Bible Commentaries
2 Thessalonians 1

Verses 1-12

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 . Introductory. Thanksgiving for the past and prayer for the future. Paul thanks God for the growing love of the Thessalonian Christians and their loyalty under persecution, and prays that they may be counted worthy of their high calling at the day of the Lord, when they will receive “ rest” and their opponents “ eternal destruction.”

2 Thessalonians 1:3 . For the emphasis on faith and love, see 1 Thessalonians 1:3 *.

2 Thessalonians 1:4 . persecutions: cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16.

2 Thessalonians 1:5 . which . . . Judgement of God: this phrase is obviously parenthetical. Some scholars would omit it altogether on the ground that it breaks the flow of the sentence, but we have no MS warrant for this. The antecedent to “ which” has to be obtained from the previous sentence, and is probably found in the words “ patience and faith.” “ Your heroic faith under persecution . . . affords a proof of what awaits you in the day of God’ s final judgment” (Milligan).

2 Thessalonians 1:7 . at the revelation: at the reappearance or Parousia of the Lord from heaven.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 . in flaming fire: it is better to connect these words with previous clause (RV) than with the following (AV). For the appearance of Christ in a flame of fire cf. the appearance of God in OT ( Exodus 3:2; Exodus 13:21; Exodus 19:18; Exodus 24:17; Psalms 18:12; Isaiah 66:15).

2 Thessalonians 1:9 . eternal destruction: the word translated “ eternal” means “ age-long,” and need not denote “ everlasting” unless the context requires it. In this verse the context probably does require it.