"And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers." (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Paul’s thanksgiving in this verse is neither casual nor a mere expression of piety, but a specific and intentional acknowledgment of God’s work in the Thessalonians’ salvation. He thanks God for their unique response to the gospel: they received it not as human words but as the true Word of God. This distinction is vital because it demonstrates their recognition of the gospel’s divine origin and their submission to its authority, a response that is the hallmark of genuine faith.

Why does Paul thank God for this, and how does this connect to his earlier statements in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5?

Paul’s thanksgiving in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 mirrors his earlier words in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5, where he says, “We give thanks to God always for all of you.” In both passages, his gratitude centers on their salvation and faith, which he attributes entirely to God’s sovereign grace. In 1:4-5, Paul explains the basis of this thanksgiving: God chose them for salvation, evidenced by their response to the gospel. He notes that the gospel came to them “not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” Their ability to recognize the gospel as the Word of God (1:2-5) and receive it as such (2:13) is a direct result of God’s electing love and the Spirit’s effectual work in their hearts.

These passages together emphasize that God is both the initiator and sustainer of salvation, accomplishing it from start to finish. The Thessalonians’ faith, their recognition of the gospel as divine truth, and the ongoing work of the Word in their lives are all evidence of God’s grace. For Paul, this is cause for constant gratitude—not only for what God has done in their lives but also for the power and authority of His Word. As believers today, this reminds us to approach Scripture with humility and reverence, trusting in its ability to transform and sustain us, just as it did for the Thessalonians.

Biblical Syllogism

Premise 1: The Thessalonians received the gospel not as the word of men but as the Word of God, which works effectively in believers. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Premise 2: Paul thanks God—not the Thessalonians—for this response, demonstrating that their ability to recognize the gospel as the Word of God is entirely the result of God’s work, not human effort. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Premise 3: The means by which they came to faith is explicitly described: God sovereignly chose them for salvation, and the gospel came to them “in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5)

Premise 4: The natural human condition is blindness to the truth of God’s Word, seeing it only as the word of men unless the Spirit opens their eyes. (1 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 4:4)

Conclusion: Therefore, salvation is entirely the work of God, who sovereignly elects, empowers the proclamation of His Word, and opens the eyes of the spiritually blind by His Spirit, leaving no room for human boasting. (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, 2:13; Ephesians 2:8-9)