I Thessalonians 1-3

“For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction” (3:4). Paul was worried that reports of their troubles might frighten the young Thessalonian believers into abandoning Christ. He had warned them that Jesus’ followers should expect to share His sufferings. The gospel had come “in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction” (1:5), but that power did not exclude them from rejection and persecution.

But fear had not conquered them. With “steadfastness of hope” the new believers were standing firm in the Lord (1:2, 3:8).