2 Thessalonians 1:8

in flaming fire Lit., fire of flame; or, in other copies, flame of fire. "Fire" is a symbol of Divine anger and majesty, in Scripture; and "flame" is fire in motion, leaping and blazing out. According to 2 Peter 3:7; 2 Peter 3:10, fire will be the means of destruction for the visible world at the Day of the Lord; while in Hebrews 1:7, quoted from Psalms 104, this element is represented as a form of angelic manifestation (see last note). In 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 fireis itself made the means of judgement.

The comma parting this clause from 2 Thessalonians 1:7 in the A.V. must be struck out. The "flaming fire" is the element "in" which the Lord Jesus is "revealed" not the means by which He "takes vengeance" on the wicked. It is His awful robe of glory. The words which follow show why He must appear hi majesty so dreadful:

taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Better, rendering vengeance to them (R. V.). We must dissociate from "vengeance" all notions of vindictiveness and passion; it is the inflicting of full justiceon the criminal nothing more, nothing less. In this sense it is written, "Vengeance belongeth unto Me; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30). The wronged are forbidden to avenge themselves, just because this is God's prerogative. Now "the Father hath committed all judgement to the Son" (John 5:22) this, therefore, with the rest.

The R. V. properly distinguishes the two classes here marked out for retribution. Those who know not God belong to the heathen; on this expression comp. note to 1 Thessalonians 4:5. In Romans 1:18-25, speaking of the heathenism of his own day and of the course and working of Gentile idolatry, the Apostle declares that this ignorance of God was wilful, that idolatry was the outcome of ungodliness, and that its wickedness was shown by the horrible depravity of morals it produced. It was therefore culpable in the highest degree and merited vengeance, being the ignorance of men who "did not think God worth having in their knowledge" (Romans 1:28). Such is the sentence that St Paul pronounces on the Paganism of his time, in view of its general character and fruits. By no means does he suppose that this "vengeance" will fall on all idolaters at the Last Day, and for the mere fact of "not knowing God" as Christians do. He speaks otherwise in Romans 2:14. Countless millions of heathen have had no such knowledge of God brought to them. Each will be judged according to his personal responsibility and share in the common offence. God "leaves Himself not without witness to any" (Acts 14:17; John 1:9); and by the measure of light and opportunity vouchsafed to him will the conduct of every man be weighed and estimated. The Apostle is thinking of the Gentile persecutors at Thessalonica (2 Thessalonians 1:6), who refused the knowledge of God and showed their hatred to Him by their hatred toward His children (comp. John 15:24; 1 John 3:13).

Those who obey not the gospel are all, whether Jews or Gentiles, to whose knowledge God's good news of Christ is brought, and who reject the message. Obedienceis practical faith, the submission of heart and life to the demands of Christ. This is what such men refuse; they will not say, "Jesus is Lord" (1 Corinthians 12:3; Philippians 2:10). And the wilful rejecters of Christ became furious persecutors.

St Paul's warning echoes that of Christ concerning all who are brought face to face with His Gospel: "He that disbelieveth shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16). This condemnation takes effect at once, and operates in the present life; it has the certainty of a moral law: "He that believeth not is condemned already. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light" (John 3:18-19). This sentence the Lord Jesus pronounces now on those who, with His light shining upon them, refuse Him the obedience of faith. The Judgement of the Last Day will be the consummation of this present, actual judgement.

Read our Lord Jesus, for our Lord Jesus Christ.