1 Thessalonians covers a period from roughly from November of AD 50 to January of AD 51. What marks Paul's ministry in Thessalonica is this opposition from the Jewish community and the persecution and oppression that rises out of that opposition. It is important to understand when we look at 1 Thessalonians because of part of Paul’s primary message there has to do with the reality of opposition, persecution and suffering in the life of the believer in the church age.