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"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.

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.

What is more just than for those who oppress the righteous in this world and make them suffer persecution, to suffer the same things in the future that they do: while they themselves rest with the other saints, who, coming out of great tribulation, will receive the eternal kingdom in the coming of the Lord from heaven; when he begins to come with his heavenly army and with fire to give vengeance to the pagans, who do not know that God the Father is Jesus Christ; and to the Jews, who, though claiming to know God, do not believe in the Gospel of Christ, which the Father God gave to them, in order to hand it down to his servants?

by a flame of fire This refers to what was said about those assembled at Armageddon.

by a flame of fire The fire is either a visible fire as happened to the two commanders of fifty men in the presence of Elijah (2 Kgs 1:9-11) or the coming of Christ in glory will destroy them by the breath of his mouth (Is 11:4), and the aforementioned nations, also devouring their general, the devil, and He (Christ) will deliver the devil to the lake of fire together with the Antichrist and the false prophet to be tortured forever and ever.

who are not obedient to the Gospel It also refers to the heretics and the false Christians

by a flame of fire Perhaps it is about that which is read in the Apocalypse of John, "and fire came down from heaven and consumed them." (Rev 20;9) who are not obedient to the Gospel And this even refers to evil Catholics who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord though they say they believe, but they do not live according to what they believe.

Those whom he previously called those who "trouble" them, he now calls those who "know not God." By this he very wisely teaches that vengeance will come in any case. For if not for your sake, then for His own sake He will certainly take vengeance on His enemies. Thus, this is said so that the Thessalonians would be fully assured that the persecutors will in any case be punished, while the preceding was said so that they would be comforted that God will punish their persecutors for their honor's sake, if He punishes those who hinder others from hearing Him, which is exactly what your persecutors now are. The expression "in flaming fire" can be referred either to the words "taking vengeance," as if to say: punishing the unbelievers with Gehenna; or thus: "at the revelation of Christ," which will be "in flaming fire," as David says: "A fire goes before Him, and burns up His enemies round about" (Ps. 97:3); and Daniel: "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him" (Dan. 7:10). Note that "in flaming fire" is said instead of: in fire that burns but does not give light. For sinners the fire will only burn but not give light; for the righteous it will give light but not burn.

Then when he says "in a flame of fire," he treats of both, namely, the punishment of the wicked and the reward of the good; but he shows the harshness, justice, and eternity of the punishment of the wicked. He says, therefore, "giving vengeance," i.e., judging those who are to be punished "in a flame of fire," consuming the face of the earth, enveloping the condemned, and driving them away forever. "Fire goes before him" (Ps 96:3). And the punishment will be just on account of two kinds of guilt, namely the guilt of unbelief and the guilt of an evil life. With regard to the first he says, "who do not know," i.e., who do not wish to know, "God." "We do not want knowledge of your ways" (Job 21:14). "The one who does not know will not be known" (1 Cor 14:38). With regard to the second, he says "who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." "Not all obey the Gospel" (Rom 10:16). Disobedience is so great a sin that death entered the world through it (Rom 5:19).