# First Epistle to the Thessalonians (c. 50)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/50-first-epistle-to-the-thessalonians
Location: Corinth, Achaea
Themes: Mission

Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica; the letter is widely regarded as the oldest surviving book of the New Testament. At this point in the timeline (c. 50), the Bishop of Rome was Saint Peter (c. 30 – c. 64). Dates for the earliest bishops of Rome are traditional and uncertain.

## Why it matters
First Epistle to the Thessalonians mattered because it shaped the text, canon or translation of the Bible and how Christians read it.

Pope at the time: [Saint Peter](https://christianity-history.com/popes/saint-peter)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — First Epistle to the Thessalonians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Epistle_to_the_Thessalonians)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — First Epistle to the Thessalonians](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=First+Epistle+to+the+Thessalonians)
- [Wikipedia — Apostolic Age (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_Age)