First Thessalonians was directed to the new Christian congregation in Thessalonica, which was a large and prosperous city, strategically located on the major east-west land route and at the junction of a highway north to the Danube region. It had the best natural harbor on the Aegean. Products from the surrounding fertile farmlands and forests helped to make the city important commercially. As the capital of the province of Macedonia, Thessalonica was important politically. Because of its service