2 Thessalonians 1:8

“rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus”

“Rendering vengeance”: “Lit., ‘out of justice or righteousness', indicating this is not out of vindictiveness but. righteous (just) punishment for their evil deeds (Revelation 16:7)” (Denton Lectureship pp. 235-236). Carefully note that in the context is the Lord Jesus that renders this vengeance, and yet in the Old Testament the exclusive right for such vengeance is assigned to Jehovah (Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35). Morris notes, “It is yet another example of the ease with which the church, from the very first, assigned to the Lord the functions which the Old Testament reserved for Jehovah” (p. 204). Notice how this section contradicts the popular theory of Premillennialism. According to the Bible, both saint and sinner receive their rewards at the same time (not seven, one thousand, or 1007 years apart). “The saints are not to receive their rest several years before the sinners get their tribulation” (Fields p. 172). “To them that know not God”: Unfortunately some have tried to tone down this statement. They argue that the expression does not include those who are sincerely ignorant of God, yet ignorance is not an excuse (Luke 12:47). In addition, the sincerely ignorant man still has sins and those sins will condemn him. Remember people are lost before the gospel comes to them (Mark 16:16). Fields notes, “Christ will be perfectly just in taking vengeance on them that know not God. For people are not innocently ignorant. The people of the world do not know God, because they refused to have God in their knowledge (Romans 1:28)” (p. 173). Passages such as Psalms 19:1 and Romans 1:20 argue that ignorance of God is inexcusable for anyone. For it is man's first priority to seek God (Acts 17:27).

“That obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus”: The gospel is more than the facts concerning the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The gospel also contains commandments to be obeyed. In order to end up saved, there is something you must do (Acts 2:37). Compare with Romans 2:8; Hebrews 5:9; 1 John 2:3; John 14:15; Matthew 7:21. The expression "of our Lord Jesus", reminds us that “The gospel is. message of good news, but it is also an invitation from the King of kings. Rejection of the gospel accordingly is disobedience to. royal invitation” (Morris p. 205).