In a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“For as the apostle declares that the Lord will come "to take vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel, who," he says, "shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" -it follows that, as He comes to inflict punishment, He must require "the flaming fire. Thus on this consideration too we must, notwithstanding Marcion's opposition, conclude that Christ belongs to a God who kindles the flames (of vengeance), and therefore to the Creator, inasmuch as He takes vengeance on such as know not the Lord, that is, on the heathen. For he has mentioned separately "those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ," whether they be sinners among Christians or among Jews. Now, to inflict punishment on the heathen, who very likely have never heard of the Gospel, is not the function of that God who is naturally unknown, and who is revealed nowhere else than in the Gospel, and therefore cannot be known by all men. To Him, therefore, does it appertain to punish such as know not God, for none ought to be ignorant of Him. In the (apostle's) phrase, "From the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power," he uses the words of Isaiah who for the express reason makes the self-same Lord "arise to shake terribly the earth.”

“"In flaming fire rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus." If they that have not obeyed the Gospel suffer vengeance, what will not they suffer who besides their disobedience also afflict you? And see his intelligence; he says not here those who afflict you, but those "who obey not." So that although not on your account, yet on His own it is necessary to punish them. This then is said in order to full assurance, that it is altogether necessary for them to be punished: but what was said before, was said that they also might be honored, because they suffer these things on your account. The one causes them to believe concerning the punishment; the other to be pleased, because for the sake of what has been done to them they suffer these things.”

“At the revelation of the Lord Jesus, from heaven, with the angels of his power, in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed.”

“Above, he dealt with their fitness for the future judgment; here he deals with the form of the judgment. And first he sets down the judgment as to the punishment of the wicked and the rewards of the good; secondly, he treats each part separately, at the words in flame. Again, first he sets down the judgment as to the punishment of the wicked; secondly as to the rewards of the good, at the words when he shall come. As to the first he had said above you endure as an example, etc., here he adds, if indeed it is just; "if" is used for "because." Hence another text has if indeed. Or if indeed may be referred to the example of just judgment; as if he were to say: it is just that you suffer these things, if indeed you merit from this. But the first reading and exposition is better. It is just to render in return. Ps. 93:2: rise up, you who judge the earth, render a reward to the proud. Is. 33:1: woe to you who plunder, shall you not also be plundered? Tribulation, namely of eternal damnation. Rom. 8:35: tribulation, or distress, etc. And to you who are troubled, rest. Lk. 16:25: you received good things in your life, and Lazarus likewise evil things. But now he is comforted here, while you are tormented. Apoc. 14:13: for from now on the Spirit says, that they may rest from their labors. With us, that is, an equal glory. But is this really true? I answer. Equality is twofold, namely absolute, of quantity, and of proportion. And the first is not equal as to man's participation, but is equal as to the beatitude participated, which is God; for man participates according to more and less, namely according as he loves God more ardently or less ardently. But according to the second, there will be a complete equality, because the glory of Peter stands to the grace given him and his merit just as the glory of Linus stands to his. This, I say, will be at the revelation, etc. Jn. 5:22: the Father has given all judgment to his Son, and this insofar as he is the Son of Man; hence it follows and has given him power to execute judgment, because in human form he will appear to all, but now he does not appear, because his humanity lies hidden in the glory of God, but then it will appear. Is. 40:5: and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, etc. And this with the angels of his power, his ministers. Matt. 25:31: when the Son of Man shall come in his majesty, and all his angels with him, etc. Then when he says in flaming fire, he treats of both, namely the punishment of the wicked and the rewarding of the good; but in the punishment of the wicked he shows it to be bitter, just, and lasting. He says therefore rendering vengeance, that is, of him who judges those to be punished in flaming fire, the face of the world burning, and enveloping the reprobate, and thrusting them down forever. Ps. 96:3: fire shall go before him, etc. Again, it will be just on account of a twofold fault, namely of unbelief and of evil life. As to the first he says who have not known, that is, have not wished to know, God. Job 21:14: we do not wish the knowledge of your ways. 1 Cor. 14:38: he who is ignorant shall be ignored, etc. As to the second he says who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 10:16: not all obey the Gospel. Disobedience is so great a sin that through it death came into this world, as is said in Rom. 5:19. Again it will be lasting, because they shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction. And it can be read in two ways, according as punishment is twofold, namely of sense and of loss. Concerning the punishment of sense it can be understood thus: they shall suffer, that is, shall endure eternal punishments without end, and this in destruction, because they shall always be dying. For it is otherwise with the punishments of this life and those of the next. For here, the more bitter they are, the shorter they are, because they are extinguished; but those are most grievous, because they are the punishments of death, and are without end. Hence it is said that they will always be as it were in death. Ps. 48:15: death shall feed upon them. Is., last chapter: their worm shall not die. But the punishment of loss is twofold, because they will be separated from the vision of God. Hence he says from the face of the Lord, namely removed. Job 13:16: no hypocrite shall come before his face. The other is the privation of the vision of the glory of the saints. Is., last chapter: let the wicked be taken away, that he may not see the glory of the saints, etc. Or otherwise, from the face of the Lord, etc. In this is shown the cause of the bitterness of the punishment of sense. For someone's sentence is voided, either on account of a higher judge, or on account of the power of a superior; but this will not be the case, because this judgment will proceed from the face of the Lord. Ps. 16:2: from your countenance let my judgment come forth, etc. And therefore he says they shall suffer punishment, that is, shall endure it, from the face of the Lord. Then when he says when he shall come, he treats of the rewarding of the saints. And first he sets down the reward; secondly the merit, at the words who have believed. He commends the glory of the saints, both as to its essence, through participation in the glory of God, when he says to be glorified, etc., and as to its surpassing character, at the words and to be marveled at. He says therefore when he shall come: Christ is indeed glorious. Phil. 2:11: every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. To be glorified in his saints, because good is by its nature communicative of itself; or to be glorified in his saints, who are his members, in whom he dwells, and in whom he is glorified, when his glory, namely that of the head, is passed down even to his members. Is. 49:3: you are my servant, Israel, for in you I will be glorified. And this will exceed all wonder. Hence he says to be marveled at, etc. For wonder is a kind of astonishment arising from a great impression on the imagination. But so great is the glory of the saints that it cannot fall within the estimation of men. And therefore he says to be marveled at. Wis. 5:2: they shall marvel at the suddenness of unhoped-for salvation, etc. Then he sets down the merit, at the words who have believed, etc. And he sets down first the merit of faith, secondly the aid of prayer, at the words in which. He says therefore: this will be the glory, because our testimony has been believed upon you, which we believed concerning Christ, in that day, that is, on account of that day, because the good things we do are on account of that day. And he says this testimony is upon you, that is, above human sense. Ecclus. 9: very many things are above the sense of man, etc. For faith has no merit where human reason supplies proof. For unless it were above you, it would not be of great merit to believe. Or he says upon you, that is, it has dominion over you as you humbly submit your understanding to belief. 2 Cor. 10:5: bringing every understanding into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Thus the Gloss explains it. Or otherwise, and more according to the letter: I say that Christ will be glorified in you, who have believed, on the day of judgment, when the apostles will judge; and then the testimony, which is upon you, that is, concerning the readiness of your faith, will be certain and believed, that is, credible. Then when he says in which we pray, etc., he adds the aid of prayer, and first he sets forth what he asks; secondly to what end, at the words that may be glorified; thirdly by what means he might obtain what he asks, at the words according to the grace. Now he asks one thing on God's part, and two things on our part. He says therefore in which, that is, on account of which day, we also pray always. Rom. 1:9: without ceasing I make remembrance of you always in my prayers. 1 Kings 13:23: far be this sin from me before the Lord, that I should cease to pray for you. But to what end? That our God may deem you worthy of his calling, that is, may make you live worthily in the world according to your calling. Eph. 4:1: that you walk worthily of the calling by which you have been called. Again, on our part he asks two things: on the part of the will, that they may fully enjoy every goodness; hence he says that he may fulfill every desire of goodness, that is, may fulfill in you the desire of every good. Phil. 1: who works in us to will and to accomplish according to good will. Again, on the part of the understanding, that they may believe perfectly; therefore he says and the work of faith. Rom. 10:10: for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. And this may you work in virtue, that is, in constancy and fortitude, so that by no fear you may cease from confessing him. Or thus, in which, that is, on account of which day we pray, that God may deem it worthy to give you that to which he called you. 1 Pet. 3:9: to this you have been called, that you may possess a blessing by inheritance. And may he fulfill every good which you desire, which is in eternal life, when we shall have God. Ps. 102:5: who fills your desire with good things. Again, may he fulfill the work of faith, which will be when that which here we see through a glass and in a riddle, we shall then see face to face. But to what end? That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified, etc., that is, that it may be for the glory of Christ; and that through you, both in the present and in the future, the name of Christ may be glorified in your good deeds. Matt. 5:16: let them see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Conversely, of evil deeds it is said in Is. 52:5, and Rom. 2:24: the name of God is blasphemed through you. But by what shall we be able to attain that? According to the grace of our God, which is the root of all our good deeds. 1 Cor. 15:10: by the grace of God I am what I am, etc.”

“In flaming fire,.... Which may either refer to Christ, who will be revealed from heaven in such a manner; and whose coming will be as the lightning, not only sudden, but glorious, illustrious, and visible; he will be seen and easily discerned; there will be such a light and flaming fire about him, which, as it will serve to make him visible, will greatly add to the majesty of his appearance, and strike terror to his enemies, and burn them up round about; see Dan 7:7 or else it may refer to the angels, who shall descend in fiery forms, which is agreeably to their nature, Psa 104:4 and so they appeared in the forms of horses of fire, and chariots of fire, when Elijah was carried up to heaven. And it is a tradition of the Jews (z), that the angel Gabriel descended , "in a flame of fire", to burn Moses, as he was in the inn, when upon his journey from Midian to Egypt: or this clause may be read in construction with the following, as it is in the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions, "in flaming fire taking vengeance"; and so expresses the manner in which vengeance will be taken on the wicked by Christ, the Judge of all, to whom it belongs: and the punishment of ungodly men is often signified by fire, and flames of fire, by the fire of hell, and a lake which burns with fire and brimstone, by a furnace of fire, everlasting fire, and fire that cannot be quenched, to set forth the endless torture and inconceivable misery of the damned; and it may be, some regard is had to the general conflagration, which will be at the coming of Christ, when the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth, and all that is in it, shall be burnt up, when the bodies of the wicked, then living, will be consumed in flames of fire, and their souls feel the wrath of the Almighty. The persons who will then be punished, and on whom vengeance will be taken, are described as follows, on them that know not God; which is a periphrasis, or common character of the Gentiles, Th1 4:5 who know not the one, true, and living God; or know him not so as to glorify him as God, and be thankful to him for the mercies they receive from him, and still less know him in Christ Jesus; which ignorance of theirs is not without sin, nor will it excuse from punishment; for though vengeance will not be taken on them, because they have not a spiritual saving knowledge of God, in the Mediator Jesus Christ, who never was revealed to them; yet forasmuch as they had the light and law of nature, by which the being of God, and the invisible perfections of his nature might be seen and understood, and much of his will, with respect to moral good and evil, be known, against both which they have rebelled, and having sinned, will perish without law: though it may also include all such persons, who having been favoured with an external revelation, have professed to know God, and yet in works have denied him: and that obey not the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; of which Christ is the author, was the preacher, and is the sum and substance; which is good news and glad tidings of the grace of, God, of peace, pardon, righteousness, life, and salvation by Christ; which may be said to be obeyed, when it is received and embraced by faith, with and from the heart, and confession is made of it with the mouth, and the ordinances of it are submitted to; and which is called the obedience of faith, because faith without obedience is not right, and obedience without faith is of no avail: but all that hear the Gospel do not obey it; there are some that disbelieve and reject the doctrines and ordinances of it, and others that, do profess it, and do not yield a cordial and cheerful obedience to it; both may be reckoned among the disobeyers of it: and though the unbelieving Jews may be chiefly designed here, yet deists of every age and place, where the Gospel revelation has come, and carnal professors, and profane despisers everywhere, may be included; whose condemnation will be aggravated by the external light which has shone around them, and they have hated; the severest punishment will be inflicted on them; it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, Sodom and Gomorrah, than for such persons; see Pe1 4:17. (z) Zohar in Gen. fol. 63. 2.”

“In flaming fire - Εν φλογι πυρος· In thunder and lightning, taking vengeance - inflicting just punishment on them that know not God - the heathen who do not worship the true God, and will not acknowledge him, but worship idols; and on them that obey not the Gospel - the Jews, particularly who have rejected the Gospel, and persecuted Christ and his messengers; and all nominal Christians who, though they believe the Gospel as a revelation from God, yet do not obey it as a rule of life.”

“In flaming fire--Greek, "In flame of fire"; or, as other oldest manuscripts read, "in fire of flame." This flame of fire accompanied His manifestation in the bush (Exo 3:2); also His giving of the law at Sinai (Exo 19:18). Also it shall accompany His revelation at His advent (Dan 7:9-10), symbolizing His own bright glory and His consuming vengeance against His foes (Heb 10:27; Heb 12:29; Pe2 3:7, Pe2 3:10). taking--literally, "giving" them, as their portion, "vengeance." know not God--the Gentiles primarily (Psa 79:6; Gal 4:8; Th1 4:5); not of course those involuntarily not knowing God, but those wilfully not knowing Him, as Pharaoh, who might have known God if he would, but who boasted "I know not the Lord" (Exo 5:2); and as the heathen persecutors who might have known God by the preaching of those whom they persecuted. Secondarily, all who "profess to know God but in works deny Him" (Tit 1:16). obey not the gospel--primarily the unbelieving Jews (Rom 10:3, Rom 10:16); secondarily, all who obey not the truth (Rom 2:8). Christ--omitted by some of the oldest manuscripts, and retained by others.”