Closing Greetings to the Corinthians

Ancient letters commonly included closing greetings to their addressees. Paul follows this practice in his epistles (e.g., 1 Thess. 5:12–28), so it is no surprise to find closing greetings as he draws his second canonical letter to the Corinthians to a close.

Paul has had some hard words to say to the Corinthian church, but these greetings show us one last time that the Apostle’s chief aim has not been to criticize his audience but to direct them in returning to unity of faith and love for one another. He calls believers to rejoice (2 Cor. 13:11), and indeed the salvation we have in Christ gives us much cause for joy. Paul also exhorts Christians to “aim for restoration” (v. 11). Given that the factionalism in Corinth centered on the support of the false apostles and even believers’ forming cliques based on their favorite orthodox teachers (1 Cor. 1:10–17; 2 Cor. 10), the relationships among the Corinthians greatly needed restoration.

Such restoration of relationships can occur only when there is agreement on essential matters, which is why Paul writes, “Agree with one another” (2 Cor. 13:11). The Apostle does not mean that there should be no differences of opinion among Christians but that we must be united in a common faith. We must agree and contend for the Apostolic faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

Finally, Paul urges the Corinthians—and later readers—to “live in peace,” which peace shows itself in such things as warm and friendly interchanges between believers (2 Cor. 13:11–12). Interestingly, the Apostle seems to indicate that God’s presence will be with the church only as it strives to live in peace. When we are at peace with our fellow believers, “the God of love and peace will be with [us]” (v. 11). The Lord’s presence among us in some sense depends on our following His guidance through His Apostles (see also Phil. 4:8–9), though ultimately we know that this obedience comes from God Himself. Charles Hodge comments: “The existence of love and peace is the condition of the presence of the God of peace. He withdraws the manifestations of his presence from the soul disturbed by angry passions and from a community torn by dissensions. We have here the familiar Christian paradox. God’s presence produces love and peace, and we must have love and peace in order to have his presence. God gives what he commands. God gives, but we must cherish his gifts. . . . We work out our own salvation, while God works in us.”