Holy Trinity
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV
It’s sometimes referred to as the Apostolic Benediction. Even though it was put into words by the Spirit of God through one Apostle who considered himself born “out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:8). This benediction wasn’t written by the Apostles and neither is the Apostles’ Creed for that matter, despite the old tradition that each of them contributed a phrase on Pentecost.
What is of note is that these words are plainly Trinitarian; they underscore what God has revealed about Himself. He is one God in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
After urging the Corinthian Christians in the last chapter of this second letter to examine themselves to see whether they were in the faith and that Jesus Christ dwelt within them; he explained that he longed to come to them to build them up in faith. They lived in a thoroughly unbelieving city, one steeped in the worship of many ‘so called gods.’ No doubt their friends and neighbors would speak to them of their human-like gods.
The Apostle urged them to stay together, to comfort one another. He reminded them in closing that they possessed God’s undeserved love in Christ. They had evidence of God’s Love in Him. They had the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. The gods of stone their neighbors promoted could help no one. The living God that they had come to know was really and truly with them and they had everything.
To the great One in Three Eternal praises be Hence evermore!
His sov’reign majesty May we in glory see And to eternity Love and adore!
The Lutheran Hymnal 239:4