2 Corinthians 13:14

Grace. See on Rom. 3:24; 2 Cor. 1:2. This verse is unique in that here alone, in the NT, what later came to be known as the apostolic benediction appears in its complete form. From earliest times it became a part of church liturgy. It was also pronounced at the baptism of new believers and at the dismissal of Christian assemblies.

Together with Matt. 28:19 this verse provides the most complete and explicit summary of the doctrine of the Trinity (see Additional Note on John 1). The order of the names of the Godhead as here given, however, differs from that of Matthew. Generally in Paul’s epistles the name of the Father precedes that of the Son (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2). Here the order is reversed. The OT formula of dismissal, the Aaronic blessing, was also threefold in nature (Num. 6:24-26). The test of all true Christian experience is fellowship and communion with God through the Holy Spirit.

Soon after dispatching this letter Paul made another visit to Corinth and spent three months there (Acts 20:1-3), during which time he wrote epistles to the Romans and the Galatians. That he was able to do so suggests that the Corinthian believers accepted his second epistle and acted in harmony with the counsel given therein. In his letter to the Romans, Paul implies that he received a kindly welcome at Corinth (Rom. 16:23). Furthermore, the collection at Corinth for the poor at Jerusalem proved successful (Rom. 15:26-28). Early Christian records provide no further information concerning the church at Corinth until the close of the century, when Clement of Rome addressed a letter to them.

The postscript following v. 14 appears in no manuscript earlier than the 8th century. It was a late editorial addition, not part of the original inspired record.