2 Tesalonicenses 1:1-11

1 Pablo, y Silvano, y Timoteo, a la Iglesia de los tesalonicenses congregada en Dios nuestro Padre y en el Señor nuestro, Jesús el Cristo

2 Gracia y paz tengáis de Dios nuestro Padre y del Señor Jesús el Cristo

3 Debemos siempre dar gracias a Dios por vosotros, hermanos, como es digno, por cuanto vuestra fe va creciendo, y la caridad de todos y cada uno de vosotros abunda entre vosotros

4 tanto, que nosotros mismos nos gloriamos de vosotros en las Iglesias de Dios, de vuestra paciencia y fe en todas vuestras persecuciones y tribulaciones que sufrís

5 en testimonio del justo juicio de Dios, para que seáis tenidos por dignos del Reino de Dios, por el cual asimismo padecéis

6 Porque es justo acerca de Dios pagar con tribulación a los que os atribulan

7 y a vosotros, que sois atribulados, daros reposo con nosotros, cuando se manifieste el Señor Jesús del cielo con los ángeles de su potencia

8 con llama de fuego, para dar el pago a los que no conocieron a Dios, ni obedecen al Evangelio del Señor nuestro, Jesús el Cristo

9 los cuales serán castigados de eterna perdición por la presencia del Señor, y por la gloria de su potencia

10 cuando viniere para ser glorificado en sus santos, y a hacerse admirable en aquel día en todos los que creyeron (por cuanto nuestro testimonio ha sido creído entre vosotros)

11 por lo cual, asimismo oramos siempre por vosotros, que nuestro Dios os tenga por dignos de su llamado, y llene de bondad a cada voluntad, y a toda obra de fe con potencia

2 Tesalonicenses 1:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 THESSALONIANS

This second epistle was written, not from Athens, as the subscription testifies, nor from Rome, as Athanasius {a} supposes; but from Corinth, from whence was sent the former, and where the apostle and Timothy, and Silvanus met; and which was sent about half a year after the other. The design of which is to comfort and support the Thessalonians under the afflictions and persecutions they endured for the sake of the Gospel; and to rectify a mistake they had gone into, and which might be occasioned by what the apostle had said in his former epistle, concerning the second coming of Christ, as though it was just at hand; which might lead them to neglect their worldly business, and duties of civil life, and give the enemies of the Gospel an advantage against the whole of it as false, should not this prove true; as also to exhort this church to take notice of disorderly persons such as were idle, and busy bodies, and withdraw from them, and remove them from their communion, as being not only burdensome to them, but a reproach to their profession.

{a} Synopsis Sacr. Script. Tom. ii. p. 129.

\\INTRODUCTION TO 2 THESSALONIANS 1\\

This chapter, besides the inscription and salutation, contains a thanksgiving for the flourishing condition in which the graces of the Spirit were in these saints, and consolation for them under their suffering circumstances. The inscription and salutation are in 2Th 1:1,2 and are as usual: the thanksgiving is in 2Th 1:3 for the growth of their faith, the abounding of their love, and their constant patience under persecutions and afflictions, insomuch that the apostle also gloried of them for these things among other churches, 2Th 1:4 and as an encouragement to them to continue patient under sufferings, he observes that this was a token of the righteous judgment of God, and that they were reckoned worthy of his kingdom for which they suffered, 2Th 1:5 and of which righteous judgment they might be assured, from the nature of God himself, whose justice required a retribution of vengeance to their persecutors, and rest to them with the apostles, 2Th 1:6,7 the time of which rest and ease is pointed at, as that it will be at the coming of Christ; which is described by the place from whence he comes, heaven; by his retinue, his mighty angels; by the manner in which he shall come, in flaming fire; and by the vengeance he will execute: the objects of which are also described, by their ignorance of God, and by their disobedience to the Gospel of Christ; and by the nature of the punishment inflicted on them, which will lie in an expulsion from the presence, power, and glory of God, and in an everlasting destruction of soul and body, 2Th 1:7-9 but as for them, the persecuted saints, and which is mentioned for their comfort, Christ shall at this day be glorified and admired in them, and by them, 2Th 1:10 wherefore the apostle prays for this perseverance of them, that the good work of faith might be performed in them, and they enjoy the glory they were called unto; and that Christ might be glorified in them, and they in him; not according to their works, but according to the grace of God through him, 2Th 1:11.