New Testament
The First Letter to the Thessalonians
The First Letter to the Thessalonians is the thirteenth of the 27 books of the New Testament: 5 chapters and 88 verses.
About 1 Thessalonians
About 1 Thessalonians · Letter to a community
First Thessalonians is very likely the oldest book of the New Testament, written by Paul only months after he founded the church in Thessalonica and was driven out of the city. He writes with obvious relief at good news of their perseverance, encourages them under harassment, and answers their grief over members who had died before the Lord's return: the dead in Christ will rise first. It was written to steady brand-new believers in hope, and its counsel — pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything — has never aged.
| Testament | New Testament — book 13 of 27, 59 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 5 |
| Verses | 88, as Bless numbers them |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, 4 of 5 chapters |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 5 chapters · 2 notes |
| Catechism | 21 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 5 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
1 Thessalonians 1
10 versesHe gives thanks for the grace bestowed on the Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 2
20 versesThe sincerity of the apostle's preaching the gospel to them and of their receiving it.
1 Thessalonians 3
13 versesThe apostle's concern and love for the Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 4
18 versesHe exhorts them to purity and mutual charity. He treats of the resurrection of the dead.
1 Thessalonians 5
28 versesThe day of the Lord shall come when least expected. Exhortations to several duties.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
4 quotations from 3 saints linked to passages of 1 Thessalonians in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux · on 1 Thessalonians 4:3
On this theme
Holiness consists simply in doing God's will, and being just what God wants us to be.
Story of a Soul, ch. 9, 1897
St. Thérèse of Lisieux · on 1 Thessalonians 5:17
On this theme
For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy.
Story of a Soul, ch. 11, 1897
St. Alphonsus Liguori · on 1 Thessalonians 5:17
On this theme
He who prays is certainly saved; he who does not pray is certainly lost.
Prayer, the Great Means of Salvation, I.1, 1759
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · on 1 Thessalonians 5:17
On this theme
We must pray without ceasing, in every occurrence and employment of our lives, that prayer which is rather a habit of lifting up the heart to God as in a constant communication with Him.
Letters, c. 1810
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, 1 Thessalonians is read at the principal Mass on 14 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time | Second Reading | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 | |
| St. Martin of Tours, Bishop | Alleluia | 1 Thessalonians 5:18 | |
| Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time | Second Reading | 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 | |
| Third Sunday of Advent | Second Reading | 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 | |
| Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | 1 Thessalonians 2:13 | |
| Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | 1 Thessalonians 2:13 | |
| computed | Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See 1 Thessalonians 2:13 |
| computed | Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8b-10 |
| computed | Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 |
| computed | Thursday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 |
| computed | St. Monica | First Reading | 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 |
| computed | St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church | First Reading | 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11 |
| computed | Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 |
| computed | Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11 |
| computed | St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church | Alleluia | 1 Thessalonians 5:18 |
| computed | First Sunday of Advent | Second Reading | 1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2 |
| computed | Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See 1 Thessalonians 2:13 |
| computed | Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See 1 Thessalonians 2:13 |
| computed | Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See 1 Thessalonians 2:13 |
| computed | Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | 1 Thessalonians 5:18 |
| computed | Wednesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | 1 Thessalonians 5:18 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.