We wrap up our study in the book of 2 Corinthians with this 29th study. How does Paul end this letter, and what does it reveal about his heart for them?
(A) Finally after heavy arguments comes a relational ending (2 Cor 13:11a)
Paul starts this section with the adverb “finally” (2 Cor 13:11a) and it serves to connect the earlier arguments to the subsequent ones. He also calls them “brothers”, and this sudden turn seems slightly abrupt. After all, he had been scolding them in the earlier chapters with rather severe words, but he suddenly makes this turn at the end. The last time he called them “brothers” was in chapter 10, and from chapter 10 to 13, Paul has been dealing with serious topics such as false teachers and teachings. The use of the word “brothers” here serves to remind them that this ultimately is a church family conversation.
Many of us may struggle to relate to deep chunks of 2 Corinthians because we are not planted and plugged into churches. Paul has been talking about family discipline, and this has been Paul’s focus. He has been defining church relationships and also pointing out their sin in the context of the church family. We struggle to relate because we are not plugged in or we’ve not had someone speak to us in this way before. Maybe we also struggle with 2 Corinthians because we have not been disciplined. We’ve not seen what it looks like to have someone tell us that this is what it is to seek after the Lord, and this is what it does not look like.
But Paul speaks of these difficult issues after writing an entire letter that shows his heart for the Corinthian church. Here is a summary of the earlier teachings in the letter:
It is at the end of all these that Paul writes, “finally brothers…”. This serves as an important lesson for us. We may love truth and justice, but we also need to remember that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We can correct and reprimand, but finally, we are to also see each other as brothers and sisters. As we gathered for this study, has it crossed your mind that the other people in this study are probably Christians and therefore, are precious in God’s sight? Will you not bless and encourage the other people present, though you’ve never met, just because they’re also a fellow brother or sister in Christ?
(B) The ending hopes for new beginnings in church relationships (2 Cor 13:11-12)
Paul goes on to give 4 commands to the Corinthian church in 2 Cor 13:11b.
1. Aim for restoration — Why does he call them to aim for this? Paul is wise enough to recognise that you can’t force restoration, but all you can do is try all you can. This is also important for this church because they have been led astray by sin and false teachings. This would be stressful for the Corinthian church. Imagine going to church and hearing about the different factions and people peddling false teachings. Add to that, alienated members because of sin. It is in this context that Paul speaks. Think of all the relationships that have been broken. This is why Paul calls them to aim for restoration
2. Comfort one another — If restoration cannot take place, comfort one another. This parallels the beginning of the letter which speaks of the God of comfort.
3. Agree with one another
4. Live in peace — This means we come to say that we are here to do God’s will and not ours.
What does this mean practically? When we gather together with the church, people will test our patience! Those around us will test our resolve to follow Jesus. Following Jesus isn’t just an idea but is really practical. These commands in 2 Cor 13 speak right into the various situations that we will find ourselves in.
And what arises as a result? In 2 Cor 13:11b, we read “and the God of love and peace will be with you”. These 4 commands here flow from and lead us to the God of love and peace. Paul’s logic when writing these words is this: the commands stem from God’s character. Commands are never independent of God’s character!
One implication of this is, if we want to know the God of love and peace, we can do so by putting ourselves in situations where we need to restore relationships, comfort one another, work through conflict and also be with people that are not at peace with one another.
We also see Paul’s hope that this church can start again after everything that they’ve been through. It is possible for them to start again. Would you believe that this is possible? Paul didn’t end with a call for the wrath of God and neither did he wash his hands off them. Instead, he ends with clear instructions about relationships. He promises that those difficult relationships are where the God of love and peace will show up.
The physical indication of this restoration of relationship can be displayed by how they greet other with a “holy kiss” (2 Cor 13:12). He is not trying to make something culturally specific a universal practice. Rather, the principle or motivation behind it is to encourage them to display their restored relationships in an obvious way — by greeting each other!
What will it take for you to feel like a previously broken relationship has been mended? There are many forms it could take – share a meal, give a hug, take the initiative to speak to them. Whatever it is, find a way that works, and do it. We who have been freely forgiven have to forgive others too. Are you fencing off parts of your heart and not allowing God and the gospel to change and transform it? Are there relationships you refuse to hand over to God to allow Him to work it?
This is weighty passage. These are not just throwaway commands and words. It is a reminder that the risen Lord Jesus dwell in you and which parts of your life and relationships do you still fence off from him? It doesn’t matter how the last conversation went. We still have hope to go again and trust that this God can make broken things work again. After all, He is the God who makes dead things live again and can mend shattered and broken things. How do we know? Look to the resurrection. Those nail-pierced hands show us that God can work with anyone of us, any time and anywhere.
(C) Woven in are reminders of the Church universal and blessings of a Triune God (2 Cor 13:13-14)
Here in 2 Cor 13:13, Paul says “all the saints greet you” (2 Cor 13:13). Saints refer to holy ones, those that have been made in God’s sight. He doesn’t choose the words “people with me” or “disciples” to describe these people. What does this mean? He is referring to how we have joined with God’s people beyond our local communities. He is speaking to the church universal across all time and space. This is what we are a part of.
Paul closes the letter with a Trinitarian benediction (2 Cor 13:14). This God and His grace, love and fellowship will be with them.
For us, fellowship is often misused. Some people associate fellowship with food and conversations. But fellowship is really about being together and joined together. In 1 Jn 1:3, John has communicated content and truth in order that the recipients of this knowledge can share in this oneness in Christ. If this is true, when we gather to study, we too, will have fellowship because we have received the gospel together. We are joined together because of what we know. We cannot be divided because we have heard the gospel and believe in it. And this fellowship between the people also brings them into oneness with God.
This is why Paul ends the letter to the Corinthians in this way. He wishes for them to know what they have in Christ and to always hold on to that. What else is better than to be able to taste the gospel and to hold on to that whether they go? This comes with being with the church and the Trinitarian God.
This is who Paul wants them to see themselves as. He wants them to know that new relationships are possible and in this gospel, everything is transformed!
We often sing this hymn “He will hold me fast” and the lyrics do reflect the wonderful reality of what it means that we are people that have been saved and brought back to God in and through Christ:
Those He saves are His delight, Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight, He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost; His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast
This is who we are in Christ! Friends, at the end of this study, remember that God loves you. He lovees you so much that He sent His Son, and also brought people who will read God’s word with you!
As we wrap up this study and read these words, do you need to be restored, comforted by and brought to agreement with another brother or sister in Christ? How do you feel knowing that in the Gospel we have been joined to the church universal and can taste the blessings of a Triune God — and why do we always forget this?