2 Thessalonians 3:17

Text (2 Thessalonians 3:17)

17 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

Translation and Paraphrase

17.

(I close with) the salutation of (myself,) Paul, in my own hand (writing). (Watch for this salutation,) which is (my) sign in every (true) epistle (of mine). Thus I write.

Notes (2 Thessalonians 3:17)

1.

Here Paul closed his epistle by adding the salutation in his own handwriting. The letter had thus far been written by one to whom he dictated, as was his custom, but now he adds this brief final salutation in his own handwriting. It was the proof that the epistle was truly from Paul. Perhaps their attention is called to this because of a false epistle. See notes on 2 Thessalonians 2:2, par. 10.

2.

Certain other epistles close exactly as this one.

1 Corinthians 16:21The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.

Colossians 4:18The salutation by the hand of me Paul. (Actually the Greek of these two verses is identified with that in 2 Thessalonians 3:17.)

Galatians 6:11See with how large letters I write unto you with mine own hand.