2 Thessalonians 1:6
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
Study Note
Study Note
The declaration that 'it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you' grounds eschatological judgment not in divine vengeance but in divine righteousness — retributive justice as the expression of God's moral character. The law-of-talion logic ('tribulation to them that trouble you') appears throughout the Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 66:6; Obadiah 15) and is here placed within an explicit parousia context: the 'Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire' (vv. 7-8). Paul's pastoral purpose is to console a persecuted community by assuring them that their suffering is not cosmic randomness but will be addressed by perfect divine justice. The verse became significant in theodicy discussions and in Reformers' defences of the doctrine of eternal punishment as consistent with divine righteousness.
Other Translations
if so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you,
since <FI>it is<Fi> a righteous thing with God to give back to those troubling you--trouble,
For it is an act of righteousness on God's part to give trouble as their reward to those who are troubling you,
Cross References
But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy …
If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, …
Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance …
Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by …
And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the …
And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own …