2 Corinthians 13:11 - Meaning and Application

The apostle closes this letter with a final farewell. He parts from them with warm wishes for their spiritual good. He first gives several strong appeals. He tells them to be made complete, or to be bound together in love, which would greatly help them as a church or Christian community. He also urges them to take heart in every suffering and hardship they may face for Christ, and in every loss or disappointment they meet in the world.

He wants them to be of one mind, because agreement brings comfort. The more at ease we are with our brothers and sisters in Christ, the more peace we have in our own hearts. Paul wants them, as far as possible, to agree in judgment and opinion. Even if that cannot fully happen, he still urges them to live in peace, so that differences in belief do not break their love for one another. He wants every split among them healed, with no more fighting or angry conflict. To protect that peace, they should avoid arguments, jealousy, speaking against one another, secret slander, and everything else that destroys harmony.

He then encourages them with the promise of God’s presence: “The God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11). God is the God of love and peace. He is the maker of peace and the one who delights in harmony. He has loved us, wants to be at peace with us, and commands us to love him, be reconciled to him, and love one another. God will be with those who live in love and peace. He will dwell with them here, and they will dwell with him forever. Such people have his kind presence now and will enjoy his glorious presence later.

Paul also tells them to greet one another warmly and sends greetings from those who are with him (2 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Corinthians 13:13). He wants them to show their affection with the holy kiss, a custom used then to express Christian love. It is no longer practiced, because the church later became more careless, and this practice was dropped to avoid any hint of lust or impurity.

Then comes the apostolic blessing: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14). This is a fitting way to end an epistle, and it is also a proper way to dismiss a worship gathering. It clearly teaches the gospel truth that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons, yet one God. It also shows that all blessings come from them. This blessing calls us to keep our minds fixed on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by faith, since we were baptized into their name and blessed in their name.

This is a very serious blessing, and we should do everything we can to receive it. The grace of Christ as our Redeemer, the love of God who sent the Redeemer, and the fellowship, or sharing, of the Holy Spirit, who brings that grace and love to us, are what make us blessed. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that prepares us to share in the grace of Christ and the love of God. We could ask for nothing more than the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen.