Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 1:2

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." — 2 Corinthians 1:2 (ASV)

This characteristically Pauline salutation combines and elevates the traditional Greek and Hebrew greetings. Chairein (the common Greek greeting) becomes charis (“grace,” i.e., God’s unsought and unmerited favor; GK 5921)—a word that occurs in every opening greeting of Paul. The word “peace” (GK 1645) reflects the Hebrew shalom (GK 8934)—the peace that comes to humanity from God (cf. Php 4:7) as a result of salvation (Romans 5:1).

The paragraph embodies the chief emphasis of chs. 1–7: “comfort in the midst of affliction.”