2 Thessalonians 3:17
“The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul adds a greeting in his own handwriting as the authenticating mark found in all his letters.
What Does 2 Thessalonians 3:17 Mean?
Paul, who often dictated his letters to a scribe, now takes up the pen himself to add a personal greeting "with mine own hand." He calls this his "token," a distinguishing sign "in every epistle," a sort of signature that authenticated the letter as genuinely his. "So I write," he says, drawing attention to his own familiar hand.
This small detail carries real weight given the letter's concern. Paul had warned earlier against being deceived by a forged "letter as from us." Now he provides the safeguard: his own handwriting marks the true letter. The personal touch reminds us that these Scriptures came through real people in real situations, carefully attending to truthfulness. Paul cared that his churches receive the genuine word and not a counterfeit. Even this practical note serves the larger aim of guarding the believers from deception and grounding them in what is trustworthy and true.