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 Trinitarian
Doctrine? I don’t think that Paul is using this formula expressly to hold up
the doctrine of the Trinity. It would be tempting to teach on the
relationships that define Father, Son, and Holy Spirit based on this passage.
I wonder, though, if the clauses reflect the qualities that this community was
lacking; these qualities are certainly modeled in his earlier letter: grace (1
Cor. 12, 14), love (1 Cor. 13), and fellowship (1 Cor. 1).
This blessing reflects three aspects of the Christian life-Christ gives
grace through which persons receive new life. Behind the grace stands the love
of God from which comes redemption. The Spirit then is active in creating
koinonia. [1]
Ambrosiaster (AC 366-384): “Here is the intertwining of the Trinity . . .
The love of God has sent us Jesus the Savior, by whose grace we have been
saved. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to possess
the grace of salvation . . . so that the completeness of the Three may be the
saving fulfillment of mankind.” [2]
 Describe
the natural relationship between grace / love / and peace. (For an example,
see the Ambrosiaster quote above-that’s what he does with this benediction.)
Can you suggest why Paul attaches those respective qualities to specific
persons of the Godhead?
As you close your homily or class, you might offer a custom-made
benediction, a specially-made-for-the-occasion blessing. Let your benediction
reflect the qualities that will guide the recipients toward a new vision of
Christian faith and service.
 Discuss
the genre-verse 14 is that last line of a letter that sometimes summarizes,
other times simply brings closure to the letter.
What three qualities or actions would describe our lives? If an epistle is
a metaphor for life, what closure would be fitting of us?
If these three clauses that make up the closing line of the epistle
reflects specific relationships within the Godhead-how could you explain why
this is true? Why is Jesus connected to grace vis-ŕ-vis love or fellowship?
How can we also bless our “recipients” who cross our paths daily? What
formula of blessing might reflect our hopes for our friends, children, or
neighborhoods?
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1) Ernest Best, Interpretation: Second Corinthians (Atlanta: John Knox Press,
1987), page 137.
2) Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture VII (Downers Grove: InterVarsity
Press, 1999), page 315.
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