Verse 2
This greeting expresses Paul’s wish that God’s grace and peace would be his readers’ portion. He named these benefits in the introductions to each one of his epistles. He meant sustaining grace rather than saving grace and the peace of God compared to peace with God.
"In the protocol of salvation, recognized even in a salutation, grace always precedes peace. The former is the basis and foundation of the latter; therefore, the order cannot be changed. No man can have peace who has not previously experienced divine grace (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9)." [Note: Broomall, p. 1261.]
"Grace and peace, the favour of God and its fruits, comprehend all the benefits of redemption." [Note: Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, p. 4.]
The combination of grace and peace in Paul’s greeting here and elsewhere unites Greek and Semitic terms to form an unconventional greeting (cf. Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; Philemon 1:3; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:2). Though the general structure of the salutation was typical of the day, the terms Paul used were uniquely Christian. [Note: See Judith Lieu, "’Grace to You and Peace’: The Apostolic Greeting," Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of Manchester 68:1 (Autumn 1985):161-78.]
The familiar language of this verse implies the deity of Jesus Christ. He is, along with God the Father, the source of grace and peace.
"This could not be so were He a created entity and not the co-eternal and consubstantial Son." [Note: Hughes, p. 7.]
Furthermore He is "Lord." The Septuagint, which uses this title to translate the name "Yahweh" in the Old Testament, may have influenced Paul to use it of Jesus Christ. The contemporary religious terminology of oriental Hellenism also used this title to denote deity. Whatever the influences on Paul may have been, the term "Lord" undoubtedly implied the deity of Christ. [Note: See J. Greshem Machen, The Origin of Paul’s Religion, p. 198.]
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