First Thessalonians is the Apostle Paul’s first epistle (letter) written in the New Testament. He established a pattern with this letter that he continued in six other New Testament epistles. He always began with a salutation which included an introduction of the one writing the epistle, the church addressed and a greeting expressing some statement of good wishes for the readers. This greeting was often a desire for grace and peace which was common in the letters written in the Hellenistic world. For Paul’s readers, grace is God’s provision of everlasting life through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peace was the byproduct in the inner lives of those who by faith accepted God’s provision.