1 Thessalonians 2 · Verse 13

1 Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:13, King James Version

1 Thessalonians 2:13 in other translations

BSBAnd we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.
WEBFor 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, God’s word, which also works in you who believe.
ASVAnd for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.
YLTBecause of this also, we--we do give thanks to God continually, that, having received the word of hearing from us of God, ye accepted, not the word of man, but as it is truly, the word of God, who also doth work in you who believe;
DARBYAnd 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.
BBEAnd 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.
WebsterFor this cause also we thank God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

What does 1 Thessalonians 2:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. For this cause--Seeing ye have had such teachers (1Th 2:10-12) [Bengel], "we also (as well as 'all that believe' in Macedonia and Achaia) thank God without ceasing ('always' ... 'in our prayers,' 1Th 1:2), that when ye received the word of God which ye heard from us (literally, 'God's word of hearing from us,' Ro 10:16, 17), ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, even as it is truly, the word of God." Alford omits the "as" of English Version. But the "as" is required by the clause, "even as it is truly." "Ye accepted it, not (as) the word of men (which it might have been supposed to be), but (as) the word of God, even as it really is." The Greek for the first "received," implies simply the hearing of it; the Greek of the second is "accepted," or "welcomed" it. The proper object of faith, it hence appears, is the word of God, at first oral, then for security against error, written (Joh 20:30, 31; Ro 15:4; Ga 4:30). Also, that faith is the work of divine grace, is implied by Paul's thanksgiving. effectually worketh also in you that believe--"Also," besides your accepting it with your hearts, it evidences itself in your lives. It shows its energy in its practical effects on you; for instance, working in you patient endurance in trial (1Th 2:14; compare Ga 3:5; 5:6).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. 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--ος--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. Comp.

Php 2:12, Php 2:13; Heb 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.

(e) "not as" Mt 10:40, 2Pet 3:2 (f) "worketh also" Jas 1:18, 1Pet 1:23

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16
We should receive the word of God with affections suitable to its holiness, wisdom, truth, and goodness. The words of men are frail and perishing, like themselves, and sometimes false, foolish, and fickle; but God's word is holy, wise, just, and faithful. Let us receive and regard it accordingly. The word wrought in them, to make them examples to others in faith and good works, and in patience under sufferings, and in trials for the sake of the gospel. Murder and persecution are hateful to God, and no zeal for any thing in religion can excuse it. Nothing tends more to any person or people's filling up the measure of their sins, than opposing the gospel, and hindering the salvation of souls. The pure gospel of Christ is abhorred by many, and the faithful preaching of it is hindered in many ways. But those who forbid the preaching it to sinners, to men dead in sin, do not by this please God. Those have cruel hearts, and are enemies to the glory of God, and to the salvation of his people, who deny them the Bible.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Thessalonians 2:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τοῦτοtoutothisG3778
καὶkaialsoG2532
ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselvesG3165
εὐχαριστοῦμενeucharistoumengive thanksG2168
τῷtō<the>G3588
θεῷtheōto GodG2316
ἀδιαλείπτωςadialeiptōsunceasinglyG89
ὅτιhotithatG3754
παραλαβόντεςparalabonteshaving receivedG3880
λόγονlogon[the] wordG3056
ἀκοῆςakoēs[by your] hearingG189
παρ᾽par᾽fromG3844
ἡμῶνhēmōnusG3165
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ἐδέξασθεedexastheyou acceptedG1209
οὐounotG3756
λόγονlogon[the] wordG3056
ἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōnof menG444
ἀλλὰallabutG235
καθώςkathōseven asG2531
ἐστινestinit isG1510
ἀληθῶςalēthōstrulyG230
λόγονlogon[the] wordG3056
θεοῦ,theouof God,G2316
ὃςhoswhichG3739
καὶkaialsoG2532
ἐνεργεῖταιenergeitaiworksG1754
ἐνeninG1722
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
τοῖςtoiswhoG3588
πιστεύουσιν.pisteuousinbelieve.G4100

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Thessalonians 2:13

  • Hebrews 4:12

    For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

  • Romans 10:17

    So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

  • 1 Peter 1:23

    Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

  • 1 Peter 1:25

    But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

  • 1 Peter 2:2

    As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

  • Luke 11:28

    But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

  • Acts 13:48

    And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

  • 1 John 3:3

    And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:18

    But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

  • Acts 17:11

    These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

  • Galatians 4:14

    And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

  • Colossians 1:6

    Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
thank.
1:2,3; Ro 1:8,9
because.
Jer 44:16; Mt 10:13,14,40; Ac 2:41; 10:33; 13:45,48; 16:14,30-34
Ac 17:11,18-20,32; Ga 4:14; 2Pe 3:2
the word of God.
Jer 23:28,29; Lu 5:1; 8:11,21; 11:28; Ac 8:14; 13:44,46; Ro 10:17
Heb 4:12; 1Pe 1:25; 2Pe 1:16-21
effectually.
1:5-10; Joh 15:3; 17:17,19; Ro 6:17,18; 2Co 3:18; Col 1:6; Heb 4:12
Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23; 2:2; 1Jo 3:3; 5:4,5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:12

    That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:14

    For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians 2:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por lo cual, también nosotros damos gracias á Dios sin cesar, de que habiendo recibido la palabra de Dios que oísteis de nosotros, recibisteis no palabra de hombres, sino según es en verdad, la palabra de Dios, el cual obra en vosotros los que creísteis.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et c’est pourquoi aussi nous, nous rendons sans cesse grâces à Dieu de ce que, ayant reçu de nous la parole de la prédication qui est de Dieu, vous avez accepté, non la parole des hommes, mais (ainsi qu’elle l’est véritablement) la parole de Dieu, laquelle aussi opère en vous qui croyez.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und darum danken wir auch Gott unablässig, daß, als ihr von uns das Wort der Kunde Gottes empfinget, ihr es nicht als Menschenwort aufnahmet, sondern, wie es wahrhaftig ist, als Gottes Wort, das auch in euch, den Glaubenden, wirkt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ideo et nos gratias agimus Deo sine intermissione: quoniam cum accepissetis a nobis verbum auditus Dei, accepistis illud, non ut verbum hominum, sed (sicut est vere) verbum Dei, qui operatur in vobis, qui credidistis: