Disciples Digital Library

Considering the future arrival of Jesus, Paul summons the church to become sanctified completely by that day – 1 Thessalonians 5:23.  Paul concludes his first letter to the Thessalonians with a series of exhortations calling on disciples of Jesus to pursue righteous living in the interim between their conversion and his “ arrival ” from heaven, and he ends by summoning them to complete sanctification, an exhortation with verbal links to the preceding sections of the letter.

If the Thessalonians continue to emulate the apostolic example, they will receive the crown of glory at the arrival of Jesus  – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20.  Opposition from the synagogue compelled Paul to leave Thessalonica prematurely. Though initially, some members of that group had welcomed his message, they turned against him once the Gentiles began to embrace the gospel. Even after he left the city, some synagogue leaders pursued Paul when he preached elsewhere in Macedonia.

Paul prays for the Thessalonians to be found holy and blameless on the day when Jesus arrives in glory  – 1 Thessalonians 3:13.   In chapter 3, Paul issues a prayer that concludes the first half of the letter. In it, he reiterates two requests stated previously. First, for the opportunity to return to Thessalonica. Second, for God to increase their love for him and others. The fulfillment of these two requests will make the faith of the Thessalonians complete.