The letters to the Thessalonians were elements of an innovative solution to a grave predicament. The apostles had been thrown out of town and were banned from returning. They had removed themselves to a distance of 190 miles (300 km) as the crow flies. Now, how could they keep in touch with their newly planted church? In the case of these letters, there were exceptional circumstances: the church was only a few months old; it was undergoing fierce harassment;