Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 6:23

"Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." — Ephesians 6:23 (ASV)

Ephesians finishes with a truly apostolic benediction, but one different in form from others in Paul’s writings. Couched in the third person, not in the second, it has two parts instead of one. “Grace,” which usually comes first, stands last. The three blessings that figure most prominently throughout Ephesians—peace, love, and faith—occupy the first half of the benediction. This is more than a farewell greeting; it is a prayer for reconciliation. Paul longs to see the whole brotherhood of believers in Ephesus and its environs—Jews and Gentiles alike—at “peace” with each other in the one body of Christ (3:15, 19; 4:3). This will only be brought about through mutual “love” (1:15; 3:17–18; 4:2, 16) combined with “faith,” from which it is derived (1:15: 3:17; Galatians 5:6). The ultimate source of these three essential features of Christian community life is God himself. The name of Christ the Son is associated with that of God the Father in perfect equality.