The Hope of the Gospel (Conclusion)
And now we have reached the end of our study. As Paul usually does, at the end of these letters we find a final benediction, a farewell and a prayer for the people to whom he wrote. In 1 Thessalonians, it follows directly after the passage we looked at in our previous article, (1 Thessalonians 5:23-28) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen . In 2 Thessalonians, I want to look at a few verses from the beginning of chapter 3 which are not technically the final benediction of the letter, parallel what Paul says in the benediction of 1 Thessalonians. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, 16-18) Finally, brethren, pray for us, that t
