Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Thessalonians 1:6

6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you .

It is of necessity that God should be righteous, and recompensing is a necessary act of righteousness, but we yet see it not, therefore there is a judgment to come. And this recompence is both to the righteous and the wicked, the persecutors and persecuted. The former he here speaks first of: And to recompence Tribulation to them that trouble the people of God, is a just recompence; it is according to the Law of retaliation; whereof we have some Instances in this World, as in Pharaoh, Adonibezeck, Haman, &c. and many others; whereof we have a large account in the History of the Church, and her Persecutors; but this will be more fully verified in the Judgment to come, called, The Revelation of the Righteous Iudgment of God, Rom. 2.5.

And Gods recompence to them is here called tribulation, so Rom. 2.9. And though in other Scriptures the punishment of the wicked is set forth by other Names, yet here its called by this Name; not only for Elegancy of Speech by a Paranomasia, but to parallel their suffering to their sin, they brought tribulation upon others, and God will bring it upon them: And under this word is comprehended all the torments of Hell, which our Saviour expresseth by weeping, wailing, and gnashing of Teeth, Matth. 8.12. which is the extremity of tribulation; and its said here, God will recompence, &c. which should teach us not to revenge our selves, as Psal. 94.1. Rom. 12.19. and this the Apostle sets before these Thessalonians by way of Comfort, not [illegible: 1 word] we ought to rejoyce in mens destruction meerly for it self, but in the honour that will thereby arise to Gods Justice, and in the Favour, Honour, and Salvation God will vouchsafe to his people herein.

By these words the Apostle doth illustrate his argument for a judgment to come, taken from the persecutions and tribulations of the Saints.