Per 2 Thessalonians 2; someone had wrested the Scriptures such that the Thessalonians had been led to believe they were in the Day of the Lord's wrath.
Paul's sense in 2 Thess. 2:13 is in reference to that - how that; from the moment they believed, and the Spirit set them apart as the Lord's, in the Lord, as His, in Him, He chose them by that, unto salvation from said Day of the Lord's wrath.
1 Thessalonians 1:
4. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
5. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
7. So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
9. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
They were not to view their external circumstances as an evident token that God was against them, rather, they were to view them through the Word they had begun their new life in, that said Word work its effectual working in them as they walked in said Word by faith in the midst of their persecutions.
2 Thessalonians 2:
13. 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.
14. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
1 Thessalonians 3:
1. Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2. And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3. That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
How were they appointed unto said afflictions?
4. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
I told you this would be the case for the Word of His testimony, and here it is - your being afflicted by its enemies. But now he is concerned about the possible impact of said afflictions on their faith:
5. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
And so this issue goes... to where we read...of a contrast between them as to their standing before the Lord in His Son before God, and those not delivered from His wrath to come.
2 Thessalonians 2:
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Again, saved them from what?
Paul met these people in Acts 17.
It was not Luke's place to say much about what Paul had preached unto them there, beyond "Jesus was very Christ".
Note the following, however, in connection with this issue, as it is not like Paul was not consistent in what he preached to who.
Acts 17:
24. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25. Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26. And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27. That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
32. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33. So Paul departed from among them.
That Day of His Wrath is an aspect of that - 2 Thess. 2: 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
As sure as His resurrection from the dead was the Thessalonians' seal of their salvation from His wrath to come, from the moment they believed, so was was the certainty that those who did not believe would be dammed in that Day.
2 Thessalonians 2:
5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Paul's sense in 2 Thess. 2:13 is in reference to that - how that; from the moment they believed, and the Spirit set them apart as the Lord's, in the Lord, as His, in Him, He chose them by that, unto salvation from said Day of the Lord's wrath.
1 Thessalonians 1:
4. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
5. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
7. So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
9. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
They were not to view their external circumstances as an evident token that God was against them, rather, they were to view them through the Word they had begun their new life in, that said Word work its effectual working in them as they walked in said Word by faith in the midst of their persecutions.
2 Thessalonians 2:
13. 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.
14. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
1 Thessalonians 3:
1. Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2. And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3. That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
How were they appointed unto said afflictions?
4. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
I told you this would be the case for the Word of His testimony, and here it is - your being afflicted by its enemies. But now he is concerned about the possible impact of said afflictions on their faith:
5. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
And so this issue goes... to where we read...of a contrast between them as to their standing before the Lord in His Son before God, and those not delivered from His wrath to come.
2 Thessalonians 2:
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Again, saved them from what?
Paul met these people in Acts 17.
It was not Luke's place to say much about what Paul had preached unto them there, beyond "Jesus was very Christ".
Note the following, however, in connection with this issue, as it is not like Paul was not consistent in what he preached to who.
Acts 17:
24. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25. Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26. And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27. That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
32. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33. So Paul departed from among them.
That Day of His Wrath is an aspect of that - 2 Thess. 2: 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
As sure as His resurrection from the dead was the Thessalonians' seal of their salvation from His wrath to come, from the moment they believed, so was was the certainty that those who did not believe would be dammed in that Day.
2 Thessalonians 2:
5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
