Introduction to 1 Thessalonians

B.Practice brotherly love (4:9-12)

VI.Christ’s Second Coming (4:13-5:11)

A.The rapture of the saints (4:13-18)

B.The day of the Lord (5:1-11)

V.Concluding Exhortations and Blessings (5:12-28)

Prehistoric settlement on the site of Thessalonica 2300

Founding of Therme at the head of the Thermaic Gulf 600

Cassander, king of Macedon, establishes Thessalonica at the site where Therme had existed, naming the new city in honor of his wife. 316

The Romans gain control of Thessalonica when Perseus, king of Macedonia, is defeated at Pydna. 168

First Jewish community in Thessalonica—emigrants from Alexandria 168-103

Construction of the Macedonian leg of the Egnatian Way, a Roman military road connecting Thessalonica with the Adriatic Sea in the west and with Neapolis in the east 147-120

Thessalonica becomes the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and is referred to as “the Mother of Macedonia.” 146

The Roman statesman Cicero spends six months of his self-imposed exile in Thessalonica. 58

Many Roman officials flee Rome and take up residence in Thessalonica during the Roman civil war. 49-48

Augustus declares Thessalonica a free city following the battle of Philippi. 42

Tiberius Caesar takes away Thessalonica’s status as a free city when her citizens protest increased taxation. 15

Jesus’s trials, death, and resurrection Nisan 14-16 or April 3-5, 33

Pentecost 33

Saul’s conversion on the Damascus Road October 34

Claudius Caesar restores Thessalonica’s status as a free city. 44

Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark make their first missionary journey. 47-49

Paul and Silas begin their second missionary journey. 49

Paul, Silas, and Timothy preach in Thessalonica. 50

Paul writes 1 Thessalonians several months after his ministry among the Thessalonians. 51

Paul concludes his second missionary journey and arrives in Antioch of Syria. 52