Encourage Each Other With These Words: An Overview of 1 Thessalonians & an Exegesis of Chapter One

Abstract

Pastor Heckendorf introduces his essay by considering the great resurrection section that is 1 Thess. 4:13-18 - a selection that is often on the lips of pastors as they strive to offer comfort to a struggling family. In explanation, he says, “Could it be that these words, perhaps only second to the great resurrection chapter of the Bible, demonstrate the victory of our Savior over death as we hear the trumpet sound?… These words certainly are beautiful and comforting in and of themselves. But a closer look at the whole of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians demonstrates that these words were not just a few drops of golden honey that accidentally dripped into an otherwise dry, tasteless sermon.” Pastor Heckendorf then continues to give a brief background to the epistle and offer an exegesis of its first ten verses.