New Testament
2 Thessalonians 1
Overview
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy open with thanksgiving that is almost obligatory—"we ought always to thank God for you"—because the Thessalonians' faith is growing abundantly and their mutual love is increasing even under persecution and affliction they are still enduring. Paul tells these suffering believers that their steadfastness is itself "evidence of the righteous judgment of God," proof that He is counting them worthy of the kingdom for which they suffer. He then sets out the great reversal of the Day of the Lord: God will "repay with affliction those who afflict you," while granting relief to the persecuted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire. Those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord, on the very day He comes to be glorified in His saints and marveled at among all who have believed. The chapter closes with prayer that God would make the Thessalonians worthy of His calling and fulfill every resolve for good, so that the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in them, and they in Him, according to the grace of God.
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another abounds,
4so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure.
5This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of God’s Kingdom, for which you also suffer.
6For it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you,
7and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire,
8punishing those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus,
9who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
10when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
11To this end we also pray always for you that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and work of faith with power,
12that 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.