2 Thessalonians 3:17 - Exposition

The salutation of Paul with mine own hand. The apostle usually dictated his Epistles to an amanuensis, but wrote the concluding words with his own hand. Thus Tertius was his amanuensis when he wrote the Epistle to the Romans ( Romans 16:22 ). Probably the Epistle to the Galatians is an exception ( Galatians 6:11 ), and also the Epistle to Philemon on ( Philemon 1:19 ). The same authentication expressed in the same words is found in the First Epistle to the Corinthians ( 1 Corinthians 16:21 ), and in the Epistle to the Colossians ( Colossians 4:18 ). Which ; referring, not to the salutation, but to the whole clause; which circumstance. Is the token; the mark of authentication. Of every Epistle. Such authentication was especially necessary in the case of the Thessalonians, as it would seem that a forged epistle had been circulated among them ( 2 Thessalonians 2:2 ). Some restrict the words to the Epistles which the apostle would afterwards write to the Thessalonians (Lunemann); but they are rather to be understood of a caution which the apostle practised, or was to practise, in all his Epistles. Some refer the token to the words, "The salutation of Paul with mine own hand," and although these words are only found in two other Epistles, yet it is asserted that the other Epistles were otherwise sufficiently authenticated. But it appears better to understand by the salutation the benediction which follows; and a similar salutation or benediction is found at the close of all Paul's Epistles (see 1 Thessalonians 5:28 ).