Paul’s thankfulness was not motivated by the Thessalonians’ reception of the gospel message simply as a piece of information; it was the way they accepted it (ἐδέξασθε/edexasthe) that made him rejoice. This word is closely related to the word received
earlier in the sentence, but draws attention to the Thessalonians’ subjective response in accepting the message as true and in taking it for themselves.1,2,3
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.