more than banish

2 Thessalonians 1:8-12 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 1:8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 They will pay the penalty of permanent destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength
2 Thessalonians 1:10 on that day when he comes to be glorified by his devotees and to be marveled at by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his invitation, and by his power fulfill your every good intention to do good and your achievement produced by faith,
2 Thessalonians 1:12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the favor of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

more than banish

Some translations weaken the point of this passage by making it seem that all Jesus will do when he comes is banish the wicked from God’s presence forever. Not so. The Greek word oletheros in verse 9 is the same word used for destroying angel in Hebrews 11:28. That destroying angel did not banish the firstborn of Egypt. He killed them.

And the adjective describing the destruction is often translated “eternal”, which is an unfortunate translation in this case. It suggests a perpetual process. Destruction cannot be perpetual. It has to happen, or else it is not destruction. The better translation for aionios in this verse is “permanent.”

Thank you Lord, for your promise to take vengeance with flaming fire and permanently destroy evil when you return.