He shall come, and He shall be glorified in His saints.

 

He shall come, and He shall be glorified in His saints.

 

2 Thessalonians 1:1–4: "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure."

The term *diōgmois* (διωγμοῖς) does not mean "persecution" in the sense of being hunted down, but rather the act of pursuing something. Thus, there are times when the pursuit of something for the sake of the Lord becomes difficult. The term *thlipsesin* (θλίψεσιν) implies a "pushing" or "pressing"—in this context, it signifies God pushing His saints to enter into the Most Holy Place. Those who enter the Most Holy Place become royal priests. When these terms are translated as "persecution" and "tribulation," the meaning is often distorted into an exclusively eschatological (end-times) faith.

The term *hypomonēs* (ὑπομονῆς) is translated as "patience" (or endurance), but it actually refers to a faith that advances toward the throne of God. Therefore, the phrase "patience and faith" describes a faith attained as one approaches the throne of God—not merely a general belief in God, but a faith that gazes upon God face-to-face and becomes one with Him. It is, in essence, a faith that, in Christ, leads one to sit at the right hand of God. 2 Thessalonians 1:5: "This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering."

The term *paskhete* (πάσχετε) does not mean "suffering" in the sense of mere hardship; rather, it signifies "passion"—a passion to draw near to the throne of God. It is through this that one enters into an intimate relationship with God in Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:6: "God will repay with affliction those who afflict you (*eiper dikaion para theo antapodounai tois thlibousin hymas thlipsin*)."

There are elements in the original Greek text that are often omitted in translation. The phrase *eiper dikaion para theo*—*eiper* ("if indeed"), *dikaion* ("righteous"), and *para theo* ("alongside God")—carries a specific nuance.

A more precise translation would be: "If, indeed, it is righteous before God that someone has 'pushed' you toward the throne of God within your spirit, then you, in turn, ought to respond by 'pushing' them toward that same throne."

The word *thlibousin* (θλίβουσιν) here does not refer to "affliction" in the sense of causing misery, but rather to the act of "pushing" or "urging" someone toward God. If someone has urged you toward the throne of God, you should, with a heart of gratitude, reciprocate by urging that person toward the throne of God as well—thereby returning the grace you received. In other words, believers are called to encourage one another to draw near to God. 2 Thessalonians 1:7: "And to you who are being afflicted, it is a righteous thing with God to repay with rest—along with us—when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire."

The term *thlibomenois* (θλιβομένοις) does not merely refer to "suffering affliction," but rather to those who have been "pushed forward"—compelled to move toward the throne of God (the Most Holy Place). God grants them rest; this rest signifies entering into the eternal Kingdom of God. The phrase "in flaming fire"—which appears at the end of verse 7 in the Revised Korean Version (and many English translations)—is actually positioned at the beginning of verse 8 in the original Greek text. It was moved to the end of verse 7 in the Korean translation for the sake of smoother flow.

2 Thessalonians 1:8–9: "He will inflict punishment upon those who do not know (*eidōsin*) God and upon those who do not obey (*hypakouousin*) the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Such individuals will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power."

The term *eidōsin* (εἰδόσιν) refers to those who do not know God, do not obey the gospel, and fail to become one with God. The term *hypakouousin* (ὑπακούουσιν) refers to those who fail to enter into the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is, in essence, the faith through which one becomes one with God in Christ.

Based on the Stephanus Greek New Testament, 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9 can be translated as follows: "He will inflict punishment in flaming fire upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; they shall suffer the penalty of eternal destruction,, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power."

(Stephanus Greek New Testament)

*en pyri phlogos didontos ekdikēsin tois mē eidosin theon kai tois mē hypakouousin tō euangeliō tou kyriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou*

He will inflict punishment in flaming fire upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament)

*en pyri phlogos, didontos ekdikēsin tois mē eidosin theon kai tois mē hypakouousin tō euangeliō tou kyriou hēmōn Iēsou,*

He will inflict punishment in flaming fire upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

The Stephanus text includes "our Lord Jesus Christ," whereas the Nestle-Aland text reads "our Lord Jesus"—the word "Christ" is omitted.

2 Thessalonians 1:10: "On that day, when He comes (*elthē*), He will be glorified in His saints and marveled at among all who have believed—(because our testimony to you was believed)."

*Elthē* (ἔλθῃ) signifies His presence—His coming to the throne within the human spirit. Here, the term "saints" refers to those who possess a faith that enables them to approach the throne of God. Salvation is not merely a matter of going to heaven simply because one believes in Jesus; rather, it is a faith that unites one with God in Christ. Consequently, such individuals believe that the kingdom of God is established within their own spirits.

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 states: "To this end, we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good (*agathōsynē*) and every work of faith by His power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

*Agathōsynē* (ἀγαθωσύνης) denotes that which is of true value, while *eudokia* (εὐδοκίαν) relates to what is "good." A "good" work of true value is one that brings a dead spirit to life. When one possesses a faith that allows them to approach the throne of God in Christ, they become worthy of His calling—and are empowered to carry out works and ministries of genuine value.