. the half-sister of Alexander the Great and daughter of King Philip II of Macedon.

The epistle was most likely written shortly after Paul’s arrival in Corinth, for he would be eager to correspond with the new church as soon as possible, which would be in the spring of 50 AD. As such, 1 Thessalonians would be the second canonical book written by Paul, after Galatians, that is if the theory is true that Galatians was indeed written before the First Jerusalem Council.

In the epistle, the author vindicates his apostleship and his ministry, as well as the genuineness of the conversion of the Thessalonian believers, as a reaction to some Jews from the synagogue in Thessalonica who had tried to discredit Paul. Furthermore, the theme of the epistle highlights the resurrection of the saints and the rapture of the church, as well the return of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians Chapter 1; 2; 3; 4; 5.