“The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write“
Paul concludes his second epistle with a formal and personal greeting (2 Thessalonians 3:17,18).
The salutation of Paul
The word “salutation” means greeting. He embraces them as his own.
with my own hand,
Paul dictated 2 Thessalonians to a secretary (amanuensis), who wrote the epistle for him. However, he wrote the final greeting with his own hand. This was a precaution against attempts to forge his epistles (2 Thessalonians 2:2).
which is a sign in every epistle;
Paul’s own handwriting in the final greeting indicates the letter’s authenticity. The Thessalonians could distinguish his handwriting from his secretary’s handwriting.
so I write
This “sign” was his autograph, a specimen of his handwriting.
Principle:
We must test the authenticity of a document before we believe it’s content.
Application:
All doctrine stands or falls by testing it against Scripture. Today Christians are careless about where they get their ideas about God. The only authentic way to know God with specificity is in the Word of God. We can know God through creation and conscience, but the most accurate way to know Him is through His Word.
