THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS - Chapter 1 - Verse 12

Verse 12. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is, that the Lord Jesus himself may be honoured among you: the name often denoting the person. The idea is, that the apostle wished that the Lord Jesus might be honoured among them by the fair application and development of the principles of his religion.

And ye in him. That you may be regarded and treated as his friends when he shall come to judge the world.

According to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. That is, that you may experience all the honour which his grace is fitted to impart. In view of the exposition given of this chapter, we may remark:

(1.) That the wicked will certainly be punished when the Lord Jesus shall come to judgment. Words cannot reveal this truth more plainly than is done in this chapter, and if it is not to be so, then language has no meaning.

(2.) The punishment of the wicked will be eternal. It is impossible for language to teach that doctrine more clearly than in done in this chapter. If it were admitted to have been the intention of God to teach the doctrine of eternal punishment, it is impossible to conceive that he could have chosen more plain and positive language to express the doctrine than has been done here. Can it be, then, that he means to trifle with men on so solemn a subject, by using words which have no meaning?

(3.) It will greatly aggravate the punishment of the wicked that it will be "a righteous thing" for God thus to punish them. If they were to suffer as martyrs; if, in their sufferings, they could feel that they were oppressed and crushed beneath mere power; if they could feel that they were right, and that God was wrong; if they could get up a party in the universe against God, sympathizing with them as if they were wronged, the case would be changed. A man can endure suffering much more easily when he has a good conscience, and feels that he is right, than he can when he feels that what he endures is deserved. But the sinner in hell can never have this consolation. He will for ever feel that God is right, and that he is wrong, and that every pang which he endures is deserved.

(4.) If it be a "righteous thing" that the wicked shall be punished, then they never can be saved by mere justice. No one will go to heaven because he deserves or merits it. All dependence on human merit, therefore, is taken away in the matter of salvation; and if the sinner is ever saved, it will be by grace, and not by justice.

(5.) If it be a "righteous thing" that the sinner should perish, he will perish. God will do right to all.

(6.) It is amazing that the mass of men have so little concern about their future condition. God has plainly revealed that he will destroy the wicked for ever, and that it will be a righteous thing for him to do it; and yet the mass of mankind are wholly unconcerned, and disregard all the solemn declarations of the Bible on this subject, as if they were idle tales. One would suppose that the very possibility of eternal suffering would rouse all the sensibilities of the soul, and lead to the earnest inquiry whether it is not possible to avoid it. Yet the mass of men feel no concern in this inquiry. It is impossible to get them ever to think of it. We cannot get them even to ask the question seriously, whether they themselves are to be happy or miserable to all eternity? This stupidity and indifference is the most unaccountable fact on earth, and probably distinguishes this world from all others.

(7.) It is rational to think of religion; to reflect on eternity; to be serious; to be anxious about the future state. If there be even a possibility that we may be miserable for ever, it is proper to be serious about it. And if there be a solemn declaration of God that it will be a "righteous thing" for him to punish the wicked, and that he will "punish them with everlasting destruction," assuredly the mind should be concerned. Is there anything more worthy the calm and sober attention of the human soul than such solemn declarations of the infinite God?

{b} "the name" 1 Pe 1:7