2 Corinthians 1:2 Meaning and Explanation
“Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul opens his hardest letter with the two gifts he most wants for his friends: grace and peace from God.
The Context of 2 Corinthians 1:2
The greeting of a letter from Paul to the church at Corinth, a busy port city he had founded and then watched struggle. The relationship had been strained and painful, and before any rebuke or defense, he reaches first for blessing.
What Does 2 Corinthians 1:2 Mean?
Letters in the ancient world opened with a quick word of greeting, and Paul takes that ordinary slot and fills it with the heart of the gospel. Grace comes first: the unearned favor of God, given before we deserve it. Then peace: wholeness, the quiet of a life set right with God. He names where both come from, God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, set side by side as the single source of every good thing the Corinthians will need.
Paul could have led with the conflict between him and this church, but he leads with grace instead. That order tells us something true about God, who meets us with kindness before He asks anything of us. The Father and the Son together pour out grace and peace, and in Jesus that grace took on a face and a name. Whatever waits in the rest of the letter, it begins on this ground.
2 Corinthians 1:2 in the Original Language
charis (χάρις), 'grace' -- unearned favor and kindness, God's gift freely given.
How to Apply 2 Corinthians 1:2 Today
Before we work through anything hard with God, He offers us grace and peace as the starting place. We come to Him not having earned our welcome, and find it given anyway, through the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ together.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 1:2
What does 2 Corinthians 1:2 mean?
Paul opens his hardest letter with the two gifts he most wants for his friends: grace and peace from God.
What is the context of 2 Corinthians 1:2?
The greeting of a letter from Paul to the church at Corinth, a busy port city he had founded and then watched struggle. The relationship had been strained and painful, and before any rebuke or defense, he reaches first for blessing.
How can I apply 2 Corinthians 1:2 today?
Before we work through anything hard with God, He offers us grace and peace as the starting place. We come to Him not having earned our welcome, and find it given anyway, through the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ together.