2 Corinthians 13:14

Paul closes his letter with a benediction naming the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost. After all the tension and appeal of this letter, he ends with a blessing that gathers the Father, the Son, and the Spirit together in a single prayer for the Corinthians. Each is named with a fitting gift: grace from the Lord Jesus, love from God, and fellowship from the Holy Spirit.

The benediction is rich. "Grace" recalls the unearned favor at the heart of the gospel, fittingly linked to the Lord Jesus through whom it comes. "The love of God" names the deep source from which grace flows -- love is the wellspring. "The communion of the Holy Ghost" speaks of the fellowship and shared participation the Spirit creates among believers and with God. Together the three describe the whole experience of the Christian life: loved by God, saved by the grace of Christ, and bound together in the fellowship of the Spirit. Father, Son, and Spirit are named side by side, working as one toward the blessing of God's people. Paul ends not with a final scolding but with this generous prayer, that all three -- grace, love, and communion -- would rest upon them all. It is a blessing the church has spoken over its gatherings ever since, and it remains a fitting prayer over every believer.