God’S Blessing
GOD’S BLESSING
2 CORINTHIANS 13:11-14
In closing, Paul writes to the whole church, calling on them to agree with one another.
Two final sections round off Paul’s appeal and contain his farewell greetings.13:11-13 assure the Corinthian believers of his continuing interest, and call for harmony within a divided congregation. This reference to “agree with one another” and “live in peace” confirms the view taken earlier that chapters 10–13 are written to a minority group within the church which still remained unconvinced by Paul’s earlier correspondence; therefore this final appeal for a coming together in mutual consent and unity within their ranks.
The divine blessing is promised (13:11b) to a fellowship whose reconciliation Paul fervently anticipates; the outward sign of this is expressed in the practice of the “holy kiss.” Associated with early Christian worship as a mark of mutual affection (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14), this practice persisted into the later life of the church, and the references to it at the close of the New Testament letters give support to the belief that these letters were intended to be read out in public worship services (clearly in 1 Thessalonians 5:27; Colossians 4:16 and probably Revelation 1:3), and the reading was to be followed by the Lord’s Supper. Then, the practice of the kiss would be an act of mutual affection and confidence, implying a putting away of all disagreements between the church members, in anticipation of a fresh realization of unity as they shared in a common loaf and cup (so Matthew 5:23-24; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17). But Acts 20:37 reminds us that this practice was simply a current demonstration of fraternal greeting.
The closing verse is the familiar apostolic blessing, and a clear statement of New Testament trinitarianism showing the relationships of the three Persons of the Trinity in connection with the world of humanity. Therefore the order is that of Christian experience, and “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” stands first. For it is by him, incarnate, crucified and triumphant, that we come to know the Father’s love (John 1:1-18; Romans 5:8-11; Hebrews 9:14) and to rejoice in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The last phrase may mean either that fellowship which he promotes between believers (Ephesians 4:3) or, more preferably, the Christian’s fellowship with him as a Person (John 14:17).