Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 1:2

χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη. A combination of the Greek χαίρειν (Acts 15:23; Acts 23:26; James 1:1) with the Hebrew Shalom (2 Samuel 18:28); in both cases with the meaning enriched: comp. Numbers 6:25-26. The one is the favour of God, the other the blessing of being restored to His favour after being opposed to Him. This is the usual salutation in the Pauline, as in the Petrine Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy being exceptions. In them and in 2 John we have χάρις, ἔλεος, εἰρήνη, and in Jude ἔλεος, εἰρήνη, ἀγάπη. See Hort on 1 Peter 1:2 and Mayor on James 1:1.

ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. The coordination of Jesus Christ as Lord with God as Father under one preposition is evidence, all the more powerful for being indirect, of the hold which the doctrine of the equality of Christ with the Father had on the Apostle’s mind. In the earliest of all his letters (1 Thessalonians 1:1) we find the same phenomenon. Comp. 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 1:3 and the benediction at the end of this letter (2 Corinthians 13:14) and of that to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:23).

In the O.T. God is the Father of the nation (Deuteronomy 32:6; Isaiah 63:16; Jeremiah 3:4; Jeremiah 3:19; Jeremiah 31:9; Malachi 1:6; Malachi 2:10). In the Apocrypha individuals begin to speak of God as their Father (Wis 2:16; Wis 14:3; Sir 23:1; Sir 23:4; Tob 13:4; 3Ma 6:3). Christ gave His disciples the right to do this (John 1:12, comp. 2 Corinthians 3:3; Romans 8:23; Galatians 4:5).

2 Corinthians 1:3-11. THANKSGIVING FOR RECENT DELIVERANCE FROM PERIL OF DEATH

The thanksgiving is a conspicuous feature in S. Paul’s letters, and its absence in the severe letter to the Galatians is the more remarkable on that account: comp. 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Romans 1:8; Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; Philippians 1:3; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 1:4. This example is perhaps only an outburst of gratitude towards God, and of affection towards his readers. But he may be aiming at giving comfort to others. The word ‘comfort’ (παράκλησις six times, παρακαλεῖν four) occurs ten times in five verses, a fact which the A.V. obscures by substituting, four times, ‘consolation.’ Usually S. Paul thanks God for the condition of those whom he addresses; here for his own rescue from a terrible crisis, which he uses to win the sympathy of the Corinthians.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 1:2

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