The letters to the Thessalonian church may be the earliest extant Christian writings in the modern canon. Although debate continues over the authenticity of Pauline authorship, there is no doubt that these letters grapple with the heart of Paul's missionary message. Significantly, the challenge that confronted the Thessalonian Christians is one that still faces the faithful today: remaining true to the word of God when it conflicts with the message of popular culture.

As a much-favored free city in the Roman empire, Thessalonia was granted courtesies that enabled her to retain her own culture and governing traditions. To ensure the continued favor of Rome, the city intentionally popularized a cult of emperor worship among its citizens. The fledging Christians at Thessalonia ran head-on in…