Who are Paul's letters written to, and how can you tell from his pronouns?
Paul's letters are written to believers. You can tell because when he writes to them, the pronouns are “us” and “we,” including himself with his readers. He seldom alludes to the unbelieving world; in chapter 5, when dealing with those left behind, the pronoun switches to “they” and “them.”
Les explains that in the chapter 4 account, Paul deals with believers who are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Then in chapter 5 he deals with those left behind, the unbelievers, and the pronoun switches to “they.” When they say “peace and safety,” sudden destruction comes upon them, and they—the unbelieving world—shall not escape. Les says this is the best example in all Paul's writings: when Paul writes to us as believers, the pronoun is “us” and “we.” He seldom alludes to the unbelieving world like he does in chapter 5, because everything he writes is for us as believers.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
More Questions
In Paul's letters, how does he refer to believers?
In Paul's writings, when he writes to believers the pronouns are "us" and "we," and he very seldom alludes to the unbelieving world the way he does in 1 Thessalonians 5.