2 Thessalonians 1:8

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: IN FLAMING FIRE - Greek 'In (encompassed with) flame of fire ' B Delta G g Vulgate But 'Aleph (') A f read IN FLAMING FIRE - Greek, 'In (encompassed with) flame of fire.' B Delta G g, Vulgate. But 'Aleph (') A f read, in fire of flame. This flame of fire accompanied His manifestation in the bush (); also His giving of the law at Sinai (); also it shall accompany His advent (Daniel 7:9; ), symbolizing His own glory and His consuming vengeance against His foes ...

8_Who will inflict vengeance_. That he may the better persuade believers that the persecutions which they endure will not go unpunished, he teaches that this also involves the interests of God himself, inasmuch as the same persons that persecute the pious are guilty of rebellion against God. Hence it is necessary that God should inflict vengeance upon them not merely with a view to our salvation, but also for the sake of his own glory. Farther, this expression, _who will inflict vengeance_, relates to Christ, for Paul intimates that this office is assigned to him by God the Father. It may be asked, however, whether it is lawful for us to desire vengeance, for Paul promises it, as though it could be lawfully desired. I answer, that it is not lawful to desire vengeance upon any one, inasmuch as we are commanded to wish well to all. Besides, although we may in a general way desire vengeance...

5-10 Religion, if worth anything, is worth every thing; and those have no religion, or none worth having, or know not how to value it, cannot find their hearts to suffer for it. We cannot by all our sufferings, any more than by our services, merit heaven; but by our patience under sufferings, we are prepared for the promised joy. Nothing more strongly marks a man for eternal ruin, than a spirit of persecution and enmity to the name and people of God. God will trouble those that trouble his people. And there is a rest for the people of God; a rest from sin and sorrow. The certainty of future recompence is proved by the righteousness of God. The thoughts of this should be terrible to wicked men, and support the righteous. Faith, looking to the great day, is enabled partly to understand the book of providence, which appears confused to unbelievers. The Lord Jesus will in that day appear fr...

Verse 8. _IN FLAMING FIRE_] εν φλογι πυρος. In _thunder and_ _lightning, taking vengeance_-inflicting just punishment _on them_ _that know not God_-the heathen who do not worship the true God, and will not _acknowledge_ him, but worship idols; and on them _that obey_ _not the Gospel_-the _Jews_, particularly who have rejected the Gospel, and persecuted Christ and his messengers; and all nominal Christians who, though they believe the Gospel as a revelation from God, yet do not _obey_ it as a rule of life....

IN FLAMING FIRE - This is a circumstance which is not noticed in the account of his appearing in the parallel place in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. The object of the apostle here seems to be to represent him as coming amidst vivid flashes of lightning. He is commonly described as coming in clouds, and to that common description there is here added the image of incessant lightnings, as if the whole heavens were illuminated with a continued blaze. TAKING VENGEANCE - Margin, “yielding.” Greek, “giving. The word “vengeance” is used in the sense of punishment, for there cannot be in God what literally corresponds with the passion of revenge; compare the notes on Romans 12:19. On them that kno

EXPOSITION CONTENTS.—Paul, after the address and salutation, commences this Epistle by rendering thanks to God for the welcome intelligence he had received of the increase of the faith and love of his Thessalonian converts, so that he was enabled to boast of them throughout all the Churches of Achaia, on account of their steadfastness in the endurance of continued persecution. Their present suffering was an evidence of a future state of retribution, when the justice of God would be vindicated, and affliction would be rendered to their persecutors and rest to them the persecuted, on that great day when the Lord Jesus would appear in glory for the destruction of his enemies and the glorification of his people. The apostle expresses his constant prayer for the Thessalonians that God would enable them to walkworthy of their high vocation, so as to be made partakers of that_ _glory which wou...

IN FLAMING FIRE,.... Which may either refer to Christ, who will be revealed from heaven in such a manner; and whose coming will be as the lightning, not only sudden, but glorious, illustrious, and visible; he will be seen and easily discerned; there will be such a light and flaming fire about him, which, as it will serve to make him visible, will greatly add to the majesty of his appearance, and strike terror to his enemies, and burn them up round about; see Daniel 7:7 or else it may refer to the angels, who shall descend in fiery forms, which is agreeably to their nature, Psalms 104:4 and so they appeared in the forms of horses of fire, and chariots of fire, when Elijah was carried up to heaven. And it is a tradition of the Jews z, that the angel Gabriel descended בשלהובא דאשא, "in a flame of fire",

2 Thessalonians 1:1. _Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ._ All nations have their special forms of salutation, and this is the Christian's greeting to his fellow-Christians, «Grace unto you, and peace.» How much there is in this prayer! «grace» the free favor of God, the active energy of the divine power; and «peace» reconciliation to God, peace of conscience, peace with all men. My brethren, what better things could I desire for you, and what better things could you wish for your best beloved friends than these, «Grace unto you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ?» 2 Thessalonians 1:3

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE REVELATION OF THE LORD JESUS FROM HEAVEN CHAPTER 1 _ 1. Salutation and thanksgiving (2 Thessalonians 1:1)_ 2. The revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven (2 Thessalonians 1:5) 3. The prayer (2 Thessalonians 1:11) 2 Thessalonians 1:1 The opening words of salutation are the same as in the first Epistle. Once more he gives thanks to God for them, because their faith increased exceedingly and love abounded, the result of an increasing faith. On account of this progress and spiritual condition he wrote, “

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....