This passage closes Paul's message to the church in Corinth with two features found at the end of many of his letters: a warm, gracious tone and a series of brief commands and reminders.

Paul now tells them to greet each other with a "holy kiss." In that era, a quick kiss on either one or both cheeks was a common greeting between friends and family. In some cultures, even in the modern world, brief kisses on the cheeks are still used as a friendly, non-romantic greeting. Early Christians formalized this style of greeting as a "holy" expression of the family bond between believers in Jesus. Paul regularly encouraged the practice (1 Thessalonians 5:26; Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20).

In part, perhaps, Paul felt that the "holy kiss" would promote unity between the Corinthians. It must be more difficult to stay resentful and divided from other believers while regularly using a "family" style of greeting. Such kisses would, at the least, give a physical expression to their needed unity, mutual encouragement, and forgiveness.

Second Corinthians 13:11–14 contains Paul's closing farewell to the Corinthians. He urges them to rejoice, to strive for restoration, and to comfort and encourage each other in like-minded unity. He assures them that the God of love and peace will be with them, reminds them to greet each other with a holy kiss, and offers greetings from believers in other churches. Finally, Paul offers a prayer of specific blessing for them from each of the three members of the Trinity.

The final chapter of Paul's letter begins with a harsh warning. Nobody living in unrepentant sin when Paul arrives will be spared Paul's discipline. All will learn that Christ speaks through Paul—because Christ will deal powerfully with their sinfulness despite Paul's own weakness. Paul urges them to examine themselves and verify that Christ is in them and, by extension, that he is a true apostle. He prays for their restoration and hopes they will repent of all sin before he arrives so that he will not have to be severe in the use of his authority.

Second Corinthians 13 follows Paul's listing of two sets of sins he is concerned he will find among the Corinthians when he arrives. These are personal divisions and sexual immorality. He warns them once more that nobody will be spared from Christ's discipline if they remain in sin. Paul urges them to examine and test themselves to see if Christ is in them. He prays for their restoration and hopes they will repent of sin so that he does not have to be severe with them in his authority as Christ's representative when he arrives.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.

Accessed 5/3/2024 7:26:48 AM

© Copyright 2002-2024 Got Questions Ministries. All rights reserved.

Text from ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT, KJV, NKJV © Copyright respective owners, used by permission.

www.BibleRef.com