1 Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing Revised reading: And for this cause we also, &c. The Apostle has already given thanks for the Christian worth of the Thessalonians (ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 ff.); his thanksgiving is renewed when he considers that this is the fruit of his own and his companions" labouramongst them. Hence we is emphasized here (in the Greek), but not in ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:2.

"For this cause" looks back over the whole of the last section, 1 Thessalonians 2:1. Accordingly he continues:

because, when ye received the word of God, whichye heard of us Better, (we give thanks) that (R. V.), or in that: comp. notes on ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 and 2 Thessalonians 1:3. The recollections of the last paragraph prompt the writer to the thanksgiving which takes shape in the words that follow:

For ye received the word of God, &c., R. V. renders: ye received from us the word of the message(Greek, word of hearing), even the word of God. Perhaps the A.V. is nearer to St Paul's meaning: "from us" in the original immediately follows "hearing," and appears to be dependent upon it. We therefore translate, somewhat freely, but after the order of the Greek: when you received the word you heard from us God's word. "Word" is not repeated by the Apostle, nor has it the definite article; English idiom requires both. His joy is that a message heard from his lips, not his own indeed but God's word (see 1 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:8, and note on the last), had been thus received. For the connection of "hearing" and "from us" comp. 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:2, "what thou hast heard from me"; and 2 Corinthians 1:19, "the Son of God proclaimed through me and Silas and Timothy." "Faith comes by hearing"; and hearing requires "a preacher" (Romans 10:13-17).

ye receivedit not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God R. V., accepted for received: the Greek verb differs from that of the last clause, which might signify the mere outward reception of something "heard"; this term, as in ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:6, denotes a willing, hearty acceptance a welcomegiven to the "word." It is the expression used in Galatians 4:14: "as an angel of God you receivedme"; again in Philippians 4:18, where Paul speaks of his welcomingthe timely gift from Philippi; and is the common Greek term for receiving a guest.

Literally the clause reads, you accepted not men's word, but, as it is truly, God's word. "Men'sword" the mere word of "Paul and Silas and Timothy." The Thessalonians accepted God's word as God's, with reverence and faith. They recognised in what they heard from Paul and Silas a higher Voice, the message of the living and true God, calling them to life eternal. The success of religious teaching lies in its power to make God's voice audible through human speech. If the preacher cannot do this, he does nothing. And this accounts for the result, which St Paul next describes:

which effectually worketh also in yom that believe which also worketh (R. V.: read workethwith an emphasis), or is operative, effectual.

The "work of faith" which the Apostle admired in the Thessalonian Church (ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:3: see note) is the work of God's word in them. In their lives that word takes effect; it puts forth its energy, and does its proper work. "The seed" of all such fruit "is the word of God" (Luke 8:11).

On "you that believe" see note to ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:7. Here the present tense of the participle makes its force sensible "you that do believe;" continued faith being the condition of this sustained efficacy of the word of God in the Thessalonians. Mighty as it is, that word can do nothing for us unless we believeit (comp. Matthew 13:58).