What Is The Purpose Of The Book Of 1st Thessalonians? A Bible Study

Why did Paul write the Book of 1st Thessalonians? What’s in it for us today?

The Author

Paul is the author of the Book of 1st Thessalonians as he begins “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:1) so we don’t have any doubts at all that Paul wrote this book, one of his earliest, in about AD 50.

The Purpose

There were rumors running rampant in the church at Thessalonica about Jesus Christ’s return. Some believed that He had already come so Paul wrote this book to inform the church about when and how Jesus would return and it wouldn’t be missed. He also wrote this book to show how a Christian ought to be living a holy life of obedience and one that pleases God. Near the end of this book, he admonished the church to be thankful in all things and in all circumstances so that they can have joy while also having a thankful heart of gratitude for God (1st Thess 5).

The Focal Point

I believe the central reason Paul wrote the Book of 1st Thessalonians is to clear up the confusion about the coming of Jesus Christ. In writing to the church at Thessalonica he does “not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep” (1st Thess 4:13-14). Apparently, some believed that they had missed the return of Christ and specifically those who had already died. Paul tells them that “God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep” so not one of the departed ones will miss the return of Christ. It is clear that Paul’s intent is to reassure them “that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep” (1st Thess 4:15) and it won’t go unnoticed by the believers as Paul confirms that “the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1st Thess 4:16-17) and so he wants them to “encourage one another with these words” (1st Thess 4:18).

Instructions for Christian Living

As Paul nears the end of the Book of 1st Thessalonians, he urges them to “encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all” (1st Thess 5:14) and make sure “that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone” (1st Thess 5:15). For Paul, the will of God was not some mysterious, intangible, unknowable thing that cannot be grasped but rather he reveals that God’s will for us is to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1st Thess 5:16-18). What this means is that God’s will is that we “Abstain from every form of evil” (1st Thess 5:22) because we can hurt the testimony of the church by the way that we live.

Conclusion

This short but powerful book gives much comfort to those who are uncertain that Jesus will return because Paul writes that “the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief” (1st Thess 5:2-4) and this is still true today. He is coming and He will both be your judge and jury (Rev 20:12-15) or He will be your Lord, Savior, King, and God (Rev 22) and for me, that day cannot come soon enough.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.