2 Thessalonians 1:9

Text (2 Thessalonians 1:9)

9 who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Translation and Paraphrase

9.

(These) who (are disobedient) shall pay the penalty (which is) everlasting destruction (in a place far) from the presence of the Lord, and from his (majestic and) powerful glory.

Notes (2 Thessalonians 1:9)

1.

How terrible to be forever away from the presence of the Lord: Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord. James 1:17. All men on earth, even those who do not serve God, enjoy His blessingsHis rain, sunshine, the gift of life, godly friends and loved ones, etc. How fearful to be forever banished from the Lord, where none of these blessings can ever come!

2.

The punishments of sinners is described as everlasting destruction. Because of this expression (and similar ones in other references), some have thought that the punishment will be an annihilation, a going out of existence, a being burned into nothingness. This is contrary to the meaning of the word destruction, and to Scriptural teaching in other references. See Revelation 14:9-11; Mark 9:43-48; Matthew 25:41; Matthew 25:46.

3.

The word here translated destruction is olethros. It is used elsewhere in the New Testament only in 1 Thessalonians 5:3, 1 Timothy 6:9, and 1 Corinthians 5:5. Liddell and Scott's definition of olethros is Ruin, destruction, undoing. The word indicates total ruin, but not necessarily an end of existence or annihilation.

In 1 Corinthians 5:3, Paul speaks of delivering the incestuous man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. In this life neither our literal flesh nor our fleshly instincts are ever totally annihilated. They are brought under control and subjugated, but not annihilated.

1 Timothy 6:9 Paul speaks of hurtful lusts drowning (present tense) men in destruction and perdition. (The present tense indicates a continuous action.) Since the destruction of sinners is said to be presently in the process of being accomplished according to this verse, it would seem to be wrong to say that destruction is limited to one irrevocable burning up in the lake of fire.

4.

To further illustrate the meaning of olethros (or destruction), R. C. Foster (in THE FINAL WEEK, page 118) tells how the word was used by the Greek dramatist Sophocles in his play, Oedipus Rex. Oedipus was a king who became enmeshed in the most hideous moral mess imaginable, and brought untold shame and misery upon himself. He even married his own mother. In the end of the play, Oedipus, instead of committing suicide, put out his own eyes. Scholars agree that his tragedy was greater because he had to live on in the moral muck he had created than it would have been for him to have committed suicide and ended it all. Now quoting R. C. Foster:

In the light of our discussion of eternal punishment, it is of startling importance to find that Oedipus in his agony cries out, -I am the great olethros (ton megan olethron):-' In other words, Oedipus is not saying that he is the great annihilation, but that he is the supreme example of endless suffering. Out of the midst of one of the most famous of all Greek dramas comes powerful evidence as to the meaning which this word carried. (Op. cit., p. 118)

5.

Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord indicates that sinners are to be banished from the presence of the Lord forever. Goodspeed translates this verse as eternal ruin and exclusion from the presence of the Lord. In Matthew 25:41, the doom of the wicked is to Depart from me. The wicked are driven forever from His presence. On the other hand the saints are to be ever with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

6.

The glory of the Lord's power is vividly described in Deuteronomy 33:2 and 1 Timothy 6:16. God dwells in light unapproachable. But sinners will not share this light. They will be in outer darkness. Matthew 25:30.