2 thess: 13But 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: KJV

13But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits[d] to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. ESV

beloved |biˈləv(i)d| adjective dearly loved. • ( beloved by/of) very popular with or much used by a specified set of people : being so close, the mountain hut is beloved of families on a day's outing. noun a much loved person : he watched his beloved.

Because God from the beginning chose you for salvation: Paul also praises the sovereign choice of God in bringing them to salvation. God's choice was from the beginning. Before they chose God, He chose them, and He chose them for salvation through sanctification.

i. Salvation through sanctification: The two go together. Those who claim to be "chosen" but lack evidence of sanctification (separation from the world unto God) are on shaky ground. We can't see if a person is chosen, but we can see if they are sanctified.

d. By the Spirit and belief in the truth: God's work of sanctification uses two great forces, the Spirit and the belief in he truth. The Spirit of God and the word of God are essential to our sanctification.