1 Thessalonians - NIV

Bible #52

by Anonymous

The church at Thessaloniki (Thessalonica) was a fruit of Paul's second missionary journey. Released from prison at Philippi, Paul and companions, Silas and Timothy, trekked south and then west to the Macedonian capital and commercial center, Thessaloniki. In spite of determined, strong-willed opposition they founded this second European church. Harassed by Jews, Paul fled to Athens and sent Timothy back to Thessaloniki to strengthen the young church against persecution.
Paul wrote '1st Thessalonians' to commend them for their dedication to Jesus Christ and to each other and to encourage them.

Genres: Religion, Christian, Christianity, Nonfiction, Scripture, Spirituality, Audiobook

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 51

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, but wonderful...and packs a great message.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my very favorite books of the Bible, this letter from Paul to the church in Thessalonica is uplifting and encouraging. There are lots of good instructions in this book too, which are still relevant today. I often read from this book when I need a pick-me-up or when I'm longing for my heavenly home. Comfort is to be found in this book, because it’s clearly a piece of God’s heart being poured out with compassion and encouragement from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the dear believers in Thessalonica… and to the believers of every age since.

[Emily ✞ || [fallon's vrs] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pre review
Awesome

pre read
It feels weird doing a pre read review for a book of the Bible…but I just need to say idek know why I read 2 Thessalonians first. I think I just opened my Bible and started reading…

[Shantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

April 2018 read-through

Love these short but awesome letters. Packed with wisdom, challenge, and encouragement.

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4

***

A great letter from Paul!

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians to an audience who had recently heard the Gospel and turned to God. Although suffering because of it, they remained faithful. Paul's letter is his encouragement to continue on through their suffering to reach their eternal home.

[Mitchell Capps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pray continually. The Lord’s Prayer in profession and posture. Leaning not on one’s own understanding but in all our ways acknowledging Him. It’ll make you wise for salvation, all this.

[Sarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 Thess 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

1 Thess 5:19-22 "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."

[Wren (fablesandwren) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sidenote: The reason for such vague and short and "eh" words on each of these books, is because I wasn't challenging the study of the Bible when I read these. I was challenging myself to read the whole Bible in a year because I knew it would be discipline to keep at it daily. I do, however, plan to pick up a book and study what it is saying. Those will be longer reads and more notes.

So here is my review from my "Read the Bible in a Year" challenge. Usually just snippets of thoughts and random things I liked about the book itself. Nothing in-depth.

So here is my review of 1 Thessalonians!

I've just come to the conclusion that Paul wrote the New Testament, or at least most of it. I wish he was my mentor. He has such wise words.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

MY BIBLE CHALLENGE:
In January 2015 I set myself the challenge to read the complete Bible within a year. I discovered that was an unrealistic challenge, and decided to pick up my Bible as and when I felt ready to read more of it. Here is a link to all the reviews in my Bible challenge so far:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

[Ella あいみ M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul's letter to the Thessalonians was written to encourage the Christians there in their faith, commend them for their steadfastness so far, and urge them to continue to grow in their godliness.

Main themes discussed in this letter:
– our call to sanctification and the need to walk in a way pleasing to God (Ch. 4:1-8)
– the importance of not being lazy and depending on others to work and provide for you, but being responsible and working hard yourself to earn an honorable living (Ch. 4:1-12)
– details about the Day of the Lord, and what we should do in preparation for it (Ch. 5:1-11)
– a number of exhortations and commands that we should take to heart and strive to follow (Ch. 5:12-22)

1 Thessalonians extols the believers in Thessaloniki for standing strong in their commitment to Jesus despite persecution and suffering, and it challenges us to do the same and hold fast to Jesus. It encourages all of us as Christians to further our faith and yearn after God as we wait with hope for the return of the King (sorry, I just couldn't help but allude to LotR right there), Jesus, who will set everything wrong in this fallen world right.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with the Bible Recap on 11/23/2024
Read with the Bible Recap on 11/27/2025

[Andy Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like other letters of Paul, Thessalonians is chock full of great teaching. The most famous section is in chapter 4, where Paul encourages Thessalonians concerning loved ones who have died. He reminds them they have hope in the resurrection. The dead will rise at Jesus's return from heaven and those Christians alive will be caught up to heaven to meet the Lord in the air and will always be with the Lord ever afterward.

Paul writes them another letter encouraging them again in 2 Thessalonians. Don't miss the sequel!

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."
I Thessalonians 5:14‭-‬22

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with the children during our school Together Time. As usual, we read NKJV, not ESV, but this is what I can find to help me note it. And it's not Anonymous -- God is the author (inspiring Paul the apostle)!

Update 11/23/21: This time through was for personal reading. Encouraging and edifying, as I always expect from Paul's letters. I've noticed that I read references to persecution with a different feeling these days....

[Angela R. Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

KJV version.

[Chere' Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul and Silas. Writing to the believers to continue to be strong. Doing what is right. Preparing for the Lord to return.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend pairing The Bible Recap studies (free podcast/youtube) to your Bible reading. It's helped to bring a fresh perspective to these well-loved books.

[Marielle Mullen]

i'm desperate okay

[Cristina Rodríguez]

Si lees la biblia en horario de trabajo tecnicamente te pagan por leer la biblia.
Me declaro fan de las cartas, son muy fáciles de leer y no te pierdes en la historia

[John Stanifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

2/15/21: Here's a perfect example of how words that are nearly 2,000 years old can stop your breath by how current they feel:

"Beloved friends, we may have been torn away from you physically for a season, but never in our hearts. For we have had intense longings and have endeavored to come and see in your faces the reflection of this great love. We miss you badly, and I personally wanted to come to you, trying again and again, but our adversary, Satan, blocked our way."
~2:17-18 (TPT)

This isn't the sort of passage you'd likely hear a minister lingering on in a sermon, but wow. It's worth focusing on every word in this passage and imagining that it was written yesterday.

It's not hard, right? Haven't we all been feeling this way for nigh on a year now? Physically torn away from the people and the things that we love (but not in our hearts). We are constantly full with "intense longings" for "faces." Missing everyone and everything.

Thank you, Paul, for reminding us once again that what we think is new is just . . . new to US.

Knowing you all endured it back then makes it just a little easier to bear today.

6/12/20:I have to say I'd rather have been the recipient of 1 Thessalonians than the recipient of 1 Corinthians.

Where the latter contains charges of numerous -- and very serious -- sins, the former is mostly the good things Paul has to say about the Thessalonians.

"You guys are great. You've kept the faith. I was kind of worried there for a minute, since I haven't been able to see you in person for a while, but my buddy Tim reassured me you're OK. Keep doing what you're doing."

That's my short version of what's already a short book!

Also, props for this having one of the most justly famous passages in the New Testament, where Paul describes his vision of what will happen at the end of time when we're "caught up together with them [the saints] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this letter, Paul celebrates the church's future hope as they remain faithful to Jesus and flourish in their faith despite persecution. In this letter, Paul celebrates the church's future hope as they remain faithful to Jesus and flourish in their faith despite persecution.

[Joan Haughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. He told them to keep themselves holy: 1 Thes 4: 3-8: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

No one knows when the Lord will return; 1 Thes 5: 2-3: For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

How we should conduct ourselves as children of God: 1 Thes 5: 15-23 : See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bless the name of Jesus!

[Jim Robles · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 Thessalonians is Paul's earliest Epistle, written around 49 or 50 BC, and out earliest Christian document. It is one of the seven undisputed Pauline Epistles.

Some Thessalonians had died and this raised anxiety, for them, among those still living. Paul appears to have taught that Christ would return very soon. Paul reassures the Thessalonians that first Christ will return on a cloud; then those who have died will join Christ in the air; then those - like Paul expected to be - still alive will join them in the air.

p. 2075. A significant issue for contemporary Christian readers is what kind of expectation is appropriate now, two thousand years later.

This passage is the basis for the "Rapture." Rapture is not a Biblical term, and there is no suggestion of a "Rapture" in Revelation.

The "Rapture" seems to be based on a three-story universe, which was how Jews of the time viewed the world. In Genesis flood waters are coming from above, as well as below, because God's order is breaking down. The Tower of Babble makes it explicit that people believed that you could get to Heaven by building the tower tall enough.

All of Paul's letters contain the fundamental message that the Messiah's death and resurrection is what leads to a right relationship with God for those who believe.

The seventy-fifth book I have finished this year.

[Cassie Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book of First Thessalonians is the fifty-second book in the Bible and the thirteenth book of the New Testament. It was written by the Apostle Paul only a few months after being forced to leave Thessolonica. When Timothy brought back a good report about the believers, Paul wrote this letter of encouragement.

Paul’s letter is full of encouragement for the Thessalonian believers, urging them to grow in godliness as they lived out their lives. He showcases that their faith would mature if they kept in mind the return of Jesus Christ and walk in the Holy Spirit. The return of Christ would not only mature their faith, but it would also provide comfort.

First Thessalonians provides a detailed explanation of what we now call the Rapture. There are several ways to look at these passages, but any way one looks at it, we should be eager to see the return of Christ. I enjoy the hope and excitement that this book gives in relation to Christ returning for His people. While also appreciating the different interpretations and the discussions that come with the Rapture.

[Joan Haughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18: For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.


1 Thessalonians 4:3–7: God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.


Bless the name of Jesus!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this particular audiobook is narrated using the King James Version, I read this in The Message With Its Translator: Conversations. I found Eugene Peterson's notes to be helpful and devotional and I especially appreciate the ease of the translation itself. The narrator to this series (Simon Peterson) is easy to listen to and understand. I prefer to listen and read along in the same translation, but I do not like the narrations of the message that are currently available.

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this work of immense interest and importance.
The compilation of historical accounts, wisdom & proverbial insights, and thought provoking texts, along with descriptive and informative footnotes, are of great value.
Explanations, including varying scholarly views depicting the material related in this book, are available for each of the 66 individual books of the Bible.
This book is but one of the individual 66 books/letters which were written by forty different authors over at least 1500 years in three different languages on three different continents, which comprise the Bible.
Read for life-related reasons and personal research.
Overall, a great resource for the researcher, enthusiast, and devotee.

[Zera · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's true what they say—the Bible meets us where we are. I'm really enjoying reading Paul's written books, and reading them in conjunction to Pastor Justin's sermons and systematic theology classes sheds a new light in how I analyse and appreciate the Word of God. There are now so many references and deeper meanings that I had not realised from before. Paul leaves with beautiful, life-long advice for Christians. To always give thanks whatever happens. God always knows best. I shall trust Him with everything.

[Ionela Banari · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bucuraţi-vă întotdeauna. Rugaţi-vă neîncetat. Mulţumiţi lui Dumnezeu pentru toate lucrurile, căci aceasta este voia lui Dumnezeu, în Hristos Isus, cu privire la voi. Nu stingeţi Duhul. Nu dispreţuiţi prorociile. Ci cercetaţi toate lucrurile și păstraţi ce este bun. Feriţi-vă de orice se pare rău. Dumnezeul păcii să vă sfinţească El Însuși pe deplin și duhul vostru, sufletul vostru și trupul vostru să fie păzite întregi, fără prihană la venirea Domnului nostru Isus Hristos. Cel ce v-a chemat este credincios și va face lucrul acesta."
5:16-24

[Savion Stfleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

1 Thessalonians is a book of the Bible write by Paul while he was in prison to know about their well being. I like this book becuse I feel like it’s my dad telling me all the things I’m dining right after the quarter ends and I Have all A’s. Another reason why I like his book is becuse it tells about how to live a good life and what you should do. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is sad and needs motivation.