The First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

This letter is written by the apostle Paul to the Christians in Thessalonica, presumably around AD 50 from Corinth. If so, 1 Thessalonians would be the oldest letter of Paul that we have.
The most important subject dealt with in this letter is the end time, the time of God’s judgement of the world.

In the letter the main theme is knowing when the end time will begin. It testifies to Paul preaching that he expects God’s judgement to come quickly.
Paul had not prepared the members of the church for the fact that after their conversion some believers would die before the day of judgement. The letter shows that when this had happened, the Thessalonians were afraid that the dead would have no share in the coming Kingdom of God. Paul explains that the believers who had died would rise again when Jesus comes. Paul calls on the church to be watchful, for God’s judgement could happen at any moment. Precisely when that will be is known only to God.

1 Thessalonians is a letter written in a reasonably spontaneous and not very polished style.