Looking at 1 Thessalonians 1:2–4 together, we notice that God’s election of the Thessalonians is one reason why he thanks God. It is the ultimate reason for his thankfulness to God. While Paul thanked God for the believers’ work produced by faith, labour prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, he realized that the ultimate reason why those virtues were active in their lives was that God had chosen them. He thus directs our attention wholly toward God.
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,