Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Thessalonian 3:17
The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
17. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand ] Lit., The salutation with my own hand of PAUL. In the last word the Apostle’s formal signature is attached. Pen in hand, he adds the brief concluding sentences to the letter, lying now all but complete before him.
The Apostle commonly employed one of his helpers as amanuensis. “I Tertius, who wrote this letter,” e.g., in Rom 16:22; comp. Gal 6:11, Phm 1:19, where he notifies his writing sua manu. But it was needful that he should sign his name, with a few words of greeting written by himself, in order to authenticate the Epistle. In other Epistles we find the autograph conclusion without the final signature, which was not usual in ancient letters. There is no reference of this kind at the close of his First Epistle; but since that time his written authority had been alleged for statements he had never made (ch. 2Th 2:2). He is careful to guard against this possibility in writing to Thessalonica a second time. He calls attention, as he pens this attestation, to his handwriting, and gives notice that no document bearing his name will be genuine without this seal: which is the token in every epistle (“Paul’s mark,” as one might say) thus I write.
There was something peculiar and noticeable in the Apostle’s penmanship, which could not he mistaken. Some infer from Gal 6:11 that St Paul’s script was distinguished by its large and bold appearance; but it may be that he used large characters in that passage for the sake of emphasis. Further allusions to the autograph conclusion are found in 1Co 16:21, and Col 4:18.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The salutation of Paul with mine own hand; – See the notes, 1Co 16:21. Which is the token in every epistle. Greek: sign. That is, this signature is a sign or proof of the genuineness of the epistle; compare the notes on Gal 6:11.
So I write – Referring, probably, to some mark or method which Paul had of signing his name, which was well known, and which would easily be recognized by them.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
2Th 3:17
The salutation of Paul with Mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle
Pauls token
Was the mark by which to tell an authentic epistle of his from those forged letters with which false brethren had troubled the Church (2Th 2:2).
At first sight it seems to us too audacious for any one to have conceived the thought of writing a letter under the name of Paul; but, on the other hand, we must recollect several points.
1. St. Pauls genuine first epistle, in spite of its claim to inspiration (1Th 4:15), could not yet have acquired in the eyes of the Thessalonians the sanctity it wears for us. They had no notion of such a thing as Holy Scripture; and even if they had, St. Paul was a familiar figure, a mechanic, who had just left them, not yet invested with the heroic halo.
2. Such literary forgeries were not uncommon in that age, and scarcely considered reprehensible, unless they were framed to inculcate with authority some heretical teaching. Apocryphal gospels soon after abounded, under false titles, and works fathered on Clement and other great Church teachers.
3. There need not always have been a direct intention to deceive the readers as to the authorship; but the renowned name acted as a tempting advertisement for the work, and the theories thus shot forth hit their mark; whether the real authorship were discovered or not mattered little in comparison. Such points must be borne in mind before we accept as genuine any of the early Christian writings. (Canon Mason.)
There is the suggestion here that other letters may have passed between the apostle and the Thessalonian believers. If there were such a correspondence, we may regard it as having no doctrinal interest, and so was allowed to disappear. The amanuensis–probably Timothy–has now finished his work, and the apostle authenticates it. He gives his sign manual as a guarantee of the genuineness of the letter. He calls attention to it. Though his readers were doubtless acquainted with it, he asks them to mark it well–its large and, it may be, uncouth characters (Gal 6:11) were to be the token in every epistle he might in future send to them or to others, where attestation was needful. So I write. (J. Hutchison, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 17. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand] It is very likely that Paul employed an amanuensis generally, either to write what he dictated, or to make a fair copy of what he wrote. In either case the apostle always subscribed it, and wrote the salutation and benediction with his own hand; and this was what authenticated all his epistles. A measure of this kind would be very necessary if forged epistles were carried about in those times. See note on 1Co 16:21, and see Col 4:18.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This the apostle addeth after he had finished his Epistle, and taken his farewell, as a proof that the Epistle was genuine, and came from himself; because it may be there were some then who did counterfeit his Epistles, as there have been many since who have counterfeited creeds, liturgies, gospels, writings of the fathers, &c., and he knew it might be of dangerous consequence to the churches, to have his writings counterfeited. Heretics in several ages, and the Church of Rome particularly, have herein been deeply guilty. And though it is probable the body of this Epistle was written by some amanuensis, as is evident of the Epistle to the Romans, that it was written by one Tertius, Rom 16:22; and when he tells the Galatians, Gal 6:11, he wrote their Epistle with his own hand, so Phm 1:19, it implies sometimes he did not so; yet this salutation he wrote with his own hand, which he practised not only in this, but in all his other Epistles, as he here affirmed. And he wrote it in such characters whereby his own hand might be known; else it was an easy matter for any impostor to write the same words. And the words of it are here set down, but elsewhere explained, and therefore nothing is further needful here.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. The Epistle was written byan amanuensis (perhaps Silas or Timothy), and only the closingsalutation written by Paul’s “own hand” (compare Rom 16:22;1Co 16:21; Col 4:18).Wherever Paul does not subjoin this autograph salutation, we maypresume he wrote the whole Epistle himself (Ga6:11).
whichwhichautograph salutation.
the tokentodistinguish genuine Epistles from spurious ones put forth in my name(2Th 2:2).
in every epistleSomethink he signed his name to every Epistle with his own hand; but asthere is no trace of this in any manuscripts of all theEpistles, it is more likely that he alludes to his writing withhis own hand in closing every Epistle, even in those Epistles(Romans, Second Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, FirstThessalonians) wherein he does not specify his having done so.
so I writeso I sign myname: this is a specimen of my handwriting, by which todistinguish my geniune letters from forgeries.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The salutation of Paul with mine own hand,…. In writing his epistles, the body and substance of them he used an amanuensis, but the salutation he wrote with his own hand:
which is the token in every epistle; by which they might be known to be true and genuine, and be distinguished from counterfeit ones: and the rather he mentions this, that they might be troubled neither by word, nor by spirit, nor by epistle, as from them, as they had been, 2Th 2:2 for it seems that this wicked practice of counterfeiting the epistles of the apostles, or carrying about spurious ones, under their name, began so early; to prevent which, the apostle took this method,
so I write, as follows:
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Of me Paul with mine own hand ( ). Instrumental case . Note genitive in apposition with possessive idea in the possessive pronoun . Paul had dictated the letter, but now wrote the salutation in his hand.
The token in every epistle ( ). Mark (verse 14) and proof of the genuineness of each epistle, Paul’s signature. Already there were spurious forgeries (2Th 2:2). Thus each church was enabled to know that Paul wrote the letter. If only the autograph copy could be found!
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
The salutation of Paul with mine own hand [ ] . Rev. properly, “the salutation of me Paul.” The genitive of me is contained, according to a familiar Greek idiom, in the possessive pronoun my. Paul had apparently been employing an amanuensis.
In every epistle. Comp. 1Co 16:21; Col 4:18.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “The salutation of Paul with mine own hand” (ho aspasmos toe eme cheiri Paulou) “The greeting (is) by my hand, of Paul”.
2) “Which is the token in every epistle:” (ho estin semeion en pase epistole) “which is a sign, a mark, a (certification) in every epistle”; to avoid forgery, as alluded to in 2Th 2:2.
3) “So I write” (houtos grapho) “thus I write”, or this I certify as my writing, epistle or letter, giving credence of authenticity and quality of inspired writings for canonicity, 1Co 16:21; Col 4:18.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
17 The salutation, with my own hand. Here again he provides against the danger, of which he had previously made mention — lest epistles falsely ascribed to him should find their way into the Churches. For this was an old artifice of Satan — to put forward spurious writings, that he might detract from the credit of those that are genuine; and farther, under pretended designations of the Apostles, to disseminate wicked errors with the view of corrupting sound doctrine. By a singular kindness on the part of God, it has been brought about that, his frauds being defeated, the doctrine of Christ has come down to us sound and entire through the ministry of Paul and others. The concluding prayer explains in what manner God aids his believing people — by the presence of Christ’s grace.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Text (2Th. 3:17)
17 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
Translation and Paraphrase
17.
(I close with) the salutation of (myself,) Paul, in my own hand (writing). (Watch for this salutation,) which is (my) sign in every (true) epistle (of mine). Thus I write.
Notes (2Th. 3:17)
1.
Here Paul closed his epistle by adding the salutation in his own handwriting. The letter had thus far been written by one to whom he dictated, as was his custom, but now he adds this brief final salutation in his own handwriting. It was the proof that the epistle was truly from Paul. Perhaps their attention is called to this because of a false epistle. See notes on 2Th. 2:2, par. 10.
2.
Certain other epistles close exactly as this one.
1Co. 16:21The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
Col. 4:18The salutation by the hand of me Paul. (Actually the Greek of these two verses is identified with that in 2Th. 3:17.)
Gal. 6:11See with how large letters I write unto you with mine own hand.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(17) The salutation.At this point St. Paul takes the pen out of his secretarys hand, and adds the closing words himself. The actual salutation does not begin until the benediction of the 18th verse, to which this 17th is intended to attract attention.
Which.Namely, the autograph addition of a salutation, or valedictory prayer, not the special words in which it was couched.
The token.Rather, a tokena mark, that is, by which to tell an authentic Epistle of his from those forged letters with which false brethren had troubled the Thessalonian Church (2Th. 2:2). At first sight, it seems to us too audacious for any one to have conceived the thought of writing a letter under the name of St. Paul; but, on the other hand, we must recollect several points. (1) St. Pauls genuine First Epistle, in spite of its claim to inspiration (1Th. 4:15), could not yet have acquired in the eyes of the Thessalonians the sanctity it wears for us; they had no notion of such a thing as Holy Scriptures, and even if they had, St. Paul was a familiar figure, a mechanic who had just left them, not yet invested with the heroic halo. (2) Such literary forgeries were not uncommon in that age, and scarcely considered reprehensible, unless they were framed to inculcate with authority some heretical teaching. Apocryphal Gospels soon after abounded, under false titles, and works fathered upon St. Clement and other great Church teachers. (3) There need nor always have been a direct intention to deceive the readers as to the authorship, but the renowned name acted as a tempting advertisement for the work, and the theories thus shot forth hit their mark; whether the real authorship were discovered or not mattered little in comparison. Such points must be borne in mind before we accept as genuine any of the early Christian writings.
In every epistle.That is, naturally, in every Epistle which I write. It cannot be narrowly restricted to mean, in every Epistle which I shall for the future write to you Thessalonians, though that is, of course, the practical significance. Nor does it imply a formed design of writing other Epistles to other churches. It seems necessary to suppose that St. Paul had already made a practice of concluding Letters with his autograph, though only one Letter of his is now extant of an earlier date than our present Epistle. There is no reason whatever to suppose that all the Letters ever written by St. Paul have been preserved to us (see Dr. Lightfoots Philippians, p. 136, et seq.), any more than all the sayings and acts of Jesus Christ (Joh. 21:25); and even when he wrote his First Epistle to Thessalonica he had seen the necessity of giving careful directions about his Letters (1Th. 5:27), and of rousing his correspondents to a reasonable scepticism (1Th. 5:21). The same solicitude re-appears in 1Co. 16:21; Gal. 6:11. And the rule which St. Paul had already made he always observed, so far as we can test; for all his extant Epistles, as Bishop Wordsworth points out on 1Th. 5:28, contain his salutation at the end.
So I write.Such is my handwriting. It need not mean that the Thessalonians hitherto were unacquainted with his hand; he only calls their attention closely to it. The great bold handwriting (comp. Gal. 6:11) would not easily be mistaken.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. With mine own hand So far by amanuensis; now by autograph.
Token in every epistle His first epistle was without such authentication; but the forged or pretended epistle of 2Th 2:2, had warned him to guard against imposition.
Every epistle needing authentication, whether written to the Thessalonians or to others, was to receive its autographic token henceforth. Of those so explicitly authenticated are Colossians, (Col 4:18,) and 1 Corinthians, (1Co 16:21,) Galatians being entirely autographic. In Romans the concluding doxology may have been autographic; as Eph 6:24, and Php 4:23. Several epistles may not have needed authentication, as 2 Corinthians, which was sent by Titus; and those written to individuals, as Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, which were either autographic or known by circumstances to be genuine.
So I write This is my penmanship. Grotius, ingeniously, but incorrectly, supposes that Paul appended a complex monogram as his mark. The apostle’s autograph probably included 2Th 3:17-18.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand, which is the token in every letter. So I write.’
Many of Paul’s letters were written with the help of an amanuensis, a kind of secretary, who wrote to Paul’s dictation. He thus developed the habit of signing off at the end with a brief statement in his own handwriting, both as a gesture of love and friendship and to authenticate the letter. This is one example.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Th 3:17. Which is the token in every epistle: What was hinted before in this epistle, ch. 2Th 2:2 may be an intimation,as we observed,that some fictitious letters were early written in his name, by which St. Paul might be induced to add this token with his own hand.
Inferences. How earnestly ought we to pray for the success of the glorious gospel, and for the preservation and liberty of the ministers of Christ, that their preaching of it may not be obstructed by the violence of unbelieving, perverse, and wicked men! And what a pleasure is it, when they, to whom the care of churches is committed, have a satisfaction in their own minds, that the Lord is establishing their flocks in the faith, hope, and holiness of the gospel, and that their hearts are engaged through grace to do his commandments, as delivered to them in his name! But, alas! how grievous is it to find, that any members of a Christian society are disorderly walkers, lazy in their own proper affairs, and mischievous busy-bodies in other men’s concerns, to the scandal of the Christian name! The societies, to which persons of these characters belong, ought, in case they cannot be reclaimed, to withdraw from them, and pass such a censure as may be a mark of disgrace upon them, and then shun all familiarities with them, to make them ashamed of the evil of their doings, which are directly contrary to the precepts and example of the holy apostles: and yet they should be treated, as far as the nature of things will bear, in a brotherly way, to bring them to repentance. How unreasonable is it, that idle and disorderly walkers should live upon the charity of others! But how cheerfully and generously should the industrious and helpless poor be relieved, according to their wants! May all the churches of Christ have peace among themselves, and prosperity of every kind, from the Lord Jesus, and salute one another with the sincerest Christian affection! May their hearts be directed into the love of God, and a patient waiting, under their various tribulations, for Christ’s second coming: and may his grace be ever with them all. Amen.
REFLECTIONS.1st, The apostle now draws to a conclusion, and,
1. Entreats their prayers. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and spread with increasing success, and be glorified, even as it is with you, in the mighty effects produced by our ministration of it; and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, hardened in pride and prejudice against the truth; who use every violent effort to oppose its progress, and silence the ministers of the gospel; for all men have not faith; but even among professors of Christianity we often meet with the greatest opposers, and are in most danger from these false brethren. Note; (1.) The success of his labours lies exceedingly near the heart of every gospel minister. (2.) All who have tasted of the grace of God in truth, are bound in ceaseless prayer to beg that the same word which they have received, may, in defiance of all opposition, run and be glorified, to the conviction of sinners, the confusion of gainsayers, and the edification of believers. (3.) Unreasonable and wicked men abound in every age; and they who, though professors of Christianity, are themselves destitute of divine faith, cannot but now, as then, testify the same enmity against the zealous preachers of the gospel.
2. He expresses his confidence in them. But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil; whatever wiles seducers may employ, or however severely you may be exposed to the enmity of persecutors, the Lord will never fail you, if you cleave to him; and his grace shall then make you more than conquerors. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do, and will do the things which we command you, in his name, and by his authority. Note; When through faith we have the Lord at our right hand, neither the evil of sin shall prevail against us, nor the evil of suffering discourage us.
3. He adds a short prayer for them, containing two important requests. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, turning your affections, from every crooked path, and directly leading you to his blessed Self, and to that happiness which is to be enjoyed by the faithful, in a sense of his present and everlasting love to their souls; and into the patient waiting for Christ; enabling you with cheerfulness and submission to take up the cross, and to look for the coming of your Lord, when there shall be an end put to all the sufferings of the saints for ever.
2nd, Though the apostle had so highly commended them, and expressed his confidence in them in general, yet there were some among them who needed sharp rebuke.
1. He warns them to avoid the company of such as walked disorderly among them, whose ill characters he describes. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the apostolic power committed to us, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that pretends to be a Christian, but walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us, being a disgrace and a dishonour to his profession. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us, and remember the practices that we recommended to you, and the example which we set before you; for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought, without paying for it; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, to earn our own maintenance, that we might not be chargeable to any of you, and might preach the gospel freely, without putting you to the least expence. Not because we have not power to demand our subsistence, as due to our ministerial labours; but we rather chose to wave our right, to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us, encouraging industry, and discountenancing idleness. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat, nor receive any relief from the church, whose charity should be applied, not to the maintenance of the slothful, but to the support of the sick, the infirm, and those who through age or accident are disabled from providing for themselves. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but depending on others for relief, and are busy-bodies, tattling from house to house, prying into the secrets of families, blowing up the coals of dissension, and the very pests of society. Note; (1.) When we can appeal to our people for the exemplariness of our own conversation, and for the conformity of our practice to our preaching, we may command and exhort them to their duty with confidence. (2.) Sloth and indolence are most opposite to the spirit of Christianity; and, though men may plead that they do no harm, yet if they neglect the duty of their calling and stations, God will reckon with them as with disorderly walkers. (3.) Idleness opens a door to every evil; and the devil will find sufficient employ for those who choose not to do their own work.
2. He addresses himself with authority to these disorderly walkers. Now them that are such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, by every endearing argument which his love can suggest, or which the dread of his displeasure urges, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread; peaceably minding their own affairs with diligence, and providing for themselves and families a becoming maintenance from the produce of their honest industry.
3. He directs the pious and industrious how they should behave. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing, with diligence discharge the labours of your calling; and if you have more than your own necessities require, there are many deserving objects who crave your charity. And if any man among you obey not our word by this epistle, and change not his ways, note that man, and have no company with him; permit him not to be your intimate, nor admit him to the table of the Lord; that by your just censure of his conduct, he may be ashamed, and brought to repentance and amendment. Yet count him not as an enemy at once, nor deal roughly with him, but admonish him as a brother, that he may be reclaimed, and not be finally ruined. Note; (1.) We must not only walk orderly ourselves, but shew our disapprobation of those who behave dishonourably to their profession. (2.) Before more heavy censures are pronounced, except with gross sinners, every kind admonition must be attempted. Love will often shame those into ingenuous acknowledgments, whom severity would but have exasperated and hardened.
3rdly, The apostle concludes with,
1. His prayer for them. Now the Lord of peace himself, who purchased it by his blood, and by his Spirit seals it to the hearts of believers, give you peace always, by all means; meeting you in the use of every instituted ordinance; filling you with a comfortable sense of his reconciliation to you; and giving you a happy union and harmony among each other. The Lord be with you all; may his presence and blessing be ever in the midst of you; and where he manifests himself, there heaven is already begun in the soul.
2. His subscription. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle, of its genuineness, to prevent the forgeries of seducers: so I write in the close of every letter, when my amanuensis has finished.
3. The benediction. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all; may you share all the present and eternal blessedness included in his infinite love. Amen
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Th 3:17-18 . Autographic salutation, with a repeated benediction. Paul had not written the letter with his own hand, but dictated it Comp. Rom 16:22 ; 1Co 16:21 ; Col 4:18 .
] does not stand by attraction for , nor also does it bring forward a simple special point from the foregoing (so Wieseler on Gal 6:11 ; and Laurent in the Stud. u. Krit. 1864, p. 639; Neutestam. Studien , Gotha 1866, p. 5: “ which , namely, the autographic writing”), but it refers to the whole preceding idea: which circumstance of the salutation now written .
] a sign , i. e. a mark of authenticity . Comp. 2Th 2:2 . Chrysostom, Theodoret, Theophylact, Bullinger, Estius, Piscator, Menochius, Cornelius a Lapide, Er. Schmid, Beza, Joachim Lange, Harduin, Benson, Bengel, Moldenhauer, Zachariae, Baur ( Paulus , p. 489), Hofmann, Riggenbach, and most critics, incorrectly find this mark in the addition of the words following in 2Th 3:18 ; for the autographic salutation is expressly designated as this mark. But a salutation and a benediction are different from each other.
] in every Epistle , can only be referred to all the Epistles which the apostle has, perhaps, at a later period, still to write to the Thessalonians . For only for the Thessalonians , who had already been actually deceived by a false Pauline Epistle, and led into error, was such a precaution of practical importance against a new deception. Besides, if is to be understood absolutely instead of relatively, the autographic salutation would be found in all the Epistles of the apostle. But it is only found in 1Co 16:21 and Col 4:18 .
] thus that is to say, in such characters as are given in 2Th 3:17-18
I write . The handwriting of the apostle was accordingly still unknown to the readers. From this it follows, that also the First Epistle to the Thessalonians was not written by the apostle’s own hand. Moreover, Zeltner ( de monogrammate Pauli , Altorfii 1721), Bengel, and Moldenhauer erroneously because transferring a modern custom into antiquity consider that we are here to think on characters artificially twisted into a monogram by the apostle and rendered incapable of imitation . Against Zeltner, see Wolf, p. 402 ff.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
3. 2Th 3:17-18
He concludes with a parting Salutation and Benediction under his own hand
17The salutation of Paul with mine own hand;44 which is the [a] token45 in every epistle: so I write. 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.46
EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL
1. (2Th 3:17.) The salutation of Paul with mine own hand; is in apposition to , which indeed as to sense is the same thing . Hitherto, therefore, Paul had dictated; and that was his custom (Rom 16:22); though Gal 6:12 [11] purports otherwise.Which is the [a] token; might be explained by attraction, the subject being conformed to the gender of the predicate; but it is better to understand it thus: which, to wit, the .In every epistle; on which Theophylact already remarks: . , . [Ellicott: Apparently with reference to every future epistle ( , Theoph. 2) which the Apostle might hereafter deem it necessary so to authenticate,not merely those he might have contemplated writing to Thessalonica (Theoph. 1, Lnem.); for consider 1Co 16:21 and Col 4:18. If it be urged that these last mentioned are the only Epistles in which the autograph attestation seems to have found a place, it may be reasonably answered that the must be understood relatively of every Epistle that was sent in such a way or under such circumstances as to have needed it. All the other Epistles (except 1 Cor., Col., which have the , and 1 Thess., which was sent before circumstances proved it to be necessary) are fairly, shown both by De Wette and by Alford in loc. to have either been delivered by emissaries (2 Corinth., Phil.), to bear marks (Gal 6:11, and perhaps the doxology in Rom., Eph.), or to be of such a general character (Rom.? Eph.? and those to individuals) as to have rendered such a formal attestation unnecessary.J. L.]So I write; not, that is, these words, as if there were cause for surprise, if we meet with them again only in 1 Cor. and Col.; it is not , but , and De Wettes inquiry, why the words recur in the smallest number of the other Epistles, is quite superfluous. He says merely: This is my handwriting (see the Introduction to Thess., p. 114). Grotius, Bengel and others, thought of an intricate monogram, difficult of imitation; but that is untenable, and not consonant to antiquity. It may be further asked, whether by the autograph salutation Paul means 2Th 3:17, or 2Th 3:18, or both together. Very improbable is Diedrichs idea: The salutation and benediction in 2Th 3:16 are written by my hand. The word is referred to 2Th 3:18 by Chrysostom ( ), Theodoret, Theophylact; by Lnemann, on the other hand, only to 2Th 3:17, , he thinks, being something different from a benediction. But probably this is to distinguish too nicely, and besides it is scarcely to be supposed, that Paul should have written 2Th 3:17 with his own hand, and then again have dictated 2Th 3:18. Nor does Lnemann assume this, but regards both verses as autographical. In that case, however, the separation between salutation and benediction also fails, as Hofmann properly remarks. The closing salutation might be compressed, or extended. The Apostle wrote it himself, but not always in the same words, nor always expressly drawing attention to it: ., &c. In this place it is the salutation of love, and at the same time a precautionary measure for the future. After what has been said, Lnemanns other inference is likewise untenable, that, if Paul here says for the first time: , and thus shows that his handwriting was still unknown to the Thessalonians, then in the First Epistle he had not written the salutation. But he might there too have written the words of benediction, and merely not have found occasion to make express reference to his handwriting. So Hofmann with reason. Utterly groundless is it, when Grotius also infers from our passage that this Epistle was the first, since, had they already received one at an earlier period, this notice would have been unnecessary.A thorough knowledge of Pauls customary procedure could only be got from the original letters. But we know enough to say, that to regard the warding off of a pernicious forgery, as just a mark by which a forger betrays himself, is the most perverse abuse of our passage.47
2. (2Th 3:18.) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all; as in the First Epistle, only that here all is expressed; no one, therefore, even of the delinquents is excluded.
DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL
(2Th 3:17-18.) Paul takes great pains even for the fides humana of Scripture. The interest which faith has in scientific criticism consists in this, that it must be of importance for us to place confidence in nothing that is precarious. Now the original apostolic manuscript is not accessible to us, but we are referred to a series of intermediate processes, through which copies of the original are delivered to us, and, were we obliged to verify the trustworthiness of these mediums, we should remain in a painful uncertainty. But, on the whole, it is only through the fides divina that the fides humana first receives its full authentication. Only because this Epistle also bears the stamp of the Spirit of God, is the assertion of the writer, which we read at 2Th 3:17, worthy of credit, and it becomes a moral impossibility for us to impeach it as a falsehood. Not the Apostles handwriting, which we no longer have before us, but the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, which pervades the Epistle, is for us the decisive seal of authenticity.
HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL
Sthelin: Truly this is also the mark of all those who are a living epistle of Christ (2Co 3:2-3), that the grace of their Lord Jesus, whom they have received in faith and love to their justification, sanctification, and salvation, is by them continually embraced and held fast as their souls only comfort and joy.
THE END OF THESSALONIANS.
Footnotes:
[44]2Th 3:17.[The Greek is: , which Riggehbach renders: Der Gruss mit meiner Paulushand. Our English Version gives it in three forms: The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand (1Co 16:21; and so Ellicott in our text); The salutation by the hand of me Paul (Col 4:18); The salutation of Paul with mine own hand (2Th 3:17). The second mode was adopted in my Revision of this Epistle.J. L. ]
[45]2Th 3:17.[, without the article; and so De Wette, Lnemann, Conybeare, Ellicott, and others.J. L.]
[46]2Th 3:18.Most authorities give ; it is wanting in B., Sin. prima manu, and some others. Grotius decides, that Amen was added by the church, when the Epistle was read. [It is cancelled by Tischendorf and Alford. Riggenbach likewise omits it.J. L.]
[47][Webster and Wilkinson: We have here a strong proof that St. Paul regarded himself and desired the churches to regard him as the sole author of his Epistles, whatever might be the association of the superscription, or the corresponding phraseology of the composition.J. L.]
Fuente: A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical by Lange
17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
Ver. 17. So I write, The grace, &c. ] This is that St Paul would have every, of his Epistles stamped with his own hand, viz. prayer for all his people.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
17, 18 .] CONCLUSION.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
17 .] Autographic salutation . The Epistle, as it follows from this, was not written with the Apostle’s own hand, but dictated. So with other Epistles; see Rom 16:22 :1Co 16:21 ; Col 4:18 .
] which circumstance: not attraction for . The whole of 2Th 3:17-18 , not merely the benediction, are included. By the words , we must not conceive that any thing was added , such as his signature, or as c., , , : they are said of that which he is writing at the time. His reason for this caution evidently was, the , spoken of ch. 2Th 2:2 . And the words must not, with Ln., be limited to any future Epistles which he might send to the Thessalonians, but understood of a caution which he intended to practise in future with all his Epistles: or at least with such as required, from circumstances, this identification. Thus we have (1 Thess. being manifestly an exception, as written before the rule was established) Gal. written with his own hand (see note on Gal 6:11 ); 1 Cor. authenticated ( 1Co 16:21 ); 2 Cor. sent by Titus and therefore perhaps not needing it (but it may have existed in 2Co 13:12-13 without being specified); Rom. not requiring it as not insisting on his personal authority (but here again the concluding doxology may have been autographic): Col. authenticated ( Col 4:18 ); Eph. apparently without it (but possibly Eph 6:24 may have been autographic): Phil. from its character and its bearer Epaphroditus not requiring it (but here again Eph 4:23 may be autographic): and the Epistles to individuals would not require such authentication, not to mention that they are probably all autographic that to Philemon certainly is, see Phm 1:19 there. (So for the most part De Wette.)
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
2Th 3:17-18 . Conclusion. Paul now takes the pen from his amanuensis, to add the salutation in his own handwriting for the purpose of authenticating the epistle (otherwise in 1Co 16:21 ). This, he observes, is the sign-manual of his letters ( cf. 2Th 2:2 ), i.e. , the fact of a personal written greeting at the close, not any form of words (like 2Th 3:18 ), or the use of the word “grace,” or “certum quendam nexum literarium” (Grotius). The precaution is natural, in view of his suspicion about unauthorised communications. Compare “the (generally contracted into ) with which so many of the Egyptian papyrus-letters and ostraca close” (Milligan, p. 130), or the postscript in one’s own handwriting ( ) which guaranteed an ancient letter (Deissmann: Licht vom Osten , 105). ( cf. 2Th 3:16 ), the divine presence is realised through the experience of Christ’s grace.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2Th 3:17-18
17I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
2Th 3:17 “write this greeting with my own hand” Paul dictated his letters to a scribe, but he wrote the closing sentences in his own hand to verify his authorship (cf. 2Th 2:2; 1Co 16:21; Gal 6:11; Col 4:18; Phm 1:19). This may have set the pattern for all of Paul’s following letters.
2Th 3:18 This closing is very similar to 1Th 5:28. Most Greek manuscripts add “Amen,” but it is absent in and B. Scribes tended to add it to every book.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
salutation, &c Compare 1Co 16:21. Col 4:18. Read, “by the hand of me Paul”.
token = sign. Greek. semeion. App-176.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
17, 18.] CONCLUSION.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
2Th 3:17. , with my own hand) Therefore the greater part of the epistle had been written by another hand.-, token) We have reason to believe that Paul [with a view to guard against fraud of every kind, ch. 2Th 2:2.-V. g.] distinguished, by a peculiar and inimitable painting (tracing) and formation of the letters, the words of the salutation, grace, etc., 2Th 3:18.- , in every epistle) He had at that time, therefore, already written more.-, so) not otherwise. He hereby meets any doubt.[31]
[31] Bengel, J. A. (1860). Vol. 4: Gnomon of the New Testament (M. E. Bengel & J. C. F. Steudel, Ed.) (J. Bryce, Trans.) (213-237). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Th 3:17
The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand,-Paul’s letters were usually written by an amanuensis. These last few verses, that he calls the salutation, or expression of his personal feelings in and for them, were written by his own hand.
which is the token in every epistle: so I write.-This is given in every letter as the token of his love for them.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
with: 1Co 16:21, Col 4:18
the token: 2Th 1:5, Jos 2:12, 1Sa 17:18
Reciprocal: Mar 14:44 – a token 2Co 10:1 – I Paul 1Th 2:18 – even
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Th 3:17. Some impostors had forged the name of Paul to their letters, and thereby had deceived the brethren. (See 2Th 2:2-3.) However, the uniformity of his handwriting would finally make them acquainted with his genuine signature. As a safeguard against further deception, Paul states that his signature would be seen at the the end of every one of his epistles, and it was to be understood as a token or sign of the genuineness of the epistle. So I write. This is to call their attention to his style of writing, for his signature would be done in the same manner, which would help them to recognize it and know it to be genuine. For a discussion further into the subject of the actual writer of his epistles, see the comments at Gal 6:11.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Th 3:17. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand. These words apparently form the commencement of the autograph salutation with which the apostle attests the genuineness and authenticity of the Epistle, the two verses (2Th 3:17-18) having apparently both been written by the apostle (Ellicott). The preceding part of the Epistle was, of course, dictated; now Paul takes the pen in his own hand to authenticate the whole. And this proves that, however Paul might associate others with himself in sending his Epistles (as in this one he associates Silas and Timothy), and however the penman might occasionally insert a message of his own (as Tertius does in Rom 16:22), he yet distinctly regarded himself and desired the churches to regard him as the sole author of his Epistles.
Which is the token in every Epistle. Only in other two Epistles, the first to the Corinthians and that to the Colossians, does Paul sign his name. It was not the name or signature but the autograph salutation which was the token.
So I write. Some have thought that these words indicate that there was inserted here some monogram difficult of imitation. But this was not the ancient custom, and the words seem to imply no more than an invitation to his readers to observe the distinctive characteristics of his handwriting.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here, 1. That the salutation written with his own hand respects his own writing, which did serve as a token or certain mark whereby his own epistles were distinguished from all counterfeits. The sending of salutations, either by word or writing, that we may thereby testify our sincere affection to absent friends, is not a matter of decency only, but of duty; not of compliment barely, but of conscience. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand.
Observe, 2. His usual valediction and farewell wish, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, be with you all, Amen. As if he had said, “May the gracious and undeserved favour of God in Christ, with all the fruits and effects, the benefits and advantages of it, be conveyed to you all, without exception, and be the portion and privilege of every soul of you; and in testimony both of my affectionate desire and assured confidence, I say, Amen, so be it, so let it be.
Learn hence, that there is an inexhaustible fountain of rich grace in Christ, and so copious are the streams of spiritual blessings which flow from it, that wish we never so much to others, yet there still remaineth enough for ourselves. St. Paul, who wisheth all grace to the Thessalonians, knew very well there was enough both for himself and them: and that how large a measure soever was bestowed upon them, there would not be the less remaining for himself; therefore doth he thus close and conclude his epistle, saying, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. [I. e., this is my penmanship.]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
3:17 {16} The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
(16) The apostle writes the conclusion of his letter with his own hand, so that false letters might not be brought and put in place of true ones.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
In view of the letter claiming to have been Paul’s that the Thessalonians had received (2Th 2:2), the apostle felt it necessary to prove that the present one really came from him. He added a word of greeting in his own hand, as he usually did, to authenticate his epistles for the benefit of recipients (cf. Gal 6:11; 1Co 16:21; Col 4:18). An assistant evidently penned the rest of the letter (cf. Rom 16:22).
"It was no uncommon thing in ancient letter-writing for the sender, having dictated the bulk of the letter, to write the last sentence or two in his own hand. This is the best explanation of the change of script at the end of several papyrus letters which have been preserved. This practice would help to authenticate the letter (for readers who recognized the sender’s writing); a more general purpose would be to make the letter look more personal than one written entirely by an amanuensis." [Note: Ibid., pp. 215-16.]