Overview Both First and Second Thessalonians
were penned by the apostle Paul while he was proclaiming the gospel in the city of Cornith in AD 51 (Acts 18:1-17), which was
during his second missionary journey. Eighteen months earlier Paul preached the gospel to the Thessalonians and planted the church
in Thessalonica but he was forced to leave shortly after begining his ministry by those opposing
the gospel in that city (Acts 17:1-10). Subsequetly, Paul went to Berea (Acts 17:10-13), and on to Athens where he met Timothy (Acts 17:13-16).
Aware of the hardships and persecution the new community of Christian believers faced in his absence, Paul sent Timothy from
Athens to Thessalinca to check on the new Thessanican church (1 Thess 3:1-5) while Paul went on to Corinth (Acts 18:1-17). Thus, the first
letter from Paul to the Thessalonian church was in responce to Timothy's initial report, and the second letter was written in responce
to subsequent reports after returning from delivering the first letter.
Paul's purpose for writing both letters to the Thessalonian believers
was to recognise their perserverance (Thess 1:2-10; 2:13-16), provide practical instruction for Godly
living (3:13; 4:1-8; 5:22-23), to clarify questions concerning the majestic second coming of Christ Jesus as it relates to
those who live and die standing firm in the gospel (1:10; 4:13-18; 5:1-11),
and consequently encourage the Thessalonians to persevere in the gospel considering the stakes.
In due course, Paul explains the everlasting consequences of those "not obeying the gospel of our
Lord Jesus." Click here, or select Thessalonians Greek Interlinear button
below for more details about the gospel and First/Second Thessalonians.
Textual History The oldest manuscript
including First & Second Thessalonians is dated 200 CE,
and is kept at the University of Michigan and Chestery Beatty Library in Dublin, Ireland. Moreover, the first and second letters
to the Thessalonians are included among other epistles contained in the ancient papyrus, and is located on pages 184-195 of P46. Also,
both letters are included in the
Muratorian fragment dated 180 AD, which is a list of the writings that were in wide-spead acceptance
throughout the ancient churches predating the P46 manuscript. It is noteworthy that both the P46 papyrus and the Muratorian Fragment
predates the Council of Nicea (325 AD), Carthage ( AD) and the
canonization of the New Testament.
Because the writings of the apostles were widely circulated and copied immediately after they were written, it would have
been impossible for any one person or group of persons to collect and then make identical changes to all existing copies of these epistles. For
such reasons as apostolic approval, wide-spread circulation and acceptance among the ancient churches spanding
three continents, First and Second Thessalonians was included in the New Testament canon.
The links below will direct you to these sites, and images of this
manuscript. I have also included the English Greek intilenear for Corinthians, and concordance. These
resources will show that modern English translations of this letter are subtantially the
same, and have remained in tact. Combined with preserved writings of the early church leaders
citing passages that concurr with the same passages found in modern translations of the Holy Bible, we can have confidence in
its itegrity. We should also seriously heed the message of this letter
where the Apostle Paul states, "By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the
word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain"(1 Corinthians 15:2).
Click here for more.
