1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians is probably Paul's earliest letter. He had spent little time in the city before leaving under pressure and writes worried about the survival of that newly formed church. The tone is warm and full of praise. The doctrinal section answers a concrete question: what happens to Christians who die before Christ returns? The answer, in chapter 4, is one of the most read at funerals: they are not lost, and we should not grieve "like the rest, who have no hope". The close carries a sequence of short instructions, among them the three most quoted: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks.