Bible Commentaries

2 Thessalonians 1:3. ὀφείλομεν, we are bound) Urged by exultation of mind on grounds so manifest. So also ch. 2 Thessalonians 2:13. [There is herein shown a generous sense of a debt of that kind.—V. g.]— ἄξιον, worthy, meet, befitting) On account of the magnitude of the fact. Comp. 1 Corinthians 16:4. [Are the proofs of thy Christianity ‘worthy’ of thanks being given to God on account of them by those?—V. g.]— ἡ πίστις· ἡ ἀγάπη, faith; love) Of hope, 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5. For these three graces are usually joined.

2 Thessalonians 1:4. ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς, we ourselves) Paul himself, with Silvanus and Timothy, gloried, as being a witness; he not merely heard of the fact from witnesses.— ὑπὲρ, for) construed with εὐχαριστεῖν, to render thanks, 2 Thessalonians 1:3. Hence at the end of 2 Thessalonians 1:3 we must put a comma; comp. Colossians 1:5, note. The parallelism [the clauses and words in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4, standing parallel to one another] gives force.— καὶ πίστεως, and faith) Faith here denotes faithful constancy in confession of the truth.

2 Thessalonians 1:5. ἔνδειγμα) namely, ὄν [It being a token, etc.] The Accusative absolute; comp. Acts 26:3, note. The fact of your ἀνέχεσθαι, enduring, 2 Thessalonians 1:4, is a proof or token.— δικαίας, just, righteous) What is stated as a Proposition in this clause is discussed at 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7.— εἰς τὸ καταξιωθῆναι, that you may be counted worthy) This clause is connected (coheres) with ye endure.— ὑπὲρ ἧς) for which. The suffering ( πάσχετε) makes them worthy of the kingdom.

2 Thessalonians 1:6. παρὰ θεῷ, with God) Although good and bad men do not estimate the injuries done by the latter, and the sufferings endured by the former, as of so great importance.— θλίβουσιν— θλίψιν, affliction [tribulation]—to them that afflict [trouble]) The lex talionis [compensation in kind]. To this refer 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9.

2 Thessalonians 1:7. καὶ ὑμῖν, and to you) To this refer 2 Thessalonians 1:10-11.— τοῖς θλιβουμένοις, who are afflicted) In the middle voice, who endure affliction; comp. 2 Thessalonians 1:4, at the end.— ἄνεσιν, rest) θλίψις, affliction, and ἄνεσις, rest, are opposed to each other with great propriety, 2 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 8:13. Moreover rest includes also abundance of good things, 2 Thessalonians 1:10.— μεθʼ ἡμῶν) with us, i.e. with the saints of Israel, 2 Thessalonians 1:10, note. Comp. 1 Thessalonians 2:14.— μετʼ ἀγγέλων δυνάμεως, with angels of might, mighty angels) The angels serve Christ in the putting forth of His power.

2 Thessalonians 1:8. ἐν πυρὶ φλογὸς) Others read ἐν φλογὶ πυρὸς.¹ The same variety occurs, Acts 7:30 : ἐν φλογὶ πυρὸς, LXX., Isaiah 66:15.— τοῖς ΄ὴ εἰδόδι θεὸν) to those who are living in heathen ignorance of God, 1 Thessalonians 4:5; Psalms 79:6. So Job 18:21, לא ידע אל, τῶν ΄ὴ εἰδότων τὸν κύριον, of those² who know not the Lord.— μὴ ὑπακούουσι, who do not obey) chiefly by the Jews, to whom the Gospel concerning Christ³ had been preached.

BD( δ) omit χριστοῦ, and so Tisch. But AGfg Vulg., Iren. 265, and Rec. Text, support it. Lachm. therefore retains it, but in brackets.—ED.

2 Thessalonians 1:9. ἀπὸ, from) It is a judicial procedure from the Divine presence itself, that will inflict punishment upon them. מפני, from the face. Devils will not be the tormentors; for even in this life bad men are not punished by devils, but rather by good angels: and in Psalms 78:49, the phrase, angels of (bringing) evil, may even denote good angels. ἀγγέλων πονηρῶν.—ED.',)" onmouseout="UnTip()">⁴, Exodus 12:23; 2 Samuel 24:16.— προσώπου, the face) This face will be intolerable to them; they shall not see it, but they shall be made to feel it. Face and glory are generally parallel.— ἰσχύος, of His might) Lay aside your fierceness (haughty confidence of ‘might’) ye wicked men!

2 Thessalonians 1:10. ἐν, in) Saints and believers shall not only behold Him, but by them the admirable glory of Christ will put itself forth in its fulness. See the following verses.— ἁγίοις, the saints) The mention of glory, and the saints, is sweetly joined, as is also the mention of admiration (Christ coming “to be admired”), and, believers (“them that believe”).— πᾶσι, all) This word, not added to, the saints, but to them that believe, intimates, that the term believers [“them that believe”] has a somewhat wider signification than saints. See Acts 20:32, note. So all, Philippians 1:9,⁵ note. ‘Saints’ are those of the circumcision; ‘believers’ are they of the Gentiles, among whom were also the Thessalonians [who, when the testimony of the Apostles had reached also them, received it with praise-worthy firmness of mind.—V. g.]. Comp. the two expressions⁶ standing in antithesis to these, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, note.— ὅτι, because) The motive of ‘admiration’ [which shall prompt them to “admire Christ”] will be, that the testimony of the Apostles concerning Christ, having obtained faith among the Thessalonians, proves to be what it professed [stands forth unshaken] in that day, on which truth alone stands firm. Comp. Philippians 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:19.— ἐπιστεύθη) נאמן, πιστὸν, stood forth as faithful [was proved to be trustworthy and stedfast], and as such was received [credited] by you, upon whom it (the testimony) had come.— ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς [among you, i.e.] even to you) coming as far as to you, in the west.— ἐν τῇ) construe with ἔλθῃ, When He shall come [not with ἐπιστεύθη, was believed or accounted faithful].

2 Thessalonians 1:11. εἰς ὃ, for which object) We strive for this in prayer.— ἀξιώσῃ, would make you worthy) There is no dignity in us before we are called, 2 Timothy 1:9. It is not until afterwards conferred upon us in that way, which is presently described.— ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν) our God, whom we serve.— εὐδοκίαν, good pleasure) on the part of God.— πίστεως, of faith) on your part.

2 Thessalonians 1:12. τὸ ὄνομα, the name) We confer nothing on the Lord, whereas the Lord really confers upon us salvation; and hence His name is glorified in us; and we ourselves moreover in Him.— χάριν, grace) with this grace in view, he mentioned ἀγαθωσύνης, of goodness, 2 Thessalonians 1:11.

—————