2 Thessalonians 2:13

13. But—In delightful contrast to the damnation of the lost ( :-) stands the "salvation" of Paul's converts.

are bound—in duty ( :-).

thanks . . . to God—not to ourselves, your ministers, nor to you, our converts.

beloved of the Lord—Jesus (Romans 8:37; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:2; Ephesians 5:25). Elsewhere God the Father is said to love us (2 Thessalonians 2:16; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12). Therefore Jesus and the Father are one.

from the beginning—"before the foundation of the world" (Colossians 3:12- :; compare 1 Corinthians 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:9); in contrast to those that shall "worship the beast, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8). Some of the oldest manuscripts read as English Version, but other oldest manuscripts and Vulgate read, "as first-fruits." The Thessalonians were among the first converts in Europe (compare Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15). In a more general sense, it occurs in James 1:18; Revelation 14:4; so I understand it here including the more restricted sense.

chosen you—The Greek, is not the ordinary word for "elected," implying His eternal selection; but taken for Himself, implying His having adopted them in His eternal purpose. It is found in the Septuagint (Deuteronomy 7:7; Deuteronomy 10:15).

through—rather as Greek, "in sanctification" as the element in which the choice to salvation had place (compare Deuteronomy 10:15- :), standing in contrast to the "unrighteousness," the element in which Antichrist's followers are given over by God to damnation (2 Thessalonians 2:12).

of the Spirit—wrought by the Spirit who sanctifies all the elect people of God, first by eternally consecrating them to perfect holiness in Christ, once for all, next by progressively imparting it.

belief of the truth—contrasted with "believed not the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:12- :).