In this episode, we step into the world of 1 Thessalonians by looking closely at its opening verse and the story behind it. Krisan Marotta introduces Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy, traces how the gospel first came to Thessalonica, and explains why this young church needed encouragement to endure opposition and remain faithful to Christ. In this week’s episode, we explore:How New Testament letters are structured and what we learn from the greeting in 1 Thessalonians 1:1Who Paul, Silas, and Timothy are, and how God brought them together as a ministry teamPaul’s dramatic conversion from persecutor of Christians to apostle of ChristThe path of Paul’s second missionary journey—from Antioch through Asia Minor to Macedonia and GreeceWhy the vision of the “man of Macedonia” in Acts 16 is such a turning point in the spread of the gospelWhat life was like in Thessalonica: its history, culture, strategic location, and religious environmentHow the church in Thessalonica began, including the mix of Jews, Gentile God-fearers, and prominent women who believedThe intense opposition Paul faced, the mob in Thessalonica, and the charge that these men were “turning the world upside down”The contrast between the hostile response in Thessalonica and the “noble-minded” Bereans who searched the ScripturesWhy Paul had to leave Thessalonica so quickly, what happened when Timothy returned there, and why Paul wrote this letter only months laterHow Paul describes the Thessalonian believers as those “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” and what that tells us about their faith and identityAfter listening, you’ll have a clearer picture of the people, places, and pressures behind 1 Thessalonians.  Series: 1&2 Thessalonians: Between TimesStart Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity launches January 9. Pre-order your copy now or buy it on launch day. Visit StartStrongBook.org for more details.   Support the show

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