2 Thessalonians 3:17

17 I, Paul, write this greeting ¹with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.

2 Thessalonians 3:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:17

The salutation of Paul with mine own hand
In writing his epistles, the body and substance of them he used an amanuensis, but the salutation he wrote with his own hand:

which is the token in every epistle;
by which they might be known to be true and genuine, and be distinguished from counterfeit ones: and the rather he mentions this, that they might be troubled neither by word, nor by spirit, nor by epistle, as from them, as they had been, ( 2 Thessalonians 2:2 ) for it seems that this wicked practice of counterfeiting the epistles of the apostles, or carrying about spurious ones, under their name, began so early; to prevent which, the apostle took this method,

so I write,
as follows:

2 Thessalonians 3:17 In-Context

15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Corinthians 16:21

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "The greeting by my hand of Paul"