2 Thessalonians 1:9 meaning and explanation
They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,
2 Thessalonians 1:9, Berean Standard Bible
Explanation preview
Paul writes to a young church under real persecution, and in verse 9 he describes the outcome for those who refuse God and the gospel: "eternal destruction," defined here as separation "from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might." The Greek word rendered "destruction" is olethros, which means ruin or loss rather than annihilation into nothing. Paul's point is that the same coming of Christ that brings relief to the suffering church brings settled judgment on their persecutors.
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