Read & explore together
Christ’s Coming
This passage connects present suffering with God’s righteous judgment, the future revealing of the Lord Jesus, and a prayer for believers to live in a way that honours him.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses are letter teaching to believers who are suffering. The passage speaks about God’s righteous judgment, relief for the afflicted, punishment for those who do not know God or obey the good news, and prayer that believers may be counted worthy of their calling.
2 Thessalonians 1:5–12Main takeaway
This passage teaches that God judges righteously, the Lord Jesus will be revealed, and believers are prayed for so that his name may be glorified in them.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Suffering and being counted worthyThe passage calls their suffering an “obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God”. It says this is connected to their being counted worthy of God’s Kingdom.
Explanation
The passage calls their suffering an “obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God”. It says this is connected to their being counted worthy of God’s Kingdom. Their suffering is also linked directly to that Kingdom, because it says they suffer for it.
02Two outcomes at Jesus’ revealingThe next verses set two outcomes side by side. God will repay affliction to those who afflict them, and give relief to those who are afflicted.
Explanation
The next verses set two outcomes side by side. God will repay affliction to those who afflict them, and give relief to those who are afflicted. This relief is linked to the time when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire.
03Punishment and penaltyWhen Jesus is revealed, the passage speaks of punishment for those who do not know God and do not obey the good news of the Lord Jesus.
Explanation
When Jesus is revealed, the passage speaks of punishment for those who do not know God and do not obey the good news of the Lord Jesus. Their penalty is described as eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might. The wording is serious and weighty.
04Glorified in his saints and prayer for themThat same day is also when Jesus is glorified in his saints and admired among those who have believed, including these readers who believed the testimony.
Explanation
That same day is also when Jesus is glorified in his saints and admired among those who have believed, including these readers who believed the testimony. The prayer then asks that God may count them worthy of their calling, fulfil every desire of goodness and work of faith with power, and so the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in them, and they in him.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two different outcomes are described for the afflicted and for those who afflict them?
Look at the contrast between “repay affliction” and “give relief”, and notice when the passage says this happens.
02How does the passage describe the people who face punishment when Jesus is revealed?
Use the exact descriptions given here: those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news of the Lord Jesus.
03What does the prayer ask God to do, and what result does it aim for?
Trace the prayer carefully from being counted worthy, to goodness and faith with power, to the glorifying of the Lord Jesus’ name in them.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Thessalonians 1:5–12
5This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of God’s Kingdom, for which you also suffer.
6For it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you,
7and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire,
8punishing those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus,
9who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
10when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
11To this end we also pray always for you that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and work of faith with power,
12that 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.