11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Commentary
Vs. 11 "Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."
The Apostle Paul now concludes his epistle by ending it cordially. For the Corinthians were more than just people who needed correction, they were beloved brethren. And so in bidding the Corinthians farewell, Paul also gives us some finial exhortations; and all are positive in their demeanor. Now the first is that the they become complete (here completeness implies the overall character or nature of us, and the churches where we fellowship and worship). For that is the Apostle's prayer for them, and us all, that we all become more like Christ (vs. 9). The implication then is that though God is sanctifying us by His Word and by His Spirit (John 17:17; Eph. 5:25-27, vs. 26; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; Heb 10:14) we ourselves must also do and pursue those things that lead to unity and holiness (Rev. 22:11). Paul then follows that up with three more, "....Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."
"Be of good comfort" Here the emphasis is on our being encouraged in our faith in Christ even though while in the flesh we are not yet all that we will finally be. Now there is another aspect of this, and that is that we are to strive for restoration (NIV), while encouraging and admonitioning one another onto growth and maturity.
"be of one mind" There is only one solution to divisiveness and that is to be of one mind in regards to all the things that make for our salvation and sanctification. Thus God's Word and it's Authority regarding this for us all. Everything else then falls under the domain of our personal preferences, opinions (on a whole host of issues and things), as well as our own personal likes and dislikes which we all have, can have, and should have. Thus being of one mind is not based on our agreeing with each other on everything. Rather being of one mind is in regards to the Nature and Person of God and Christ and the Holy Spirit just as their Persons and Nature and Works are told us in the Holy Scriptures. But more to the point being of one mind here is in regards to the N.T. and it's Authority in our own lives, and the life of Christian assemblies everywhere.
"live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."
To live in peace is to be in harmony with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel. And so when anyone does, the God of love and peace will be with them (consider 1 Peter 3:8-12). Now the antithesis to this is clearly revealed and warned about in James 3:13-18.
Vs 12 "Greet one another with a holy kiss."
Now the emphasis here is on greeting one another in a holy way. Therefore this entails a manner which is becoming of a Christian in the culture in which they live. In the Apostles Paul's day a holy kiss was on the cheek, which may or may not be practiced today according to the customs or norms of the culture in which one lives. Therefore it is an error to dogmatically apply this exhortation as having to always entail a holy kiss today. For in many cultures and situations to do so could not only be misconstrued, but might also be quite disconcerting. For again the emphasis here is being placed on a holy greeting, which reflects the love, grace, and peace of God in us, being extended through us, to each other by such a warm greeting. Therefore the manner in which this takes place is not the real issue (i.e. kiss on the cheek, a cordial handshake etc.), rather that we greet one another in holiness.
Vs. 13 "All the saints greet you."
The Apostle Paul now encourages the Corinthians by saying "All the saints greet you." Now this he does in light of his previous exhortation, as well as in light of his previous rebuke of them. For though the Corinthians were still carnal in many ways, they were still beloved brethren, and as such they were treated and greeted and received as such by all the saints. Anything less than that is just modern day Phariseeism born out of self-righteous legalism, and should not be given any place in our own hearts and lives, or in the assemblies where we serve and worship, because the people of God greeting one another, and receiving one another, has and will always be a hallmark of all true Christian hospitality.
Vs. 14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."
The Apostle Paul now concludes his epistle by bestowing three foundational things on us all, they are: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit without which neither we as individual believers or as a collective Body can stand. For it is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that keeps us in union with Himself (Heb. 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1-2), and in peace with one another, when we extend it to each other as well (consider Matt. 18:21-35). While the love of God is not only the fuel of our lives and faith; energizing and empowering us to overcome all that is negative; it is what is to define us as Christians (John 13:34-35). For without love we are nothing (1 Cor 13:1-13). Finally the Apostle Paul mentions the communion (or fellowship) of the Holy Spirit, something which the Corinthians in their zeal for God put a heavy emphasis on pursuing for themselves, and yet this is not something we need to pursue, it is something that we already have. And thus the Holy Spirit's Presence in our lives is not something we need to pursue, rather it is something we need to surrender too, by walking according to the Spirit, and not keep living according to the lusts and desires and wayward ways of the flesh (see Gal 5:19-26).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Additional Resources Consulted
Wiersbe, Warren W. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992.
MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1870). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
No comments:
Post a Comment