Letters to the Church

In his Letter to the Romans , Paul describes in detail the message of salvation that he proclaims among the nations. He declares that it is the “ power of God for salvation ” to all men who accept it. Due to humanity’s sin, two forces are at work in the world - Righteousness and Wrath . In Jesus of Nazareth, God has provided the solution to humanity’s desperate plight and made it available to all men through the “ faith OF Jesus Christ .”

The terms “ tribulation ” and “ wrath ” are NOT synonymous in Paul’s letters or the Book of Revelation . “ Tribulation ” is what the disciples of Jesus endure for his sake. “ Wrath ” is the horrific fate that awaits the wicked at the final judgment. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes that God did not appoint them to “ wrath .” Yet, in the same letter, he states that believers are destined for “ tribulation .”

The Assembly in Thessalonica received the Gospel in tribulation but remained faithful while anticipating the arrival of Jesus . In the opening paragraph of his first Letter to the Thessalonians , the Apostle Paul anticipates the subjects that he will discuss in the Letter’s body, including the tribulations of believers, the basis for Christian hope, the “ arrival ” of Jesus, the resurrection of the dead, and the impending “ wrath ” on unbelievers and persecutors.

The proclamation of the Gospel reveals two forces at work in the world - “righteousness” and “wrath,” and they will produce two very different results - “salvation” for some, and “destruction” for others. In the end, “righteousness” will produce salvation, resurrection, and New Creation for those who embrace the Gospel, but the coming “Day of Wrath and God’s righteous judgments” will mean condemnation and destruction for the men and women who reject the “Good News” announced by Jesus and his Apostles.

In his Letter to the Romans , the Apostle Paul argues from plight to solution. The Gospel that he proclaims is the “ power of God for salvation .” Due to sin, two forces are at work in the world – Righteousness and Wrath . In his Son, God has provided the solution to the desperate plight of all men that is now available to all on the same basis - “ from the faith of Jesus Christ .” Moreover, this “ Good News ” was promised beforehand in the Hebrew scriptures and is now being fulfilled as the Gospel is preached.

Already, Jesus is rescuing his people from the coming wrath that will befall the unrighteous when he arrives . Local opposition forced Paul to leave the city of Thessalonica before his work there was finished. Because of his anxieties about the congregation, he sent Timothy to investigate matters, and his first Letter to the Thessalonians is his thankful response after receiving a good report from Timothy on the health of the Assembly.