2 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians · Chapter 1

2 Thessalonians 1:9

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
9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Those who know not God and obey not the gospel "shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." 2 Thessalonians 1:82 Thessalonians 1:9

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 involvedThose named in 1:8, who do not know God or obey the gospel. 2 Thessalonians 1:82 Thessalonians 1:9

Paul names the penalty of the judgment described in 1:8. Verse 10 tells when: "in that day." 2 Thessalonians 1:82 Thessalonians 1:92 Thessalonians 1:10

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 eventsThe punishment begins when the Lord comes "in that day" (1:10), and it is "everlasting." 2 Thessalonians 1:92 Thessalonians 1:10

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 shows how serious it is to reject God and the gospel, while assuring the persecuted that justice will be done. 2 Thessalonians 1:62 Thessalonians 1:9

In the whole of ScriptureJesus said the wicked "shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25:46), and "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire" (Matthew 25:41). Revelation 14:11 says "the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever." Matthew 25:46Matthew 25:41Revelation 14:11

For readersScripture calls this judgment everlasting, as Jesus also taught: "these shall go away into everlasting punishment" (Matthew 25:46). 2 Thessalonians 1:9Matthew 25:46

  • punishedδίκη
    Greek · dikē · G1349

    The word means a penalty or judgment. The lexicon lists Acts 28:4 and Jude 7 among its uses. Strong's G1349

  • everlastingαἰώνιος
    Greek · aiōnios · G0166

    The word means eternal, everlasting. Strong's G0166

  • destructionὄλεθρος
    Greek · olethros · G3639

    The word means ruin, destruction. The lexicon lists 1 Thessalonians 5:3 and 1 Timothy 6:9 among its uses. Strong's G3639

  • presenceπρόσωπον
    Greek · prosōpon · G4383

    The word means face, presence. Strong's G4383

Takeaway

Those who reject God and the gospel "shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." 2 Thessalonians 1:9Matthew 25:46

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
whoοἵτινεςoitinesG3748
who/which

ὅστις (hostis, hētis) ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τι (also written ὅ, τι and ὅτι; see LS, see word; WH, §411; Tdf., Pr., 111), in NT scarcely ever except in nom. (M, Pr., 91), the only instance of the oblique cases being found in ἕως ὅτου (see: ἕως), relative of indef. reference (related to simple ὅς as Lat. quisquis to qui), whoever, anyone who; (a) of an indef. person or thing: in general statements, Mat.5:39, 41 13:12, and freq., Luk.14:27, Gal.5:4, al.; in relative sentences, Mat.7:26, Luk.15:7, Php.3:7, al.; πᾶς, with indic., Mat.7:24 10:32; ὅ ἄν (ἐάν), with subjc., Mat.12:50 13:12, Jhn.14:13, 1Co.16:2, Gal.5:10, al.; …

[the] penaltyδίκηνdikēnG1349
condemnation

δίκη (dikē) δίκη, -ης, ἡ [in LXX for נָקָם, רִיב, etc. ;] 1. custom. 2. right. 3. a judicial hearing; hence its result, the execution of a sentence, punishment: δ. τίνειν, 2Th.1:9; δ. υπεχειν, Ju 7. 4. Personified (cf. Lat. Justitia), justice, vengeance: Act.28:4.† (AS)

will sufferτίσουσιν,tisousinG5099
to pay

τίνω (tinō) τίνω [in LXX: Pro.27:12 (τ. ζημίαν, for עָנַשׁ ni.), etc. ;] to pay: t. δίκην (cf. Pr, l.with), to pay penalty, 2Th.1:9 (see M, Th., in l).† (AS)

of destructionὄλεθρονolethronG3639
destructive

ὄλεθρος (olethros) ὄλεθρος, -ον (ὄλλυμι, to destroy), [in LXX for שֹׁד. שָׁדַד, etc. ;] ruin, destruction, death: 1Th.5:3, 1Ti.6:9; αἰώνιος, 2Th.1:9 (L, txt., ὀλέθριος, which see); εἰς ὄ. τῆς σαρκός, for physical discipline, to destroy carnal lusts, 1Co.5:5.† (AS)

eternalαἰώνιονaiōnionG0166
eternal

αἰώνιος (aiōnios) αἰώνιος, -ον (as usual in Attic), also -α, -ον. 2Th.2:16, Heb.9:12; (αἰών), [in LXX chiefly for עוֹלָם ;] age-long, eternal, (a) of that which is without either beginning or end: Rom.16:26, Heb.9:14; (b) of that which is without beginning: Rom.16:25, 2Ti.1:9, Tit.1:2; (with) of that which is without end (MM, VGT, see word): σκηναί, Luk.16:9 οἰκία, 2Co.5:1; διαθήκη, Heb.13:20; εὐαγγέλιον, Rev.14:6; παράκλησις, 2Th.2:16; λύτρωσις, Heb.9:12; κληρονομία, ib. 15; κόλασις, Mat.25:46; κρίμα, Heb.6:2; κρίσις, Mrk.3:29; ὄλεθρον, 2Th.1:9; πῦρ, Mat.18:8; frequently with ζωή, which see …

away fromἀπὸapoG0575
away from

ἀπό (apo) ἀπό (on the frequently neglect of elision bef. vowels, see Tdf., Pr., 94, WH, App., 146), prep. with genitive (WM, 462ff.; on its relation to ἐκ, παρά, ὑπό, ib. 456f.), [in LXX for לְ ,בְּ ,מִן ;] from (i.e. from the exterior). 1. Of separation and cessation; (1) of motion from a place: Mat.5:29, 30 7:23, Luk.5:2 22:41, al.; (2) in partitive sense (M, Pr., 72, 102, 245; MM, see word; Bl., §40, 2), Mat.9:16 27:21, Jhn.21:10, Act.5:2, al.; also after verbs of eating, etc.; …

[the] presenceπροσώπουprosōpouG4383
face

πρόσωπον (prosōpon) πρόσωπον, -ου, τό (πρός, ὤψ), [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for פָּנִים ;] 1. prop., of persons (so always in cl.); (a) the face, countenance: Mat.6:16-17, Mrk.14:65, Luk.9:29, 2Co.3:7, Rev.4:7, al.; τὸ π. τῆς γενέτεως (EV, natural face), Jas.1:23; πίπτειν ἐπὶ (τὰ) π., Mat.17:6, Luk.5:12, Rev.7:11, al.; ἀγνοούμενος τῷ π., Gal.1:22; π., οὐ καρδίᾳ, 1Th.2:17; κατὰ πρόσωπον (in front, facing: Thuc., Xen., al.), when present, face to face, Act.25:16, 2Co.10:1 10:7, Gal.2:11; id. with genitive, as compound prep., in the presence of (not cl.; see Bl., § 40, 9; M, Pr., 99 f.; Thackeray, Gr., 4 …

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 …

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. …

fromἀπὸapoG0575
away from

ἀπό (apo) ἀπό (on the frequently neglect of elision bef. vowels, see Tdf., Pr., 94, WH, App., 146), prep. with genitive (WM, 462ff.; on its relation to ἐκ, παρά, ὑπό, ib. 456f.), [in LXX for לְ ,בְּ ,מִן ;] from (i.e. from the exterior). 1. Of separation and cessation; (1) of motion from a place: Mat.5:29, 30 7:23, Luk.5:2 22:41, al.; (2) in partitive sense (M, Pr., 72, 102, 245; MM, see word; Bl., §40, 2), Mat.9:16 27:21, Jhn.21:10, Act.5:2, al.; also after verbs of eating, etc.; …

gloryδόξηςdoxēsG1391
glory

δόξα (doxa) δόξα, -ης, ἡ (δοκέω), [in LXX very frequently for כָּבוֹד, also for הוֹד ,פִּפְאֶרֶת, etc., 25 words in all ;] in cl., 1. expectation, judgment, opinion (4Ma.5:18). 2. opinion, estimation in which one is held, repute; in NT, always good opinion, hence reputation, praise, honour, glory: Luk.14:10, Jhn.12:43, Heb.3:3; opposite to αἰσχύνη, Php.3:19; to ἀτιμία, 2Co.6:8; δ. κ. τιμή, Rom.2:7, 10 1Pe.1:7, 2Pe.1:17; ζητεῖν, Jhn.5:44 7:18 8:50, 1Th.2:6; λαμβάνειν, Jhn.5:41, 2Pe.1:17, Rev.5:12; διδόναι δ. τ. θεῷ (cf. נָתַן כָּבוֹד לַיהוָֹה, Jer.13:16, al.), Luk.17:18, Jhn.9:24, Act.12:23, Rom.4:20, …

powerἰσχύοςischuosG2479
strength

ἰσχύς (ischus) ἰσχύς, -ύος, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for כֹּחַ, also for חַיִל, עַז, גְּבוּרָה, etc. ;] strength, might, power, force, ability: Rev.5:12 7:12; ἰ. κ. δύναμις, 2Pe.2:11; τ. κράτος τῆς ἰ. (Isa.40:26), Eph.1:19 6:10; ἡ δόξα τῆς ἰ., 2Th.1:9; ἐξ ἰ., 1Pe.4:11; ἐν ὅλῃ τ. ἰ., Mrk.12:30, 33" (LXX) Luk.10:27 (LXX).† SYN.: δύναμις (which see, and cf. ICC, Php.4:13); κράτος (cf. M, Th., I, 1:9) (AS)

of Him,αὐτοῦ,autouG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

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