Daily Bread 2011 - 2 Corinthians 13
2011 Daily Bread – 2 Corinthians 13
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
What Does This Mean?
Oftentimes people will state quite boldly, the doctrine of the Trinity is not even in the bible. And yes, while an explicit statement about the Trinity does not exist, there are certainly many Trinitarian references, including this one. We also see the most explicit one in the Great Commission as Jesus commands His disciples to, “Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” Clearly throughout the bible we see that although God is “one”, God also exists in “three persons”.
Although this particular reference omits the use of the word “Father” it is clearly a Trinitarian reference that was a greeting used often in the early church. We know that it is the love of God that sent Jesus into the world, so when it says “God’s love” it can easily refer to God the Father. And since the grace of Jesus has been the focus on this letter, especially as it relates to the issues the church have been facing, it makes sense this would go first. Finally, we have the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit. There is some discussion among commentators on whether the genitive in the Greek is used objectively or subjectively. Meaning if it is the objective it is our participation in the Holy Spirit, or if it is subjective it is the fellowship we share a result of the Holy Spirit. I will let you grammar experts figure that one out.
Bottom line is the our fellowship is based in and of the Holy Spirit, in that the Spirit draws us together through Christ in a unity that the world will never know, because it is not humanly produced but of God!
What Does This Mean For Us?
Although some scoff at the Trinity as just theological “mumbo-jumbo”, it is the foundation for our understanding of who God is. While we will never have it completely figured out on this side, the different persons of the Trinity give us a complete picture of how amazing God’s love is, as it has been revealed to us through His Son, in the power of the Spirit. This the three strands of the one cord that cannot be broken.
The Trinity gives us a glimpse into the community the Father, the Son and the Spirit have, and becomes a model and basis for all Christian unity. As someone has profoundly remarked, “Unity is given not achieved”. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of Holy Spirit be with you all! Amen.
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
What Does This Mean?
Oftentimes people will state quite boldly, the doctrine of the Trinity is not even in the bible. And yes, while an explicit statement about the Trinity does not exist, there are certainly many Trinitarian references, including this one. We also see the most explicit one in the Great Commission as Jesus commands His disciples to, “Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” Clearly throughout the bible we see that although God is “one”, God also exists in “three persons”.
Although this particular reference omits the use of the word “Father” it is clearly a Trinitarian reference that was a greeting used often in the early church. We know that it is the love of God that sent Jesus into the world, so when it says “God’s love” it can easily refer to God the Father. And since the grace of Jesus has been the focus on this letter, especially as it relates to the issues the church have been facing, it makes sense this would go first. Finally, we have the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit. There is some discussion among commentators on whether the genitive in the Greek is used objectively or subjectively. Meaning if it is the objective it is our participation in the Holy Spirit, or if it is subjective it is the fellowship we share a result of the Holy Spirit. I will let you grammar experts figure that one out.
Bottom line is the our fellowship is based in and of the Holy Spirit, in that the Spirit draws us together through Christ in a unity that the world will never know, because it is not humanly produced but of God!
What Does This Mean For Us?
Although some scoff at the Trinity as just theological “mumbo-jumbo”, it is the foundation for our understanding of who God is. While we will never have it completely figured out on this side, the different persons of the Trinity give us a complete picture of how amazing God’s love is, as it has been revealed to us through His Son, in the power of the Spirit. This the three strands of the one cord that cannot be broken.
The Trinity gives us a glimpse into the community the Father, the Son and the Spirit have, and becomes a model and basis for all Christian unity. As someone has profoundly remarked, “Unity is given not achieved”. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of Holy Spirit be with you all! Amen.
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