1 Thess 2:13:
The new paragraph in v. 13 begins
with another thanksgiving to God. On “the word you heard,” see Rom 10:17. The
Thessalonians received the preached word as it really was, the word of God.
Historically, many have recognized this verse to be claiming the direct inspiration
of Paul’s words. Elsewhere, Paul explains that God’s word creates faith (Rom
10:14-18); thus v. 13 hwere closes with the Thessalonians’ belief. Augustine
rightly attributed the Thessalonians faith to God’s gift-giving and empowering
word. The Lord enables their love to increase and abound. (A. Andrew Das, 1
and 2 Thessalonians [The Contextual Critical Commentary; Eugene, Oreg.:
Cascade Books, 2026], 52-53)
2 Thess 2:15:
Passing on tradition, whether by apostolic
letter or month, recalls also 1 Thess 4:1. Similar to Rom 16:17 and Gal 1:8,
the Thessalonians are to maintain the traditions they were taught by Paul,
even as philosophers handed down to students their teachings. The second-century
Clement of Alexandria emphasized the divine origin of these traditions, since
humans are otherwise incapable of uttering anything true about God (Stom.
6.18 [ANF 2:519]). (A. Andrew Das, 1 and 2 Thessalonians [The
Contextual Critical Commentary; Eugene, Oreg.: Cascade Books, 2026], 140)
