2 Corinthians 13

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Farewell and Benediction (13:11-14) Furthermore, Paul !eaves off his letter writing with a con­structive and not a critical thought. This may not be so much of an anticlimax, after all. After pointing out that his authority is for the purpose of building up, not tearing down, he closes with two benedictions, one with some “if’s” attached, and then, after still other words of farewell, another benediction with no if’s at all. We said that this letter is a plea for harmony. This is cer­tainly how Paul brings it to an end: “Mend your ways” (your ways of discord and disorder); “Heed my appeal” (for agreement with one another and with me); “Live in peace” (not peace on Sunday only!); f. . and the God of love and peace will be with you.“Not even an Apostle’s benediction is automatic. Blessings can­not always be scattered like the rain, on the just and on the un­just. The blessings of God come, as Jesus had taught, to those who will receive them, not to those whose lives shut them out. Like all Paul’s letters, and like a musical symphony, this one seems to come to an end before it does. The real finale is, as Paul meant it to be, the great benediction of the last sentence. This is the only time Paul groups God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Yet one may say that from this one “trini­tarian” blessing comes a light to illumine the rest of the New Testament. If Paul never, or extremely seldom, says Jesus is God, here he does something even more remarkable; he men­tions the Lord Jesus Christ first. For him, as for us, we do not understand Jesus by way of God; we come to God, we are laid hold of by God, we are reconciled to God, we know God, when we look into the face of Christ and receive through him the blessing of God Eternal. The God of Creation, speaking through the Law and the Prophets, and the Inmost God, the divine Spirit outpoured in the hearts of men, are one with the same Lord Jesus who for our sake was made to be sin, though he knew no sin— the same Lord Jesus in whose face shines the glory of God.