Paul wrote again to the small oppressed church in Thessalonica, continuing to encourage them in their faith, love, and hope. Their faith and love had continued to show strong, but in the midst of oppression and false teachers they struggled to hold onto hope. Paul's reminder and assurance is that Jesus is indeed coming back and when he does, he will put an end to the injustice and set all things right.
The first letter to the Thessalonians is one of thankfulness for their faith and encouragement to continue in it. The church in Thessalonica was made up of new followers in Christ; converts who had recently turned from their cultural gods to trust in Jesus as King. They seemed to be marked by faith, love, and hope. The first chapter of this letter expresses a gratitude for the work God was doing in them, and how news of them had spread.
