The arrival of Silas and Timothy from Macedonia, during Paul's sojourn in Corinth, had greatly cheered the apostle. They brought him "good tidings" of the "faith and charity" of those who had accepted the truth during the first visit of the gospel messengers to Thessalonica. Paul's heart went out in tender sympathy toward these believers, who, in the midst of trial and adversity, had remained true to God. He longed to visit them in person, but as this was not then possible, he wrote to them.

Dette kapitel er bygget op over brevene til tessalonikerne

Det var en stor opmuntring for Paulus, da Silas og Timoteus ankom fra Makedonien, mens han var i Korint. De bragte ham "gode tidender" om deres "tro og kærlighed", som havde taget mod sandheden under det første besøg af evangeliets sendebud i Tessalonika. Paulus havde dyb medfølelse med disse troende, som trods prøvelser og modgang var forblevet tro mod Gud. Han længtes efter personligt at besøge dem, men da der dengang ingen mulighed var herfor, skrev han til dem.