2 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 1:1

IN God our Father] As God is in his Church by his speciall grace, so the Church also is in God by his power supporting it, as the Apostle speaketh, Acts 17:28. In whom we live. Or the meaning is, which by faith relyeth on God our Father; or which is gathered by God our Father, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 being often taken for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

2 Thessalonians 1:3

We are bound, &c.] See 1 Thess. 1. 2, 3.

your faith groweth exceedingly] There is no surer argument of the sinceretie of our faith and charitie, then the growth of both, and our proficiencie in Christianitie: we may not stand at a stay but go on forward in our holy race. In particular, our faith groweth and is increased either in regard of the object, when we apprehend more profound mysteries of faith then before; or in regard of the subject when we are more confirmed in those mysteries we apprehended before, and give a more full assent thereunto without any staggering or doubting. Our charitie encreaseth either intensively, by a greater fervour of our affection to God and our brethren; or extensively, by doing good to more, and more and more abounding in works of mercy.

2 Thessalonians 1:4

faith in all your persecutions] Your confidence in God, that he will enagle you to bear them, and graciously reward you who suffer for his Names sake.

2 Thessalonians 1:5

a manifest token] He openeth here the fountain of all true comfort, to wit, that in afflictions which we suffer of the wicked for righteousnesse sake, we may behold as it were in a glasse, the testimonie of that Judgement to come, and the issue thereof, which will be most acceptable and desireable unto us, but most dreadfull to Gods enemies.

counted worthy] He saith not, that we may be worthy, for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy the glory which shall be revealed, Romans 8:18. but we shall be by God in his great mercy accounted worthy, and that for Christs sake, in whose quarrell we suffer. Digni dignatione Dei, non dignitate nostra.

for which ye also suffer] This he saith, not that the faithfull conceive that they merited this kingdome by their sufferings, but because they knew that they should never attain it, unlesse they patiently submitted to Gods good pleasure, and willingly endured all sorts of persecution for the testimonie of a good conscience. For we must through many tribulations enter into the Kingdome of God, Acts 14:22.

2 Thessalonians 1:6

righteous thing with God] It is most agreeable to justice, that wicked persecutors should not go unpunished, but receive according to their works; and it is just also that they who have unjustly suffered of the wicked in this world, should be righted in another world, and greatly rewarded by God; partly because they suffer for his cause, partly because he hath promised them such a reward, Matthew 5:10. 12.

tribulation] Gr. affliction.

trouble] Gr. afflict.

2 Thessalonians 1:7

troubled] Gr. afflicted.

when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from] Gr. in the revelation of the Lord Jesus from. See 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

his mighty angels] Gr. the angels of his power.

2 Thessalonians 1:8

taking] Or, yeelding.

know not God] Which know not God in Christ: for there is no knowledge of God unto salvation without the Gospel of Christ. Most fearfull therefore is the case of all Infidels, who are utterly ignorant of, or wilfully reject the Gospel; as also of all such Christians in name, who have received the knowledge of the Gospel, but yeeld not obedience thereunto: for though they deny not Christ in their words, yet they deny him in their works, Titus 1:16.

2 Thessalonians 1:9

everlasting destruction] Not onely the fire of hell is everlasting, as the Origenists themselves confessed, being convinced by the expresse words of our Saviour, Matthew 25:41. but the damned shall be everlastingly tormented in it, Jude 7. Revelation 14:10.

from the presence of the Lord] The punishment of the damned is two-fold, the punishment of sense, set forth by flaming fire; the punishment of losse, expressed in these words, From the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power.

2 Thessalonians 1:10

glorifid in his saints] Not onely in himself, but in his Saints also, whose glory as it cometh from him, so it redoundeth also to him. Romans 11:36.

admitted in all them] When the world shall see them, who are accounted the off-scourings of all things in this world, then shine as starres for evermore, in whose brightnesse and conformitie to the glorious body of Christ his infinite goodnesse and mercy shall be then admired of all.

2 Thessalonians 1:11

count] Or, vouchsafe.

of this calling] By calling he meaneth not the very act of calling, but that whereunto they are called, to wit, the glory of that heavenly Kingdome: so is the word taken, Ephesians 4:4. Philippians 3:14.