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 vengeance on His enemies. Thus, this is said so that the Thessalonians would be fully assured that the persecutors will in any case be punished, while the preceding was said so that they would be comforted that God will punish their persecutors for their honor's sake, if He punishes those who hinder others from hearing Him, which is exactly what your persecutors now are. The expression "in flaming fire" can be referred either to the words "taking vengeance," as if to say: punishing the unbelievers with Gehenna; or thus: "at the revelation of Christ," which will be "in flaming fire," as David says: "A fire goes before Him, and burns up His enemies round about" (Ps. 97:3); and Daniel: "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him" (Dan. 7:10). Note that "in flaming fire" is said instead of: in fire that burns but does not give light. For sinners the fire will only burn but not give light; for the righteous it will give light but not burn.
2 Thess. 1:9. who shall suffer punishment, eternal destruction,
So then, where are the Origenists, who fabulously teach about the finality of punishments? This, that is punishment, Paul called eternal. In what way then can the eternal be temporal according to you?
2 Thess. 1:9. From the face of the Lord and from the glory of His might,
Here the apostle shows the ease with which this will be accomplished. For this, he says, no efforts of any kind are needed, but it is sufficient for God to appear — and punishment will overtake all the disobedient. His very sight and coming will be light for some, and punishment for others. For He will not simply come, but with mighty glory. And His glory will not be without power, and His power will not be without glory. That is, He will appear as the Almighty King.
2 Thess. 1:10. When He shall come to be glorified in His saints
When the people who now oppose the Gospel and exalt themselves see that those whom they tormented have become partakers of endless glory, then the glory of God will be openly revealed. For their glory is His glory, so that by the very means through which He glorifies the saints, He Himself is also glorified. Just as His wealth consists in the fact that there are faithful ones, so also His glory consists in the fact that there are such people who will enjoy His blessings.
2 Thess. 1:10. and appear wondrous in that day in all who believed,
That is, through those who believed. Here the preposition "in" (εν) is used instead of "through" (δια). For when He deems worthy of such glory those who are wretched and persecuted by all, then His power will be revealed. And in another sense, when those who endured countless afflictions, being compelled to abandon the faith, and yet did not abandon it, stand in the midst of the judgment seat, then the glory of God and their glory will be revealed.
2 Thess. 1:10. because you believed our testimony.2
He will be wonderful, he says, God on that day, because "you believed our testimony" and preaching, that is, because you believed and made yourselves worthy of those blessings which will then be granted to the faithful. He well said above: "on that day," for then they will show themselves in deed to be truly believing, but now many pretend to be believers. Therefore the Wise One also says: do not count a man happy before his death.
2 Thess. 1:11. For this reason we also pray always for you, that our God would make you worthy of the calling
What then, were they not called? Yes, they were. But the apostle is not speaking of that calling; for according to that one, many are called. He who did not have wedding garments was also called (Matt. 22:25), and the five virgins were also called (Matt. 25:11), but neither he nor they entered. The calling that the apostle means here is that which is confirmed by deeds, and which is properly the true calling, just as genuine faith is active faith. Therefore he adds the following.
2 Thess. 1:11. and fulfilled every good pleasure of goodness
Such, he says, is the calling I mean, that "every good pleasure" of God, that is, everything that is pleasing to Him, might be fulfilled in you, and that you might appear such as God desires you to be, lacking nothing. Here the apostle also humbles their pride, so that they would not become exalted by the many praises, showing by this that they are still imperfect.
2 Thess. 1:11. and the work of faith in power,
May God make, he says, your endurance of persecutions perfect. In what way? "In power," that is, by strengthening and fortifying you. For endurance is a work of faith, so that whoever does not have endurance does not show the work of faith either.
2 Thess. 1:12. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him,
If all that has been said will be in you, then even in this life, the apostle says, the name of the Lord will be glorified in you. For when they see you enduring every trial out of love for your Master, this will be to His glory — that is, that He is so good that His servants are ready to die for Him, and so powerful that He strengthens you in endurance. But you also will be glorified in Him, in that you prove so faithful that you endure all things. For the glory of a servant is to be faithful to his Master. And in another sense: suffering for Christ is glory, because it makes people more pure, always ready to give themselves over to death, showing themselves to be above death.
2 Thess. 1:12. by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
And this, says the apostle, depends on God, and not on us; His grace is both this—if, he says, the Lord is glorified in us, when we prefer nothing over Him, as the sweetest of all, and also this—if we are glorified in Him, when we receive from Him the strength to endure all trials.