2 Thessalonians 1:5-12

Section II. The Approaching Retribution Ch. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12

These vv.contain further reasons for thanksgivingon the writer's part, concluding with a prayerthat his readers may receive the entire fruition of the blessedness to which their sufferings are designed to lead. At the same time, the thoughts here expressed travel far from those which formed the immediate ground of the Thanksgiving, and present a distinct topic of their own. We therefore treat them under a separate heading.

The Retribution the Apostle foresees is twofold, consisting of rest and gloryfor Christ's persecuted saints, 2Th 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2Th 1:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:12; and of punishmentfor their godless persecutors, 2 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 1:8. In the view presented to us of this judgement we must carefully observe (1) its essential righteousness, 2 Thessalonians 1:5; (2) that it attends on Christ's advents, 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; (3) that the chief purpose of the Saviour's coming is the glorification of His people, to which the vengeance falling on their oppressors appears to be incidental, 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:10.