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+# Introduction to 1 Thessalonians
+
+## Overview
+
+The apostle Paul wrote two letters to the Christians in Thessalonica. Scholars think these letters
+are some of the first letters that Paul wrote to other Christians.
+Thessalonica was the Roman capital of Macedonia. Thessalonica was a large city. The church in
+Thessalonica included both Jewish Christian and Gentile Christians.
+Paul started the church in Thessalonica. Therefore, he knew the Christians in Thessalonica well.
+He wrote to them the way someone writes to a friend.
+Paul wrote about several things. He wanted to help the Christians in Thessalonica to know about
+the second coming of Jesus. So Paul spoke about this at the end of every chapter of this letter.
+Paul also wanted to encourage the Thessalonian Christians. He also wanted them to do the
+things that honored God.  
+
+See: Apostle; Church; Gentile; Jesus’ Return to Earth
+See Map: Thessalonica; Macedonia
+
+### Who wrote this letter?
+
+Paul, the apostle, wrote this letter. He said that he wrote this letter when he was with Silvanus
+and Timothy (1:1). Also, many early Christian leaders wrote that he was the author.
+Some people have wondered why Paul did not say he was an apostle. Paul wrote that he was an
+apostle in most of his letters. Many scholars say that Paul did not have to say he was an apostle
+in this letter because the readers knew him. Some scholars think Paul did not write about his title
+because Paul felt great affection for these readers. So he did not speak using his formal title.
+
+See: Apostle
+
+### Who did Paul write to?
+
+Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Thessalonica. He met them when he was in
+Thessalonica (see: Acts 17). He wrote this letter to them between AD 49 - 54 while he was in
+Corinth.
+Paul wrote about several things in this letter:
+
+1. He wrote to teach new Christians things that are true so they would believe them. Paul
+wanted the Thessalonian Christians not to listen to people who taught the wrong things.
+He wanted them to remember what he taught them when he was in Thessalonica. He
+also wanted them not to worry when they suffered for being Christians.
+2. He wrote to remind readers about the gospel. Paul wanted them to remember that Jesus
+saved them from their sins. He did not want them to worry about what they might hear
+from other teachers.
+
+3. He wrote to answer false things that other people said about him. People told Paul about
+what the people who taught falsely were telling the Thessalonians. So he wrote this letter
+to tell them what was true about how he taught and lived.
+4. He wrote to encourage the Christians in Thessalonica to do the things that honor God.
+He wanted them to believe in Jesus. He also wanted them to help other people to believe
+in Jesus because of the things they did to honor God.
+5. He wrote to help Christians know what to think about what happens after someone dies.
+Paul wanted his readers to know that when people who believe in Jesus die, they will be
+different than the people who do not believe in Jesus. (See: 2 Thessalonians; 1
+Corinthians 15.)
+
+See: Gospel
+See Map: Thessalonica; Corinth
+
+### Why did Paul write this letter?
+
+Paul wrote this letter to encourage his readers. He wrote to teach them the things they needed to
+do. He wrote say something about the false things other people said about him. He wrote to make
+known what he taught when he was in Thessalonica. He wrote to teach what happens to a
+Christian after death.
+
+## Outline  
+
+1:1-10 Thanking God for the Christians in Thessalonica
+2:1-3:10 What Paul taught and how he lived
+3:11-13 Prayer for holiness
+4:1-12 The things Christians needed to do
+4:13-5:11 Jesus' Return to Earth
+5:12-22 What Christians should do always
+5:23-28 Final prayer and greetings