(A.D.51?) [Paul's first letter of the New Testament, written from Corinth to Thessalonica of Macedonia. He had established this young Church just a few months prior, during this his Second Missionary Journey. Having to depart under persecution, he now writes to further instruct them concerning Christ's return, learning they were concerned about how this would benefit some who had recently died. See Acts 17:1-18:11.] Silas and Timothy now having reunited with him, he gives thanks for their good report, and identifying the three greatest graces at work in them: faith, hope, and charity. He recalls for them how they had received the gospel of faith with wonders and miracles in the Holy Spirit, so much so that it had spread throughout all Macedonia, even into Achaia; in fact, their testimony precedes him in every place. The way they readily turned from their pagan idols, embracing the personal life and witness of Jesus Christ, is a great inspiration to all!

Paul's heart is here laid bare for all to look within to see for themselves no guile in his life and work as his enemies charge. From the outset, his life has been an open book before them; he withheld nothing from them! Although escaping with his life from Philippi, he did not cower when he came to them. But his manner was gentle, as a loving parent for child. Parents do not seek glory from their children; on the contrary, they give themselves unselfishly to the survival and growth of their own that they might live beyond them, carrying on in their tradition, living out in their lives the knowledge, wisdom, truths, and beliefs passed on, that the parents' lives not be lived in vain. This, he has done in Christ with them. He is saddened anyone would think that he, as a parent, could or would covet anything of his own children. He is aware of their sacrifice, sufferings, mistreatment, and persecutions, even by their own kind, just as his Jewish Christian kinsmen of Judea suffered at the hand of their fellow Jew, including himself. But God will judge and recompense to all each's deeds done in the flesh, just as He is surely going to do to Jerusalem because of their rejection of Jesus Himself. He wishes them to know of his heart's desire to return to them, having been driven from them so soon and prevented by Satan from returning as desired. They are his hope and joy, his treasure, his crown in Christ. (What lofty regards for new Christians! What zeal they must have demonstrated toward Christ and himself! What an example for any who desires an innocent honest walk in Christ -- bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, and enduring all things! Love is the key! I Co.13:6-8a)

Prevented himself from returning, he had returned Timothy to them in his stead to comfort and establish them that they might better endure their present afflictions. He is concerned they not fall to the powers of evil! The very suffering he had predicted to them came suddenly, in their infancy, desiring to snatch them from the cradle of their new birth in Christ. The report of their survival and remembrance of him among them lifts his heart to joy! He desires the more to come to them that he himself might establish them further in their faith. Until such time he may have opportunity, he encourages them to continue in the manner of love and holiness they have begun, that they may be blameless at Christ's sudden appearing.

Whether addressing known instances of sexual impropriety or continuing to exhort to holy living, Paul encourages a purity of life lived in the body dedicated to Christ, who someday will redeem it. Hellenistic Gentiles were paganist in their manner of living. Paul reminds them they were called out from among other citizens of the world to live above the culture of the time, to live as citizens of the kingdom that had come to men who would be redeemed in the end. They are to defraud nor despise any man. Man is made in God's own image, reborn in the likeness of Christ; hence, to despise another is to despise Him ( Js.3:9). Again he commends their love for one another, encouraging them in its continued growth that its resultant work in them may reflect a life of Christ to others. Here, Paul turns to address his main reason for writing: the dead in Christ and their place in His return. They are to know that if Christ was raised from the dead, receiving His glorified body, they too shall be when He reappears. Nothing will prevent this, and just as promised ( Jn.14:3), He will return for all in the same manner He departed ( Acts 1:11). This is our hope and comfort. (And so it is in any day!)

Christ's day of appearing is unknown to any man, but Christ, and, subsequently he, has taught them that both signs and suddenness would characterize His coming. Furthermore, as Christ taught watchfulness, they are encouraged to live in expectancy, preventing them from being caught off guard when at last he does return. No part of the universe will be unaffected at His appearing on Earth, therefore, no place will be safe for those who wish to hide; but why should those who live expecting Him even desire to do so? Only those whose deeds are evil, who prefer darkness to light, will be terrorized at His coming. Therefore, all should live as children of the light that has already appeared to each. What follows is Paul's admonitions for their manner of living, loving even their newly called inexperienced pastors in a way that would honor even the Lord who has given them charge over them. The whole of man will be redeemed when He appears, body, soul and spirit, so neglect nothing in your daily living! He will finish what He has started in each ( Ph.1:6). Paul closes with a final request for prayer and instructions in conduct for Christian greetings and the reading of this letter.