The apostle Paul's letters to the Thessalonians form part of an exciting, complex story of the growth of the New Testament church. We live in a time increasingly like Paul's, when the church all over the known world is growing amid all kinds of aggressive false teaching. What an encouragement and challenge to witness Paul's zeal for the gospel in the midst of missionary trips, newly planted churches, and persecution from multiple directions! How gracious of God to give us Paul's inspired words, which still speak into the church with clarity and spur it on with the hope of Jesus' return.
