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.
For this cause - seeing ye have had such teachers (1 Thessalonians 2:10-12), which involved your responsibility to behave worthily of our teaching, 'we also (as well as you who have such cause for thankfulness) thank God without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 1:2), that when ye received [externally by hearing: paralabontes] the word of God which ye heard from us (literally, "God's word of hearing from us," Romans 10:16-17), ye accepted it [internally: welcomed it: edexasthee, 2 Corinthians 8:17], not as the word of men, but, even as it is truly, the word of God.' Alford omits the "as." But "as" is required by '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 proper object of faith, therefore, is the word of God-at first oral, then, for security against error, written (John 20:30-31; Romans 15:4; Galatians 4:30). Though it was 'of us ye heard' it, it really emanates from "God." Also, that faith is the gift of divine grace is implied in the thanksgiving.
Effectually worketh also in you that believe. "Also:" a further feature of the heard Word, besides its being "the Word of God" - namely, its 'effectual working.' Besides your accepting it with your hearts, it "also" evidences itself in your lives. It shows its energy [energeitai] in its practical effects-working in you patient endurance in trial (1 Thessalonians 2:14: cf. Galatians 3:5; Galatians 5:6).