1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the Church of the Thessalonians in God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring. 5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be made worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering-- 6 since indeed God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfil every good resolve and work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 1
1:1 Silvanus, who is Silas, and Timothy, whom Paul circumcised, as is mentioned in Acts 16. (St. Thomas Aquinas)
1:4 persecutions: For they were living with enemies who were continually endeavoring on every side to injure them, and they were manifesting a patience firm and immovable. (St. John Chrysostom)
1:5 worthy: The persecutions and tribulation did not make them worthy, but rather the grace of God that bestows to them the power of enduring those things patiently. (Thietland)
1:7 flaming fire: Perhaps it is about that which is read in the Apocalypse of John, "and fire came down from heaven and consumed them." Rev 20;9 (Thietland) This refers to what was said about those assembled at Armageddon. (St. Caesarius of Arles) The fire is either a visible fire as happened to the two commanders of fifty men in the presence of Elijah (2 Kgs 1:9-11) or the coming of Christ in glory will destroy them by the breath of his mouth (Is 11:4), and the aforementioned nations, also devouring their general, the devil, and He (Christ) will deliver the devil to the lake of fire together with the Antichrist and the false prophet to be tortured forever and ever. (St. Andrew of Caesarea) |
1:8 who do not obey the gospel: There are three types. 1) This refers to the Jews who say that they know God but do not believe the Gospel of Christ which God the Father gave. (Ambrosiaster) 2) It also refers to the heretics and the false Christians. (Haimo) 3) And this even refers to disobedient Catholics who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord though they say they believe, but they do not live according to what they believe. (Thietland)
1:10 to be glorified in his saints: How? For when they that are so greatly prideful see those who were scourged by them, who were despised, who were mocked, even those now near to Him, it is His glory, or rather it is their glory, both theirs and His; His indeed, because He did not forsake them; theirs, because they were thought worthy of so great honor. (St. John Chrysostom)
1:11 of his calling: Paul added 'his' in order that they might show that there is not power or merit in man, but in God alone. (Thietland) |
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