2 Thessalonians 1:9 kjv
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2 Thessalonians 1:9 nkjv
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
2 Thessalonians 1:9 niv
They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might
2 Thessalonians 1:9 esv
They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
2 Thessalonians 1:9 nlt
They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.
2 Thessalonians 1 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 25:46 | "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." | Direct parallel for "eternal punishment." |
| Dan 12:2 | "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." | Everlasting destiny, contrast life/contempt. |
| Jude 1:7 | "just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire." | Eternal punishment, fiery judgment. |
| Rev 14:11 | "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night..." | Perpetual torment, no rest. |
| Rev 20:10 | "and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." | Eternal torment, active punishment. |
| Rev 20:15 | "And if anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." | Lake of fire as final judgment. |
| Ps 16:11 | "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." | Contrast: joy in God's presence. |
| Ps 31:16 | "Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!" | Contrast: desire for God's favorable presence. |
| Isa 2:10 | "Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty." | People hiding from God's terrifying presence. |
| Isa 2:19 | "They shall go into the caves of the rocks and into the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth." | Trying to escape divine presence and majesty. |
| Isa 59:2 | "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you..." | Sins causing separation from God's presence. |
| Matt 7:23 | "And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" | Exclusion and departure from Christ. |
| Luke 13:27 | "But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’" | Another instance of Christ commanding departure. |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" | Judgment on those who disobey the gospel. |
| Rom 2:8-9 | "but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil..." | Wrath and fury for disobedience. |
| 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.’" | God's prerogative for vengeance/repayment. |
| Heb 10:27 | "but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries." | Fearful judgment and consuming fire. |
| Deut 32:35 | "Vengeance is mine, and recompense; in due time their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly." | God's justice and coming recompense. |
| Nah 1:2 | "The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies." | God's avenging and wrathful nature. |
| John 3:36 | "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." | Contrast of life and enduring wrath. |
| John 17:3 | "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." | Contrast: eternal life through knowing God. |
| Gen 3:24 | "He drove out the man, and at the east of the Garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life." | Expulsion from God's immediate presence. |
| Exod 33:20 | "But, he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.’" | The intense holiness of God's direct presence. |
| Rev 21:3 | "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.’" | Contrast: God dwelling with the redeemed. |
2 Thessalonians 1 verses
2 Thessalonians 1 9 Meaning
The verse describes the ultimate and irreversible destiny of those who reject God and refuse to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their recompense will be one of perpetual devastation and ruin, characterized by absolute exclusion from the benevolent, life-giving presence of the Lord, and banished from the manifestation of His divine glory and majestic power. This punishment is not an cessation of existence but a continued state of loss and suffering, defined by a conscious separation from the source of all blessing and life.
2 Thessalonians 1 9 Context
This verse is part of a larger section (2 Thess 1:5-10) where Paul comforts the persecuted Thessalonian believers by affirming the righteous justice of God. They were suffering affliction for their faith, and Paul reassures them that their trials are evidence of God's righteous judgment, ensuring they are counted worthy of His kingdom (1:5). He then outlines the certainty of divine recompense: rest for the afflicted believers and retribution for those who inflict suffering (1:6-7). Verse 9 precisely defines this retribution, which will occur when the Lord Jesus returns with His mighty angels in flaming fire to exact vengeance on "those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (1:8). Thus, 2 Thessalonians 1:9 clarifies the ultimate fate of the ungodly, contrasting it sharply with the ultimate blessing and relief reserved for the faithful, highlighting God's sovereign and just governance over all of humanity's destiny.
2 Thessalonians 1 9 Word analysis
- These: Refers back to those mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 1:8—"those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." This establishes the precise identity of the recipients of this punishment.
- will suffer: From the Greek verb tísousin (part of díkēn tísousin). This phrase literally means "they will pay the penalty/justice" or "suffer retribution." It indicates an active enduring of a deserved consequence, implying a judicial verdict and execution. It's not passive, but a deliberate imposition of punishment.
- the punishment: Greek díkēn. Refers to the execution of justice, the penalty, or retribution. It underscores that what they suffer is not arbitrary but a righteous recompense for their actions and rejection of God.
- of eternal: Greek aiṓnion. This adjective describes the nature and duration of the destruction. It refers to a period pertaining to "the ages," signifying a quality that extends perpetually, without end. It is the same Greek word used to describe "eternal life" and "eternal God," indicating an unending state, not merely a long duration with a potential end.
- destruction: Greek ólethron. This word implies ruin, devastation, or loss. It is not necessarily annihilation (ceasing to exist), but rather a complete undoing of one's well-being, a state of perpetual spiritual and moral ruin. It signifies a profound loss of that for which humanity was created: fellowship with God, life, and flourishing. They continue to exist but in a state of irretrievable loss and suffering.
- away from the presence: Greek apò prosṓpou. Literally "from the face." This signifies expulsion, exclusion, or removal from the very "face" or immediate personal encounter with God. In biblical thought, God's face shining upon someone is a sign of blessing, favor, and life (Num 6:25; Ps 31:16). Being "away from His face" signifies the complete antithesis—a total loss of blessing, favor, and communion.
- of the Lord: Refers to Jesus Christ, as the one who returns in glory to inflict vengeance (2 Thess 1:7-8). This highlights that the judgment comes directly from the divine authority and presence of the Son of God.
- and from the glory: Greek dóxēs. This denotes majesty, splendor, renown, the radiant manifestation of God's being and attributes. Exclusion from this means exclusion from His glorious power, His holiness, and the light of His character.
- of his might: Greek ischýos. This refers to God's strength, power, and forceful ability. The judgment is not an arbitrary act but an exercise of the inherent, omnipotent power of God, consistent with His righteous and glorious nature. The judgment itself is a manifestation of His might and glory.
2 Thessalonians 1 9 Bonus section
The concept of "eternal destruction" does not imply cessation of existence (annihilationism) for the wicked but rather an ongoing state of ruination and alienation from God. The term olethros (destruction) in the Greek context refers to a complete undoing, a state of utter ruin, rather than the act of ceasing to be. Its eternal quality (aiōnion) parallels the duration of eternal life for the redeemed, suggesting both are unending states. Furthermore, being "away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might" strongly implies a conscious experience of absence and rejection, as opposed to non-existence. This state of separation from the life-giving God is the most profound and devastating form of punishment. This verse also contains an indirect polemic against certain Gnostic or pagan beliefs of the time which might have minimized the active, personal involvement of a sovereign God in final judgment or denied the seriousness of rebellion against the divine. Paul underscores God's active power and justice as the foundation of final recompense.
2 Thessalonians 1 9 Commentary
2 Thessalonians 1:9 paints a solemn picture of eternal divine retribution for those who willfully refuse to acknowledge God and obey the saving truth of the Gospel. The "eternal destruction" described is not merely ceasing to exist but a never-ending state of ruin, desolation, and spiritual bankruptcy. This destruction is fundamentally characterized by an enforced, perpetual separation from the benevolent presence of the Lord, which is the source of all joy and life, and from the resplendent manifestation of His divine glory and infinite power. This profound exclusion is the essence of their punishment, indicating a conscious and ongoing experience of ultimate loss, contrasted starkly with the everlasting communion promised to the righteous. It serves as a stark reminder of the ultimate consequences of rejecting God's authority and His gracious offer of salvation in Christ, highlighting His perfect justice in His recompense.