But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth;
because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: The word "beginning" (arkee) means "origin" (Thayer 76-2-746). The words "chosen you to salvation" mean exactly what they say with no hidden meaning. The word "sanctification" (hagiasmos) means "consecration, purification" (Thayer 6-2-38). In other words, Paul is saying these people were chosen by "sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." When the Thessalonians first believed and obeyed the truth (gospel), they were chosen by God. Often, people are mistaken in thinking the beginning refers to the beginning of creation; however, Paul could not mean creation because he said they were chosen from "belief of the truth" and that God called them by the gospel (2:14).