St Paul

Winchester Cathedral has organised three seminars on the letters of St Paul, led by the Reverend Philip Seddon, lecturer at The Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme. The first was last night, on Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. This letter is particularly interesting as it is the earliest document within the New Testament, dating from 49-50 AD. It should be read in conjunction with Acts chapter 17 (written around 80 AD) which describes how Paul, Timothy and Silas preached in Thessalonica, converting many people but caused such an uproar amongst some Jews that they were forced to flee. They went to Athens but Paul later sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how the Christian community was getting on and in his letter, written on Timothy's return, he says he is delighted with their progress and gives them encouragement, advice and hope. It is not known who preserved this letter for posterity.