“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe“
which you heard from us,
This phrase reads literally “the word of hearing, the one from us” [their message from God]. The word that the Thessalonians heard from Paul’s team was God speaking to them through His Word. The emphasis is upon the message as being God’s Word and not man’s.
The word “heard” carries the idea of the thing heard, a message or teaching (Mark 7:4; John 1:11; 14:3; 1 Corinthians 11:23; 15:1, 3; Galatians 1:9, 12; Philippians 4:9; Colossians 2:6; 4:17). The idea is that when we hear, we believe what we hear and respond to it based on what we heard.
“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” (Acts 28:28).
“For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it” (Hebrews 4:2).
“…and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Titus 4:4).
Principle:
The believer with a heart for God listens to the Bible as God’s Word to learn principles for life.
Application:
The phrase “let him hear” occurs to each of the churches in Revelation. Jesus repeatedly appeals for us to have a heart for His Word.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).
If we have an “ear” for God’s Word, we will hear what is important for our lives.
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:21-25).
