Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (12) Greet one another with a holy kiss. (13) All the saints greet you.

The second letter to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul. Paul founded the church there, stayed for a year and a half and departed to Ephesus where he was warned by Christians from Corinth of certain abuses there. He then wrote 1st Corinthians which was delivered by Timothy. Then Paul himself made a quick and discouraging trip back to that city where his gospel and authority as an apostle was questioned. He returned to Ephesus where he wrote what is called the “sorrowful” letter which has not been preserved. Perhaps because of the sorrowful letter Paul later received a good report on reform on Corinth from Titus which led to the letter we study today, 2nd Corinthians.

Thr church was struggling with divisions and quarrels; claims of spirituality superiority over one another, suing one another in public courts, abusing the communal meal and sexual misbehavior. But it appears that problems had been solved by time 2nd Corinthians was written. Many repented and came back to unity with one another under the leadership of Paul.

In our verses today Paul concludes 2 Corinthian with cheerful words after reproofs. He calls them to be of one mind – which simply means NOT that we agree on everything which we never could. Basically Paul write a lesson in unity where we NOT agree on non essentials but we ARE to be in unity in the essentials. He call for a holy kiss was cultural where the men kiss the men and the women kiss the women. The grace of the Lord will shower them – meaning grace that comes from Jesus Christ, ( the redeeming grace that flows from Christ Jesus), not grace shown to Christ, just as also love of God doesn’t mean our love for God but God’s love for us.