2 Thessalonians 1:8 - Exposition

In flaming fire; not the instrument of punishment—"in flaming fire taking vengeance;" but a further description of the glory of Christ's appearance—"revealed in flaming fire." In the Old Testament God is represented as appearing in flaming fire, as when he manifested himself to Moses in the burning bush ( Exodus 3:2 ; Acts 7:30 ); and especially his coming to judgment is represented as coming in fire ( Psalms 97:3 ). What is there asserted of God is here referred to Christ (comp. Revelation 19:1-21 :22). There is also a probable reference to the Shechinah or cloud of glory in which Christ will appear for judgment trey. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 ). Some also suppose a reference to the fire of the universal conflagration which shall usher in the last day ( 2 Peter 3:10 ), and others to the fire which shall consume the ungodly, but it is best to restrict the expression to the glory of Christ's manifestation. Taking vengeance; literally, giving; that is, awarding or allotting vengeance, representing the act, not of a conqueror or of an avenger, but of a righteous Judge. On them that know not Go d—the unbelieving Gentiles— and that; or rather, on them that; a second class being here denoted. Obey not the gospel of our Lord Jests Christ; namely, the unbelieving Jews. The ignorance of the one and the disobedience of the other were the causes of their punishment.