2 Thessalonians 1:6
What does 2 Thessalonians 1:6 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Thessalonians 1:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Thessalonians 1:6 means
Paul asserts that it is righteous with God to repay affliction to those who afflict believers. This is not a call for personal vengeance but a declaration of divine justice. God sees every injury done to His people, and His character requires that wrongs be addressed. The timing and manner of that repayment belong to Him, not to the church. For oppressed Christians, this promise steadies the heart: judgment will not be forgotten or miscarried. For oppressors, it warns that persecution of God’s people is ultimately an offense against God Himself. Retribution is part of the larger picture of God’s setting the world to rights.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000if so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you,
KJV
King James Version · 1611Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901if so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For it is an act of righteousness on God's part to give trouble as their reward to those who are troubling you,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862since <FI>it is<Fi> a righteous thing with God to give back to those troubling you--trouble,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Seeing it is a just thing with God to repay tribulation to them that trouble you:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890if at least [it is a] righteous thing withGod to render tribulation to those that trouble you,
Context
Verse 6 follows the statement that their endurance is a token of God’s righteous judgment (verse 5). It begins the contrast that will run through verses 6–7: afflictors will be repaid, the afflicted will be given rest. This prepares for the eschatological scene in verses 7–10, where the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven is the moment when divine justice becomes public and final.
v.5which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
v.6This passage
v.7and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 79:10
Wherefore should the nations say, Where is their God? Let the avenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed Be known among the nations in our sight.
- Exodus 23:22
But if thou shalt indeed hearken unto his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
- Revelation 18:24
And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.
- Revelation 18:20
Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her.
- Revelation 11:18
And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth.
- Psalms 94:20
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee, Which frameth mischief by statute?
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