Thought to be earliest document in NT
Thought by most to be pseudonymous
Those unwilling to work shouldn't eat
Seems to be patterned on Colossians
Passage about meeting Jesus in the clouds (Parusia)
Thessalonians are concerned about those who have died
It is one of the "Pastoral Epistles"
The Man of Lawlessness and the Restrainer
Letter intended to comfort and encourage readers who are facing persecution
Pauline authorship is disputed
Accommodations made to the values of Greco-Roman society so that the church might lead a "quiet peaceable life"
Realized Eschatology
Realized eschatology
Detailed qualifications for the offices of bishop and deacon
Opposition to some kind of Jewish mystical philosophy
Putting on the "whole armor of God" to defend against spiritual, cosmic powers
concerned with the teaching of sound doctrine (opposing the false teachers)
Unity of Jew and gentile in the church
Household code
The cosmic supremacy of Christ
Heavy use of family language and metaphors
Letter opposes the idea that the end has already come
Contains a household code
