1 Thessalonians 1

Paul writes the first section to celebrate and encourage the Church at Thessalonica. He mentions their reputation, he mentions their support of his work, he mentions the evidence of their having been chosen by God and, without saying it, how proud he is of the progress they have made. Thessalonica and the providence of Macedonia were the birth place of Alexander the Great (300 + years before this letter. The city is a Roman colony and the primary commercial city in this region just north of Greece. The church there is worthy of celebration.