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2 Thessalonians i.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 5. For
an example of the just judgment of God. That is, that the persecutions and troubles you suffer in this world shew the
justice of God in punishing men for their sins, even in this life, so that by these temporal pains you may be found worthy
of a crown of eternal glory in the kingdom of God. (Witham) --- The afflictions, which are here frequently the portion of
the just, are sensible proofs of the rigour with which the Almighty will, at the day of final retribution, pour out his indignation
on the wicked. For, if he is unwilling to let the just be free from all temporal punishment, (though he discharges their debt
of the eternal) and if he continually exposes them to the derision, calumnies, and persecutions of the wicked, what have not
the wicked to apprehend when he shall stretch forth his hand in vengeance? Or, as others explain it, God permits the good
to be persecuted here, that one day he may treat the wicked according to the rigour of his justice. He permits them here to
fill up the measure of their iniquities, that on the last day he may reward the long suffering of the one, and punish the
infidelity of the other. In both the one and the other, the finger of God's justice will clearly manifest itself. If the hopes
of the good reached no farther than this life, they would be the most wretched of beings; for here, in general, they are more
exposed than any to the injuries of the wicked. Nothing proves more clearly the necessity of a general judgment, than this
his conduct to his most chosen servants. For it is impossible that, just as he is, he should permit patience and faith to
go unrewarded, or wickedness and injustice unpunished. The Son of God has promised us heaven only on condition that we bear
wrongs patiently. (Calmet) --- Here again the apostle teaches the advantages of sufferings which the Thessalonians joyfully
underwent, to be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, Kataxiothenai umas; and ver. 11, ibid. axiose.
The apostle teaches here, that nothing defiled shall ever enter into the kingdom of heaven; and gives us to understand at
the same time, that he will one day punish with extreme rigour the cruelty and impiety of persecutors. (Bible de Vence)
Ver. 6. Seeing[1]
it is a just thing. Literally, If yet it be just. St. Chrysostom takes notice, that we must not expound the text
as if St. Paul made a doubt whether it was just or not for God to repay retribution to such as troubled, afflicted,
and persecuted his faithful servants, and to punish them when he shall be revealed (i.e. at the day of judgment) with
flaming fire, or with the flames of hell: nothing certainly is more just; as on the contrary, it is just to reward
the pious and those who are found worthy of the glorious kingdom of God. (Witham)
Ver. 9. Being
confounded with the face of the Lord, whom they have rejected, and with the glory of his power and greatness, which will appear
in irresistible splendour and majesty.
Ver. 10. This
shall be at the last day, when Christ shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be made[2] wonderful
(to be admired and praised) in or by all them who have believed in that day: (i.e. the things foretold of that
day) because our testimony[3] was believed upon you concerning that day, i.e. as to the punishments and
rewards that shall be given on that day. (Witham)
Ver. 11. Wherefore,
also we pray, &c. By the Greek, the sense and construction cannot be in, or on which day; and therefore
it must be referred to what was said before, that God should be glorified in his saints, and so may be translated,
on which[4] account we pray, &c. that Christ may be glorified in you, being made saints by his grace,
&c. (Witham)
Ver. 12. That
the name of our Lord, &c. The name of God is glorified by the virtuous lives of Christians, but more especially by
that constancy and firmness evinced by the faithful under the hands of the executioner. It is an act of the most perfect charity,
to lay down our lives in defence of his truths and the glory of his name, and the most disinterested testimony of our allegiance
to him. Nothing appeared more admirable than the constancy of the first Christians, and nothing contributed more to the conversion
of the Gentiles than the firmness with which they maintained, even in death, the truths that had been taught them. For, said
they, this religion is certainly true, since there is nothing they are not willing to suffer in defence of it. (Calmet) ---
And you in him, &c. If Christians are any way instrumental in procuring the glory of God, let them not attribute
it to themselves, but to God alone, form whom comes every gift. If they procure his glory before men, he at the day of final
retribution will clothe them with never-fading robes of immortality, in the presence of men and Angels. If it be glorious
for God to be adored by such faithful servants, it is much more glorious for Christians to be rewarded by such a Master:
for it is the glory of a servant to be faithful to his master, and the glory of the master to recompense his servant. (Estius,
Grotius, Theophylactus, &c.)
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[1] Ver. 6. Si tamem justum est, eiper dikaion. See
St. Chrysostom, (log. b. p. 226) eiper entautha anti tou epei, &c.
[2] Ver. 10. Admirabilis fieri in omnibus, thaumasthenai
en pasi.
[3] Ver. 10. Quia creditum est testimonium nostrum super vos in illa
die, oti episteuthe to marturion emon eph umas, en te emera ekeine.
[4] Ver. 11. In quo, eis o, in quod, but it cannot agree
with emera, day.
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
He gives thanks to God for their faith and constancy: and
prays for their advancement in all good.
1 Paul, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians,
in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Grace unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus
Christ.
3 We ought to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, as it is meet,
because your faith increaseth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you towards each other, aboundeth:
4 So that we ourselves also glory in you in the churches of God, for your
patience and faith, and in all your persecutions and tribulations, which you endure,
5 For an example of the just judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy
of the kingdom of God, for which also you suffer.
6 Seeing it is a just thing with God to repay tribulation to them that
trouble you:
7 And to you who are troubled, rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with the Angels of his power,
8 In a flame of fire, inflicting vengeance to them, who know not God, and
who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 Who shall suffer eternal pains in destruction, from the face of the Lord,
and from the glory of his power:
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be made wonderful
in all them who have believed: because our testimony was believed upon you in that day.
11 Wherefore also we pray always for you: that our God would make you worthy
of his calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith in power,
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in
him, according to the grace of our God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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