2 Thessalonians 1:6 kjv
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2 Thessalonians 1:6 nkjv
since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,
2 Thessalonians 1:6 niv
God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you
2 Thessalonians 1:6 esv
since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
2 Thessalonians 1:6 nlt
In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.
2 Thessalonians 1 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:35 | Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time... | God alone owns retribution |
| Ps 7:11-16 | God is a righteous judge... He turns their mischief upon their own head. | God judges justly, adversaries suffer own devices |
| Ps 94:1 | O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! | Appeal to God as righteous avenger |
| Prov 24:12 | Does not He who weighs the hearts discern it? And He who keeps your soul know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? | God's comprehensive knowledge ensures just recompense |
| Rom 2:5-6 | ...storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each one according to his deeds... | Divine judgment renders deeds justly |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” | Believers forgo personal revenge for God's vengeance |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. | God reveals and judges at the appointed time |
| Heb 10:30 | For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." | God's prerogative to avenge and judge |
| Rev 6:10 | They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” | Martyrs' plea for divine vengeance and justice |
| Rev 18:6 | “Render to her just as she has rendered; and repay her double according to her deeds...” | Retribution upon oppressive powers |
| 1 Pet 4:12-13 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial... but rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings... | Suffering as a shared experience with Christ |
| Matt 5:10-12 | Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake... | Blessings for enduring persecution |
| Luke 18:7-8 | And will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? | God's swift justice for His chosen |
| 2 Tim 4:14 | Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. | Apostle's expectation of God's justice |
| Phil 1:28 | ...which is to them a sign of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God. | Opposition reveals future judgment for enemies |
| Nah 1:2-3 | A jealous and avenging God is the Lord... The Lord is slow to anger but great in power, and He will by no means clear the guilty. | God's justice is sure, though patient |
| Ps 73:17-19 | Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end... How they are cast down in a moment, utterly swept away by terrors! | Understanding the ultimate fate of the wicked |
| Isa 61:2 | To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God... | Christ's return brings both favor and vengeance |
| Jude 1:14-15 | Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly... | The Lord's coming includes universal judgment |
| 1 Thess 2:14-16 | ...you also endured the same sufferings... by God's wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. | Paul's similar observation in 1 Thess for persecutors |
| Isa 49:26 | I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh... And all flesh will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer... | God promises to save and defend His people |
| Zech 2:8 | ...whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. | God's profound protection over His people |
2 Thessalonians 1 verses
2 Thessalonians 1 6 Meaning
Second Thessalonians 1:6 declares a foundational principle of divine justice: God's intrinsic fairness and righteousness necessitate that He will ultimately repay with suffering those who inflict suffering upon His devoted followers. It asserts that God Himself actively considers it righteous and appropriate to administer such retribution, offering solace and vindication to the persecuted believers by assuring them that their current affliction is not unnoticed or unaddressed by the divine sovereign. This verse underscores God's unwavering character as a just judge who will balance the scales of injustice.
2 Thessalonians 1 6 Context
This verse is part of Paul's opening thanksgiving and prayer in 2 Thessalonians. The Thessalonian believers were enduring severe persecution and tribulation for their faith. In the preceding verse (2 Thess 1:5), Paul established that their suffering was evidence of God's righteous judgment, proving their worthiness for the Kingdom of God. Verse 6 directly builds upon this by explaining the logical outcome of God's righteous judgment for their oppressors. The immediate historical context involves believers suffering at the hands of those who rejected their Christian faith, possibly motivated by both Jewish opposition and pagan societal pressures in the Roman province of Macedonia. Paul seeks to encourage them not with an immediate end to suffering, but with the certainty of future divine justice and vindication at Christ's return, contrasting their affliction with the future "rest" promised in verse 7 for the faithful. The message stands as a theological affirmation against any belief that the current prosperity of the wicked implies God's indifference or inability to judge.
2 Thessalonians 1 6 Word analysis
- since indeed (ἐπείπερ, epeiper): This strong conjunction reinforces the logical connection to the previous verse (2 Thess 1:5). It presents what follows not merely as an additional point but as a necessary and certain consequence, almost an evident truth derived from what was just stated. It underlines the firm ground of the preceding statement.
- God (θεός, Theos): The supreme Divine Being. Emphasis is placed on God as the sovereign agent of justice, not a human agency. His divine nature guarantees perfect judgment.
- considers it just (δίκαιον παρὰ θεῷ, dikaion para theō): "Just" (dikaion) refers to what is righteous, equitable, and in conformity with divine standards. "Para theō" (before God or in God's estimation) emphasizes that this justice originates from God's very nature. It is not an arbitrary act, but a necessary expression of His character. It counteracts the notion that the current state of injustice is God's final say.
- to repay (ἀνταποδοῦναι, antapodounai): This verb means to "give back," "retribute," or "requite." It signifies a just recompense, an act of giving back in kind, suggesting a symmetry between the deed and the outcome. It is not arbitrary revenge but measured, righteous compensation. This aligns with Old Testament concepts of recompense, where God repays actions justly.
- with affliction (θλῖψιν, thlipsin): The exact same Greek word used in 2 Thess 1:4 to describe what the Thessalonians were enduring. It denotes distress, tribulation, pressure, or suffering. This choice of word highlights the principle of "poetic justice" – the persecutors will experience the very type of suffering they inflicted on others.
- those who afflict you (τοῖς θλίβουσιν ὑμᾶς, tois thlibousin hymas): Clearly identifies the objects of God's recompense: the active agents causing distress and persecution to the Thessalonian believers. The present participle thlibousin indicates an ongoing or characteristic action of affliction. This specific target distinguishes divine justice from general judgment upon all ungodliness; it is directed towards the persecutors of God's children.
2 Thessalonians 1 6 Bonus section
The divine act of "repaying with affliction" is fundamentally different from human vindictiveness or vengeance. God's judgment is righteous, impartial, and perfectly timed, always aligning with His holy character. This verse does not imply that believers should desire evil for their enemies, but rather understand that God, in His perfect justice, will right all wrongs. The timing of this repayment is crucial and linked to the Parousia (the second coming of Christ), as detailed in the verses immediately following (2 Thess 1:7-10), emphasizing that divine judgment is an integral part of God's ultimate establishment of His kingdom. The concept also acts as a polemic against the worldview prevalent at the time, and often today, that the prosperity of the wicked or the suffering of the righteous disproves the existence of a just God. Paul emphatically asserts the opposite.
2 Thessalonians 1 6 Commentary
Second Thessalonians 1:6 serves as a powerful anchor of comfort and conviction for persecuted believers. It pivots from the immediate suffering of the Thessalonians to God's ultimate and righteous response. The verse highlights that God's justice is not merely passive observation but active, deliberate judgment. The "affliction" (thlipsis) that the Thessalonians were experiencing is the exact same type of "affliction" that their persecutors will eventually face, demonstrating divine poetic justice. This isn't a call for believers to seek personal revenge, which is strictly forbidden (Rom 12:19), but a divine assurance that justice is entirely in God's hands. It underscores the biblical principle that God will settle all accounts, guaranteeing that evil will not prevail eternally and that the suffering of the righteous will be vindicated. This declaration instills hope, encouraging steadfastness and perseverance by reminding them of God's character as a just judge who will infallibly repay evil with proportionate recompense. It reinforces the eschatological hope that underpins much of 2 Thessalonians, anticipating Christ's future coming as the ultimate act of divine intervention and justice (as seen in subsequent verses).