Theophylact of Ohrid, on 1Thess 2:13

“Therefore, we also give thanks to God without ceasing: because, that when you had received of us the word of the hearing of God, you received it not as the word of men, but (as it is indeed) the word of God, who worketh in you that have believed.”

“Here the apostle praises the Thessalonians as well. It cannot be said, he says, that we alone act blamelessly in all things, while you showed something inconsistent with what I instructed you; for you listened to us not with the disposition with which one listens to men, but attended to us as though God Himself were instructing you. By "the word of God which you heard" the apostle means the preaching which is believed through the medium of hearing. "How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?" (Rom. 10:14). How is it evident that you accepted my preaching as the word of God? From your actions, he says, that is, it is revealed in deeds. If you had not accepted it in this way, you would not have endured so courageously so many trials. For just as the apostle himself proves by the dangers he endured that he is no flatterer and no deceiver, so also their measure is revealed from the fact that they endured afflictions.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.