Verse 17
In view of the letter claiming to have been Paul’s that the Thessalonians had received (2 Thessalonians 2:2), the apostle felt it necessary to prove that the present one really came from him. He added a word of greeting in his own hand, as he usually did, to authenticate his epistles for the benefit of recipients (cf. Galatians 6:11; 1 Corinthians 16:21; Colossians 4:18). An assistant evidently penned the rest of the letter (cf. Romans 16:22).
"It was no uncommon thing in ancient letter-writing for the sender, having dictated the bulk of the letter, to write the last sentence or two in his own hand. This is the best explanation of the change of script at the end of several papyrus letters which have been preserved. This practice would help to authenticate the letter (for readers who recognized the sender’s writing); a more general purpose would be to make the letter look more personal than one written entirely by an amanuensis." [Note: Ibid., pp. 215-16.]
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