1 Thessalonians 2:13

Contextual Overview

¹³And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.¹³ And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹³ For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.¹³And for this reason we also thank God without ceasing that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. ¹³We are so thankful you didn't turn a deaf ear to what we had to say. You didn't act like God's message was just another self-help course taught by the world. It was the word of God and you accepted it with the awe and reverence you should have. It is this power that is now available to you and at work within you whether you realize it or not. ¹³ And for this cause we still give praise to God, that, when the word came to your ears through us, you took it, not as the word of man, but, as it truly is, the word of God, which has living power in you who have faith. ¹³ And for this cause we also give thanks to God unceasingly that, having received [the] word of [the] report of God by us, ye accepted, not men's word, but, even as it is truly, God's word, which also works in you who believe. ¹³ This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers. ¹³ For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe. ¹³ For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, even because when ye received the word of God from us, ye received it, not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, who likewise effectually worketh in you that believe.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thank: 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, Romans 1:8, Romans 1:9

because: Jeremiah 44:16, Matthew 10:13, Matthew 10:14, Matthew 10:40, Acts 2:41, Acts 10:33, Acts 13:45, Acts 13:48, Acts 16:14, Acts 16:30-34, Acts 17:11, Acts 17:18-20, Acts 17:32, Galatians 4:14, 2 Peter 3:2

the word of God: Jeremiah 23:28, Jeremiah 23:29, Luke 5:1, Luke 8:11, Luke 8:21, Luke 11:28, Acts 8:14, Acts 13:44, Acts 13:46, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 1:25, 2 Peter 1:16-21

effectually: 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10, John 15:3, John 17:17, John 17:19, Romans 6:17, Romans 6:18, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Colossians 1:6, Hebrews 4:12, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 Peter 2:2, 1 John 3:3, 1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:5

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 17:24 - the word 1 Chronicles 29:13 - we thank Nehemiah 8:3 - ears Psalms 45:4 - prosperously Psalms 110:2 - the rod Psalms 119:102 - for thou Proverbs 4:10 - my Song of Solomon 4:2 - teeth Song of Solomon 4:16 - the spices Isaiah 55:11 - shall my Jeremiah 10:1 - General Ezekiel 3:10 - receive Haggai 1:12 - Zerubbabel Matthew 20:16 - for John 6:63 - the words John 17:8 - received Romans 1:13 - even Romans 1:16 - for it is 1 Corinthians 9:8 - as 1 Corinthians 15:1 - which also Galatians 2:5 - that Ephesians 1:13 - after that ye heard Ephesians 3:7 - by Ephesians 4:16 - the effectual Philippians 1:23 - in Colossians 1:5 - the word 1 Thessalonians 1:6 - received 1 Thessalonians 1:9 - what 1 Thessalonians 2:1 - our 2 Thessalonians 1:10 - our 2 Thessalonians 1:11 - the work 2 Thessalonians 3:1 - even 2 Timothy 3:14 - knowing Philemon 1:7 - great joy Hebrews 4:2 - not being Hebrews 13:7 - word James 1:19 - let James 1:21 - and receive 1 John 2:27 - but 3 John 1:2 - even

Cross-References

Genesis 10:6
The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan.

Genesis 10:6

The Hamites

The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.

Genesis 10:6
The sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan.

Genesis 10:6
The sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan.

Genesis 10:6
The children of Ham, Chus: and Mizraim, and Phut, and Chanaan.

Genesis 10:6
Ham's sons were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

Genesis 10:6
The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.

Genesis 10:6
Sotheli the sones of Cham weren Thus, and Mesraym, and Futh, and Chanaan.

Genesis 10:6
And the sonnes of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

Genesis 10:6
And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing,.... As for their election of God, 1 Thessalonians 1:4 so for their effectual calling by his grace, to his kingdom and glory, just now mentioned, as well as for their reception of the word of God as such, hereafter expressed; since their having it and receiving it, and the effectual operation of it in them, were owing to the goodness and grace of God, and therefore required a constant sense of the favour, and thankfulness, without ceasing, for it. The apostle having at large considered the manner of his and his fellow ministers' entrance among them without guile, flattery, covetousness, or any sinister view, and with all simplicity, integrity, labour, diligence, affection, and tenderness, returns to observe the reception their ministry met with, and the influence and effect it had upon them:

because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us; or "the word of hearing of God", as the Vulgate Latin version from the Greek text literally renders it; that is, the Gospel which was preached by the apostles, and was heard and received by these Thessalonians: and it is called the word of God, because God is the author of it; it comes from him, and is ministered by his authority, and is a part of that written word which is given by his inspiration; and because his grace in choosing, redeeming, justifying, pardoning, adopting, regenerating, and giving eternal life to men, and the declaration of his will concerning saving them by his Son Jesus Christ, are the subject matter of it; and because he owns and blesses it, for the conversion and comfort of his people: and it may be called the word of hearing of God, because coming from him, and containing his will, and preached by his order, and succeeded by his power, hearing comes by it; it is divinely breathed by him; he speaks in it by his ministers, and he is heard of in it by his people; as he was by these believers, who heard his word both externally and internally; and received it into their understandings, so as to know it spiritually and experimentally; into their minds, not merely notionally, and so as to assent to the truth of it, and give credit to it, but so as to believe in Christ revealed in it; and into their affections, in the love of it, and with joy in the Holy Ghost; they received it gladly, and with meekness and readiness, so that it became the ingrafted word, and brought forth fruit in them: the manner in which they received it follows,

ye received it not as the word of men: which is often fallacious and deceitful, at least dubious and uncertain, and not to be depended on; nor did they receive it as the words of wise men are received, and because it was clothed with the wisdom, eloquence, and oratory of men, for it was destitute of these; nor upon the credit and authority of men, no, not of the apostles themselves:

but as it is in truth the word of God: it appearing to be agreeably to the perfections of his nature, and to the Scriptures of truth, and it bearing his impress and divine authority, they received it with much assurance and certainty, as infallible truth; and which was inviolably to be adhered to, without any alteration, without adding to it or taking from it; and to be had and retained in the greatest esteem and reverence, and never to be departed from: and that they received it in this manner, appears from its operation in them,

which effectually worketh also in you that believe: the Vulgate Latin version reads, "who worketh"; referring it to God, as indeed it may be referred to him, as well as to his word; but the sense is much the same, for God works by and with his word, and his word only effectually works when it comes in power; or is the power of God unto salvation to them that believe; and when it does come with a divine commission and power, it effectually works to the quickening of dead sinners, the enlightening of dark minds, the unstopping of deaf ears, the softening of hard hearts, producing faith which works by love, encouraging hope, delivering from the bondage of sin, Satan, and the law, and comforting and establishing the hearts of the saints under all afflictions, trials, and persecutions.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For this cause also thank we God - In addition to the reasons for thankfulness already suggested, the apostle here refers to the fact that they received the truth, when it was preached, in such a way as to show that they fully believed it to be the word of God.

Not as the word of men - Not of human origin, but as a divine revelation. You were not led to embrace it by human reasoning, or the mere arts of persuasion, or from personal respect for others, but by your conviction that it was a revelation from God. It is only when the gospel is embraced in this way that religion will show itself sufficient to abide the fiery trials to which Christians may be exposed. He who is convinced by mere human reasoning may have his faith shaken by opposite artful reasoning; he who is won by the mere arts of popular eloquence will have no faith which will be proof against similar arts in the cause of error; he who embraces religion from mere respect for a pastor, parent, or friend, or because others do, may abandon it when the popular current shall set in a different direction, or when his friends shall embrace different views; but he who embraces religion as the truth of God, and from the love of the truth, will have a faith, like that of the Thessalonians, which will abide every trial.

Which effectually worketh also in you that believe - The word rendered “which” here - ὅς hos - may be referred either to “truth” or to “God.” The grammatical construction will admit of either, but it is not material which is adopted. Either of them expresses a sense undeniably true, and of great importance. The meaning is, that the truth was made efficacious in the minds of all who became true Christians. It induced them to abandon their sins, to devote themselves to God, to lead pure and holy lives, and enabled them to abide the trials and temptations of life; compare notes on Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 13:21. The particular illustration here is, that when they embraced the gospel it had such an efficacy on their hearts as to prepare them to meet all the terrors of bitter persecution without shrinking.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 13. Ye received the word of God — Ye received the doctrine of God, not as any thing fabricated by man, but as coming immediately from God himself, we being only his messengers to declare what he had previously revealed to us. And ye have had the fullest proof that ye have not believed in vain; for that doctrine, under the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, has worked most powerfully in you, filling you with light, life, and holiness.