2 Thessalonians 1:8
in 2 Thessalonians 1in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:
KJV
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
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This verse in 2 Thessalonians 1
Commentary
20 notes on this verseTo Him, therefore, does it appertain to punish such as know not God, for none ought to be ignorant of Him. In the (apostle's) phrase, "From the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power," he uses the words of Isaiah who for the express reason makes the self-same Lord "arise to shake terribly the earth.
This site's exposition
in blazing fire
on 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
The Lord comes in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Not knowing God and refusing the gospel stand side by side. Verse 9 names the penalty as eternal destruction and then defines it: separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
What is more just than for those who oppress the righteous in this world and make them suffer persecution, to suffer the same things in the future that they do: while they themselves rest with the other saints, who, coming out of great tribulation, will …
by a flame of fire This refers to what was said about those assembled at Armageddon.
For as the apostle declares that the Lord will come "to take vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel, who," he says, "shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" -it follows that, as He comes to inflict punishment, He must require "the flaming fire.
Thus on this consideration too we must, notwithstanding Marcion's opposition, conclude that Christ belongs to a God who kindles the flames (of vengeance), and therefore to the Creator, inasmuch as He takes vengeance on such as know not the Lord, that is, on the heathen. For he has mentioned separately "those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ," whether they be sinners among Christians or among Jews. Now, to inflict punishment on the heathen, who very likely have never heard of the Gospel, is not the function of that God who is naturally unknown, and who is revealed nowhere else than in the Gospel, and therefore cannot be known by all men.
"In flaming fire rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus." If they that have not obeyed the Gospel suffer vengeance, what will not they suffer who besides their disobedience also afflict you? And see his intelligence; he says not here those who afflict you, but those "who obey not." So that although not on your account, yet on His own it is necessary to punish them. This then is said in order to full assurance, that it is altogether necessary for them to be punished: but what was said before, was said that they also might be honored, because they suffer these things on your account. The one causes them to believe concerning the punishment; the other to be pleased, because for the sake of what has been done to them they suffer these things.
13 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
At the revelation of the Lord Jesus, from heaven, with the angels of his power, in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall suffer punishment, even eternal …
The Medieval Church5 voices
Those whom he previously called those who "trouble" them, he now calls those who "know not God." By this he very wisely teaches that vengeance will come in any case. For if not for your sake, then for His own sake He will certainly take …
by a flame of fire 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 …
who are not obedient to the Gospel It also refers to the heretics and the false Christians
A commentator
Thietland of EinsiedelnCommentary (church-history corpus) · Written in the 10th century.
proposed
by a flame of 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) who are not obedient to the Gospel And this even refers to evil Catholics who do …
Then when he says "in a flame of fire," he treats of both, namely, the punishment of the wicked and the reward of the good; but he shows the harshness, justice, and eternity of the punishment of the wicked. He says, therefore, "giving vengeance," i.e., …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Taking vengeance - Does God barely permit this, or (as "the Lord" once "rained brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven," Gen. xix, 24) does a fiery stream go forth from him forever? Who know not God - (The root of all wickedness and misery) who remain in heathen ignorance. And who obey not - This refers chiefly to the Jews, who had heard the gospel.
First, They will be terrible to some; for he will then take vengeance on the wicked. On those that sinned against the principles of natural religion, and rebelled against the light of nature, that knew not God (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
In flaming fire,....
This is the great crime of multitudes--the gospel is revealed to them, and they will not believe it; or, if they pretend to believe it, they will not obey it. Note, Believing the truths of the gospel is in order to our obeying the precepts of the gospel: there must be the obedience of faith.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
In flaming fire - Εν φλογι πυρος· In thunder and lightning, taking vengeance - inflicting just punishment on them that know not God - the heathen who do not worship the true God, and will not acknowledge him, but worship idols; and on them that obey not the Gospel - the Jews, particularly who have rejected the Gospel, and persecuted Christ and his messengers; and all nominal Christians who, though they believe the Gospel as a revelation from God, yet do not obey it as a rule of life.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
In flaming fire--Greek, "In flame of fire"; or, as other oldest manuscripts read, "in fire of flame." This flame of fire accompanied His manifestation in the bush (Ex 3:2); also His giving of the law at Sinai (Ex 19:18).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
In flaming fire - This is a circumstance which is not noticed in the account of his appearing in the parallel place in 1Th 4:16. The object of the apostle here seems to be to represent him as coming amidst vivid flashes of lightning. He is commonly described as coming in clouds, and to that common description there is here added the image of incessant lightnings, as if the whole heavens were illuminated with a continued blaze. Taking vengeance - Margin, “yielding.” Greek, “giving. The word “vengeance” is used in the sense of punishment, for there cannot be in God what literally corresponds with the passion of revenge; compare the notes on Rom 12:19. On them that know not God. - On all who are strangers to him; that is, who are living in pagan darkness, or who, having heard of him, have no practical acquaintance with him. And that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Who do not embrace it, and practice its precepts in their lives; compare the notes on Rom 2:9.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| διδόντος | didontos | {8} inflicting | G1325 → | 412 times |
| ἐκδίκησιν | ekdikesin | vengeance | G1557 → | |
| τοῖς | tois | on those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| εἰδόσιν | eidosin | knowing | ||
| θεὸν | theon | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοῖς | tois | on those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ὑπακούουσιν | hupakouousin | obeying | G5219 → | |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐαγγελίῳ | euangelio | gospel | G2098 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίου | kuriou | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| Ἰησοῦ | iesou | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
διδόντος{8} inflicting
didontosG1325 →412 times
ἐκδίκησινvengeance
ekdikesinG1557 →
τοῖςon those
toisG3588 →19766 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
εἰδόσινknowing
eidosin
θεὸνGod
theonG2316 →1312 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοῖςon those
toisG3588 →19766 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ὑπακούουσινobeying
hupakouousinG5219 →
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
εὐαγγελίῳgospel
euangelioG2098 →
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
κυρίουLord
kuriouG2962 →711 times
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
ἸησοῦJesus
iesouG2424 →908 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 10:30For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 32:35–36
Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
- Romans 12:19
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
- Nahum 1:2
The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.
- Psalms 50:4
He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people:
- Deuteronomy 32:35–36
Through
1 Peter 4:17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
it leads to
- Jeremiah 25:29
For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword…
- Romans 2:9
There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;
- Ezekiel 9:6
Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders…
- Jeremiah 25:29
Through
2 Peter 3:7And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 3:10
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid…
- 2 Peter 3:10
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Judgment35 verses
On this page
About 2 Thessalonians
This page draws on 16 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, Commentary on 2 Thessalonians; Andreas of Caesarea, Commentary (church-history corpus); Caesarius of Arles, Commentary (church-history corpus); Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 5; Haimo of Auxerre, Commentary (church-history corpus); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 2 Thessalonians 2; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Thessalonians; Thietland of Einsiedeln, Commentary (church-history corpus) and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Thessalonians.