20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly. 24 Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
In concluding the author now bestows a blessing on us, asking that "the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
Now there's a lot there so lets look at them individually. First is the declaration that our God is a God of peace (see Rom 15:33; 16:20; 1 Cor. 14:33; Phil. 4:9; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 3:16 etc.) for that is His Nature (Isaiah 9:6), and that is His desire for us all, therefore the Lord Jesus Christ suffered Crucifixion death for us all in order to restore God's peace to us all who believe (Isaiah 53:5). And so from the individual soul to the future Millennial creation, God the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior in the redemption of His creation brings His peace and rest to us all who believe in His Son (consider Isaiah 32:16-19; 45:8; 54:10; Matt. 11:28-30; John 14:27; 16:33; 20:19 etc.). That said, God's peace is not a given, for in a sinful world which by it is own nature and by it's own ways is separated from God (and thus His peace) they are doing much to overthrow their own peace by setting themselves against His Will and His Word (consider Isaiah 45:7; 48:18; 57:20-21; 59:8; antithesis Psalm 37:37; Psalm 119:65; Prov. 3:1-2 etc.). For the days of ignorance that God once overlook are now past for He now commands everyone everywhere to repent and believe in His Son through the Gospel (Acts 17:30-31). Now it is the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead; for it is only by the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ that we who believe in Him are brought to Spirit life and thus are united with Him in His Resurrected Person and life. To say then that the Lord Jesus Christ's Resurrection from the dead is critical to our redemption from sin and death would be an understatement. Therefore belief in the Lord Jesus Christ's Crucifixion death and His Resurrection from the dead is absolutely critical and essential to ones salvation, for if one does not believe both, one will then not be saved (Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 15; 2 Tim 2:18; 1 Peter 1:3). The Lord Jesus Christ then is the great Shepherd of the sheep who believe in Him (John 10:11, 14-16 etc.). The One who not only laid down His life for us, but by His Resurrected Life, He now unites us and leads us. A true Christian then will not follow another, or listen to the voice of another, for there is only One Shepherd of God's Sheep and we will by no means listen to or follow another (John 10:4-5; 27-28). Therefore it is only through the blood of Christ that we who believe enter into God's everlasting covenant. For unlike the Old Covenant given through Moses that came in after faith had been established as the means of redemption (Gen 15:6) and so it served until the Lord Jesus Christ begin His Ministry preaching the Kingdom of heaven (Luke 17:17), the New Covenant which the Lord Jesus Christ brought into force and effect by His death on the Cross (thus fulfilling the Old Covenant) has no end. There is then no return to the Law for having a justified standing with God (Rom 3:19-28; Gal 2:16, 19-21 etc.). Now lest we forget this prayer is not just a declaration of our Lord as our only Shepherd and how we are in a personal relationship with Him through the New Covenant, but it is also an appeal, that God who began His good work within us (Phil. 1:6); who has equipped and is equipping us with everything that we need to do His Will; likewise make us complete in every good work as we do His Will, just as He works in us (and through us) all that is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, to whom be glory forever and ever, amen.
Vs. 22 "And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words."
Given the vast analogies of types and pictures and foreshadows of Christ that is found in the Law and throughout the Old Testament Scriptures one could go on and on, but out of necessity he has only written what was required to help us transfer out of the Levitical system (and all that it required from those under the Old Covenant) and into the New Covenant and the simplicity of Christ. (gleaned from Believers Bible Commentary)
Vs. 23 "Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly."
This intimate reference to Timothy indicates not just having a personal knowledge of him and his affairs, but just how close knit the early church community was, something that did not change with the dispersion of the early Christians throughout the ancient world.
Vs. 24-25 "Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen."
Greeting our leaders, as well as all our brethren (i.e. the saints) is a courtesy that Jesus Himself practiced and commanded, indeed He went far beyond just greeting brethren (that is His friends) but as a manner of life greeted and received one and all (consider Matt 5:47). Therefore practicing hospitality towards one and all is also following Christ. The church congregation then should be the front line of this in showing the love and grace of God. Finally in concluding the greetings of those from Italy are conveyed, before bestowing the grace of God upon us all, amen.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Commentary
In concluding the author now bestows a blessing on us, asking that "the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
Now there's a lot there so lets look at them individually. First is the declaration that our God is a God of peace (see Rom 15:33; 16:20; 1 Cor. 14:33; Phil. 4:9; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 3:16 etc.) for that is His Nature (Isaiah 9:6), and that is His desire for us all, therefore the Lord Jesus Christ suffered Crucifixion death for us all in order to restore God's peace to us all who believe (Isaiah 53:5). And so from the individual soul to the future Millennial creation, God the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior in the redemption of His creation brings His peace and rest to us all who believe in His Son (consider Isaiah 32:16-19; 45:8; 54:10; Matt. 11:28-30; John 14:27; 16:33; 20:19 etc.). That said, God's peace is not a given, for in a sinful world which by it is own nature and by it's own ways is separated from God (and thus His peace) they are doing much to overthrow their own peace by setting themselves against His Will and His Word (consider Isaiah 45:7; 48:18; 57:20-21; 59:8; antithesis Psalm 37:37; Psalm 119:65; Prov. 3:1-2 etc.). For the days of ignorance that God once overlook are now past for He now commands everyone everywhere to repent and believe in His Son through the Gospel (Acts 17:30-31). Now it is the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead; for it is only by the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ that we who believe in Him are brought to Spirit life and thus are united with Him in His Resurrected Person and life. To say then that the Lord Jesus Christ's Resurrection from the dead is critical to our redemption from sin and death would be an understatement. Therefore belief in the Lord Jesus Christ's Crucifixion death and His Resurrection from the dead is absolutely critical and essential to ones salvation, for if one does not believe both, one will then not be saved (Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 15; 2 Tim 2:18; 1 Peter 1:3). The Lord Jesus Christ then is the great Shepherd of the sheep who believe in Him (John 10:11, 14-16 etc.). The One who not only laid down His life for us, but by His Resurrected Life, He now unites us and leads us. A true Christian then will not follow another, or listen to the voice of another, for there is only One Shepherd of God's Sheep and we will by no means listen to or follow another (John 10:4-5; 27-28). Therefore it is only through the blood of Christ that we who believe enter into God's everlasting covenant. For unlike the Old Covenant given through Moses that came in after faith had been established as the means of redemption (Gen 15:6) and so it served until the Lord Jesus Christ begin His Ministry preaching the Kingdom of heaven (Luke 17:17), the New Covenant which the Lord Jesus Christ brought into force and effect by His death on the Cross (thus fulfilling the Old Covenant) has no end. There is then no return to the Law for having a justified standing with God (Rom 3:19-28; Gal 2:16, 19-21 etc.). Now lest we forget this prayer is not just a declaration of our Lord as our only Shepherd and how we are in a personal relationship with Him through the New Covenant, but it is also an appeal, that God who began His good work within us (Phil. 1:6); who has equipped and is equipping us with everything that we need to do His Will; likewise make us complete in every good work as we do His Will, just as He works in us (and through us) all that is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, to whom be glory forever and ever, amen.
Vs. 22 "And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words."
Given the vast analogies of types and pictures and foreshadows of Christ that is found in the Law and throughout the Old Testament Scriptures one could go on and on, but out of necessity he has only written what was required to help us transfer out of the Levitical system (and all that it required from those under the Old Covenant) and into the New Covenant and the simplicity of Christ. (gleaned from Believers Bible Commentary)
Vs. 23 "Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly."
This intimate reference to Timothy indicates not just having a personal knowledge of him and his affairs, but just how close knit the early church community was, something that did not change with the dispersion of the early Christians throughout the ancient world.
Vs. 24-25 "Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen."
Greeting our leaders, as well as all our brethren (i.e. the saints) is a courtesy that Jesus Himself practiced and commanded, indeed He went far beyond just greeting brethren (that is His friends) but as a manner of life greeted and received one and all (consider Matt 5:47). Therefore practicing hospitality towards one and all is also following Christ. The church congregation then should be the front line of this in showing the love and grace of God. Finally in concluding the greetings of those from Italy are conveyed, before bestowing the grace of God upon us all, amen.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
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