St. Paul Writing to the Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians

Paulc. 51
BibleEasyEpistleAncient GreekQuick · 7 pages

Read this if you…

  • want to read the earliest surviving Christian document, period
  • curious about the original "caught up together with them in the clouds" rapture passage
  • like seeing what a Christian church looked like before any of the gospels were written

Skip this if you…

  • don't want to read explicitly religious/Christian texts

Why It Matters

This is the oldest surviving Christian document, written around 51 CE, so it's our earliest look at what the first Christians actually believed and did. The 'rapture' passage (4:16-17) has had an outsized effect on end-times theology.

Gallery

Depicted in Art

An aged Paul sits at a desk in dim, Rembrandtesque light, pen in hand and an open book before him, paused in thought as he composes the epistle.

Jan Lievens, 1629

Paul stands on a stone platform in a Greek square, arms raised, preaching to a half-circle of Athenians — the canonical Renaissance image of Paul's Greek mission.

Raphael, 1515

Paul stands with arm outstretched, exhorting a seated crowd of Thessalonians — figures lean in, faces lit; the apostle gestures upward as he preaches.

Gustave Doré, 1866

Editions

Recommended Editions

#1Top Pick

King James Version

Cambridge University Press · 1611

The most influential and commonly quoted translation in English. The prose rhythm everyone else is responding to, even modern translations.

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Deep Dive

What It's About

Spoiler warning

This summary gives away plot details.

Notable Quotes

“Pray without ceasing.”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV)

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

— 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (KJV)

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