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1 Thessalonians: Outline of Contents

I. Salutation (1:1)

II. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ faith and example (1:2–10)

III. Main body of the letter (2:1–5:11)

A. Expression of ongoing concern for the Thessalonians (2:1–3:13)

1. Past ministry in Thessalonica (2:1–16)

2. Desire to see the Thessalonians again (2:17–3:5)

3. Response to Timothy’s report (3:6–13)

B. Ethical instructions for living in a pagan environment (4:1–12)

C. Teaching regarding death of believers and the Second Coming of Christ (4:13–5:11)

IV. Closing (5:12–28)

A. Final exhortations (5:12–25)

B. Greetings (5:26–27)

C. Benediction (5:28)

Courtesy of HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, ed. Mark Allan Powell (New York: HarperCollins, 2011), 1035.