II Corinthians 13:14
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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The benediction which proves the doctrine of the Divine Trinity in unity. "The grace of Christ" comes first, for it is only by it we come to "the love of God" the Father (Joh 14:6). The variety in the order of Persons proves that "in this Trinity none is afore or after other" [Athanasian Creed]. communion--joint fellowship, or participation, in the same Holy Ghost, which joins in one catholic Church, His temple, both Jews and Gentiles. Whoever has "the fellowship of the Holy Ghost," has also "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," and "the love of God"; and vice versa. For the three are inseparable, as the three Persons of the Trinity itself [CHRYSOSTOM]. The doctrine of the Trinity was not revealed clearly and fully till Christ came, and the whole scheme of our redemption was manifested in Him, and we know the Holy Three in One more in their relations to us (as set forth summarily in this benediction), than in their mutual relations to one another (Deu 29:29). Amen--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. Probably added subsequently for the exigencies of public joint worship. Next: Galatians Introduction
Open source ↗In this chapter the apostle threatens to be severe against obstinate sinners, and assigns the reason thereof (Co2 13:1-6); then he makes a suitable prayer to God on the behalf of the Corinthians, with the reasons inducing him thereto (Co2 13:7-10), and concludes his epistle with a valediction and a benediction (Co2 13:11-14).
Open source ↗13:14 Paul closes his letter with a prayer and blessing. He invokes the three persons of the Trinity, with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (see 8:9) coming first. This is because we are always relying on Christ’s sacrificial love, which reconciles us to God the Father (5:18-21) and unites us through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit with all our fellow believers. • The love of God provides for our needs and graciously restores us to his family. • The fellowship of the Holy Spirit means our fellowship with the Spirit, who joins Christians together into a unity (Eph 4:3; Phil 2:1).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”