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have been “written in the early fifties (c. 50-51).” This is a very important piece of information because Paul’s
st
writing of 1 Thessalonians in Corinth was done during the reign of Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia. As a result,
10
based on Acts 18:12-18, Bromiley and others date it no “later than 51.” Based on Acts 18:1, 5; 1 Thess. 1:8,
11
Carson and Moo date it “in AD 50.” External evidence, based on finding an inscription “in Delphi in 1906,”
12
containing “a letter” by Claudius to Gallio, which dates the” reign of Gallio to August, A.D 52,” and dates Paul’s
date of writing to AD 52. The best conjecture on the date of writing should be between 50 and 52 A.D. during
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (Acts 15:36—18:22).

About the City

The city itself was populated by a large group of Gentiles. But the city also attracted Jewish merchants of
the dispersion from Jerusalem, and they had established a synagogue within it (Acts 17:1). It was a free city ruled

by its own council of citizens. Since 146 BC, it was established as the seat of the Roman government for
Macedonia. The city was known as the “mother of Macedonia.” The city was administered by five officials called

“politarchs.” (Acts 17:6). The presence of the synagogue offered Paul an obvious place to begin sharing the
Gospel. He shared with the Jewish groups that the Messiah must suffer and be raised from the dead and that

Jesus Christ is the Messiah. For three consecutive Sabbaths, Paul spoke at the synagogue but met with strong
Jewish resistance. Paul then, as was his custom, turned away from sharing with the Jews and began to preach

the Gospel to the Gentile majority in the city.

We know Paul was, by trade, a tent maker. He probably engaged in his trade to provide necessary funds
for his own keep and that of Silas. Upon his departure from the city, Paul left a sizable, thriving church of
believers fresh from their heathen idolatry (I Thess. 1:9). Therefore, he was probably in Thessalonica for some

time, more than a couple of weeks.

Addressees

The letter was written “to the church of the Thessalonians. . .” (1 Thess. 1:1b). Based on Dr. Luke’s
account, the majority of believers in the church at Thessalonica appear to be Greeks [Acts 17:4; cf. 1 Thess.

9 Tenney, The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, 723.

10 Geoffrey W. Bromiley, et al., eds., The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Illustrated in Four Volumes, Vol.
4: Q-Z, Fully Rev. (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), 833.

11 Carson and Moo, An Introduction to the New Testament, 2 ed., 543.
nd
12 Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 833.

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