2 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians · Chapter 1

2 Thessalonians 1:8

1Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:2Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;4So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:5Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:6Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;10When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.11Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:12That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

When the Lord Jesus is revealed, he will come in flaming fire "taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." The judgment belongs to Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:72 Thessalonians 1:8

SpeakingPaul, writing with Silvanus and Timotheus. Paul signs the letter in his own hand (3:17). 2 Thessalonians overview

ToThe church of the Thessalonians, believers in Thessalonica whom Paul had taught in person. 2 Thessalonians overview

Also involved"Them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel." 2 Thessalonians 1:8

The sentence continues from 1:7, describing the Lord's revealing. Verse 9 names the penalty. 2 Thessalonians 1:72 Thessalonians 1:82 Thessalonians 1:9

The letter went to Thessalonica, a city of Macedonia in northern Greece. The letter does not say where it was written; the traditional view is Corinth. 2 Thessalonians overview

The eventsThis happens at the Lord's future revealing from heaven (1:7). 2 Thessalonians 1:72 Thessalonians 1:8

WrittenTraditional: about AD 50-51, from Corinth, a few months after 1 Thessalonians. Scholarly: some hold a follower wrote it in Paul's name later in the first century; many others accept that Paul wrote it soon after 1 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians overview

HerePaul assures the church that their persecutors will answer to Christ, and he warns of judgment on those who "obey not the gospel." 2 Thessalonians 1:62 Thessalonians 1:82 Thessalonians overview

In the whole of ScripturePeter asks, "what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17). The psalmist prays, "Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee" (Psalms 79:6). Hebrews warns of "fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:27). 1 Peter 4:17Psalms 79:6Hebrews 10:27

For readersThe gospel is not only to be heard but obeyed. Christ himself will judge those who refuse it. 2 Thessalonians 1:81 Peter 4:17

  • vengeanceἐκδίκησις
    Greek · ekdikēsis · G1557

    The word means vengeance or vindication. The lexicon lists Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30 among its uses. Strong's G1557

  • obeyὑπακούω
    Greek · hupakouō · G5219

    The word means to listen to, to obey. Strong's G5219

  • gospelεὐαγγέλιον
    Greek · euangelion · G2098

    The word means good news, the gospel. Strong's G2098

Takeaway

The Lord Jesus will come in flaming fire and take vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel. 2 Thessalonians 1:81 Peter 4:17

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
{8} inflictingδιδόντοςdidontosG1325
to give

δίδωμι (didōmi) δίδωμι, [in LXX chiefly for נָתַן (53 words in all) ;] to give—in various senses, accusative to context—bestow, grant, supply, deliver, commit, yield: absol., Act.20:35; with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s), Mat.4:9 5:31, Jhn.1:12, al. mult.; with dative of person(s), before ἐκ, Mat.25:8; id. with genitive part.. Rev.2:17; with accusative of person(s), Jhn.3:16, Rev.20:13, al.; δεξιάς, Gal.2:9; φίλημα, Luk.7:45; γνῶσιν, Luk.1:77; κρίσιν, Jhn.5:22; of seed yielding fruit, Mrk.4:7, 8; ἐργασίαν (Deiss., LAE, 117f.), Luk.12:58; with inf. fin., Mat.27:34, Mrk.5:43, Luk.8:55, Jhn.6: …

vengeanceἐκδίκησινekdikēsinG1557
vengeance

ἐκδίκησις (ekdikēsis) ἐκ-δίκησις, -εως, ἡ (ἐκδικέω), [in LXX chiefly for נָקָם ;] vengeance, vindication: Luk.21:22, Rom.12:19 (see MM, Exp., xii), Heb.10:30 (LXX), 2Co.7:11; of the injured person, with genitive, Luk.18:7-8; with dative, Act.7:24; of the offender, with genitive obj., 1Pe.2:14; with dative, 2Th.1:8 (cf. Sir.12:6).† (AS)

notμὴmēG3361
not

μή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. …

knowingεἰδόσινeidosinG6063
to know

οἶδα (oida) 1. to know , εὖ οἶδα I know well; εὖ ἴσθι be assured : often with accusative rei, νοήματα οἶδε, μήδεα οἶδε he is versed in counsels, (Homer); with neut. Adjs., πεπνυμένα, φίλα, ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς (Homer); also with genitive, τόξων εὖ εἰδώς cunning in the use of the bow; οἰωνῶν σάφα εἰδώς (Odyssey by Homer): —; χάριν εἰδέναι τινί to acknowledge a debt to another, thank him , (Iliad by Homer), etc.:—;the Imperat. in protestations, ἴστω Ζεὺς αὐτός be Zeus my witness , (Iliad by Homer); doric ἴττω Ζεύς, ἴττω (Aristophanes Comicus): —; εἰδώς absolute one who knows , εἰδυίηι πάντ᾽ ἀγορεύω (Iliad by Hom …

GodθεὸνtheonG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

notμὴmēG3361
not

μή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. …

obeyingὑπακούουσινhupakouousinG5219
to obey

ὑπακούω (hupakouō) ὑπακούω [in LXX: chiefly for שָׁמַע ;] to listen, attend, hence, (a) to answer a knock at a door (Plat., Xen., al.): Act.12:13; (b) to attend to, submit to, obey (Hdt., Thuc., al.): absol., Php.2:12; with inf., Heb.11:8; with dative of person(s) (Plat., al.; but more frequently with genitive), Mat.8:27, Mrk.1:27 4:41, Luk.8:25 17:6, Rom.6:16, Eph.6:1, 5, Col.3:20, 22, Heb.5:9, 1Pe.3:6; with dative of thing(s), Act.6:7, Rom.6:12 10:16, 2Th.1:8 3:14; before εἰς (by attraction, for dative; see ICC, in l), Rom.6:17.† (AS)

gospelεὐαγγελίῳeuangeliōG2098
gospel

εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion) εὐαγγέλιον, -ου, τό [in LXX for בְּשׂוֹרָה, 2Ki.4:10 18:22 18:25 * ;] 1. in cl., (a) a reward for good tidings (Hom.; pl., LXX, 2Ki.4:10); (b) in pl., εὐ. θύειν, to make a thank-offering for good tidings (Xen., al.). …

LordκυρίουkuriouG2962G
lord: God

κύριος (kurios) κύριος, -α, -ον (also -ος, -ον), [in LXX (subst.) chiefly for יהוה, also for בַּעַל ,אָדוֹן, etc. ;] having power (κῦρος) or authority; as subst., ὁ κ., lord, master; 1. in general: with genitive of thing(s), Mat.9:38 20:8, Mrk.12:9 13:35, Luk.19:33; τ. σαββάτου, Mat.12:8, Mrk.2:28, Luk.6:5; with genitive of person(s), δούλου, etc., Mat.10:24, Luk.14:21, Act.16:16, al.; absol, opposite to οἱ δοῦλοι, Eph.6:5, 9 al.; of the Emperor (Deiss., LAE, 161), Act.25:26; θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κ. πολλοί, 1Co.8:5; of a husband, 1Pe.3:6; in voc, as a title of respect to masters, teachers, magistrates, etc., Ma …

of usἡμῶνhēmōnG3165
me

μέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML)

JesusἸησοῦIēsouG2424G
Jesus

Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Ἰησοῦς, -οῦ, dative, voc. -οῦ, accusative, -οῦν (Heb. יֵשׁוּעַ ,יְהֹשֻׁעַ ,יְהוֹשׁוּעַ), 1. JESUS: Mat.1:21, al.; ὁ Ἰ, ib. 3:13, al.; Ἰ. Χριστός, ib. 1:1, Mrk.1:1, al.; Χρ. Ἰ., Rom.2:26, al.; κύριος Ἰ., Act.28:31, al.; Ἰησοῦ, voc., Mrk.1:24, al. 2. Joshua: Act.7:45, Heb.4:8. 3. Jesus, son of Eliezer: Luk.3:28. 4. Jesus, surnamed Justus: Col.4:11. 5. see: βαραββᾶς. (AS)

Christ;Χριστοῦ·ChristouG5547
Christ

Χριστός (Christos) χριστός (Χρ-), -ή, -όν (χρίω), [in LXX for מָשִׁיחַ and cogn. forms ;] 1. 1. as adj., (a) of things, anointing, to be used as ointment (Æsch., Eur., al.; τ. ἔλαιον τὸ χ., Lev.21:10); (b) of persons, anointed (ὁ ἰερεὺς ὁ χ., Lev.4:5; οἱ χ. ἰευρεῖς, 2Ma.1:10): ὁ χ. τοῦ κυρίου or Θεοῦ (1Ki.2:10, Psa.2:2, al.), of the Messiah (Aram., מְשִׁיחָא; cf. Dalman, Words, 289 ff.), Luk.2:11, 26 Jhn.1:41, Act.2:36 4:26, al. …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.