1 Thessalonians

First Thessalonians is the tender encouragement of a church planter to a brand-new, persecuted congregation. Paul commends their faith, love, and hope, recalls his gentle ministry among them, and longs to see them again. He then urges them upward into holiness and love, especially purity and brotherly care. The letter's most treasured passage answers their grief: believers who have died in Christ are not lost — at His coming the dead in Christ will rise, and we will be with the Lord forever. So they are to comfort one another, stay awake and sober as children of the day, and keep working faithfully while they wait.