Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their greetings.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Observation
- The Corinthians were to rejoice.
- The Corinthians were to work for reconciliation with each other.
- The Corinthians were to encourage each other.
- The Corinthians were to live in peace.
- God would be with the Corinthians if they were at peace with each other.
- The Corinthians were to greet each other with a holy kiss.
- The Christians with Paul sent their love to the Corinthians.
- Paul closed the letter to the Corinthians asking God to be with them.
Interpretation
Paul did not want to leave this letter to the Corinthians with strong words. So he left them with softness and sweetness. To this point, Paul has been blunt and sharp, to the Corinthians throughout the letter. Yet he did not want them to despair. Only if the Corinthians understood he how much he cared for them would the rebuke be of value.
Paul has been speaking to a specific few but here he appears to be speaking to the church as a whole. When Paul says to be of one mind he does not mean they should all think alike. Rather he is referring to the fact they should all agree on the purpose of Christ and His Kingdom.
Paul implies that God will be them if the cultivate peace among themselves. Where there is contentions and bitterness the devil has a home.
Paul refers to God as the God of peace and love because God loves the Corinthians. This is remarkable considering the strong rebuke Paul has made throughout the letter. To say that, in spite of it all, God loves you.
Paul closes the letter with a prayer. Paul prayed the Corinthians would receive the grace, love and fellowship of God. Paul prays in Trinitarian way; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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