Thomas Aquinas Commentary 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." — 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 (ASV)

Having rebuked those deceived by false apostles, the Apostle now comforts those who have persisted in his faith and doctrine. He first gives an admonition and then adds a greeting (see verse 12). The admonition itself consists of two parts: the instruction and the reward for fulfilling it (see verse 11d). He admonishes them on three points:

1. How they should be in themselves.
2. How they should be toward their neighbor (see verse 11b).
3. How all should act toward one another (see verse 11c).

They should have two qualities in themselves. The first is joy in the good they possess. Hence, he says, Finally, brothers, rejoice in what you have done for God's service. This joy is necessary to be just and virtuous, because no one is truly so who does not take joy in just and virtuous activities. Therefore, Psalms 100:2 says, Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve the Lord with gladness. And as Philippians 4:4 says, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Indeed, a person should always rejoice, because joy keeps a person in good condition, while one cannot long continue in something that causes sorrow.

Second, the good should have a zeal for perfection. Regarding this, he says, be perfect (2 Corinthians 13:11), meaning we should always strive for what is perfect. As it is written, Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to perfection (Hebrews 6:1). This is not a command to be perfect immediately, but to always strive toward perfection. This is necessary because a person who does not aim at progressing is in danger of falling back. We notice that unless rowers strive to go forward, their boat is always carried backward. This is what the Lord said: You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

Toward our neighbor, we must offer exhortations to do good. Regarding this, he says, heed my appeal (2 Corinthians 13:11). Scripture says, And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning his neighbour (Sirach 17:12, Vulgate); and, He who exhorts, in his exhortation (Romans 12:8); and, And let him who hears say, ‘Come’ (Revelation 22:17).

Two things should be common to all: agreement and peace. Therefore, he says, agree with one another, and live in peace (2 Corinthians 13:11). These two are related as the internal to the external. Just as a body cannot be preserved and kept in order unless its members are coordinated with each other, so it is with the Church and its members, who must be properly ordered and united.

Uniting the members of the Church requires a twofold union. The first is internal, meaning that they agree in their intellect through faith by believing the same things, and agree in their will through love by loving the same things. This is why he says, agree with one another—that is, agree on matters of faith and love the same things with the affection of charity. For true wisdom is present when the activity of the intellect is perfected and completed by the rest and delight experienced in the affections. As Scripture says, That together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:6); That all of you agree (1 Corinthians 1:10); and, Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind (Philippians 2:2).

The other union is external, namely, peace. Therefore, he says, live in peace among yourselves. Scripture also says, Strive for peace with all men (Hebrews 12:14); Seek peace, and pursue it (Psalms 34:15); and, Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

When he says, and the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Corinthians 13:11), he mentions the reward for those who fulfill these admonitions. It is as if he is saying: if you keep peace among yourselves, the God of love and peace will be with you.

In this regard, it should be noted that it was a custom among the Gentiles to name their gods after certain gifts. Although there is only one God, they would name gods after the gifts they were thought to bestow. Thus, from the gift of peace, they would name a god "the god of peace," and from the gift of salvation, "the god of salvation." Alluding to this practice, the Apostle says the God of love and peace will be with you—not because peace is a god, as the Gentiles said, but because Christ is called the God of peace, for He is the giver of peace and the one who loves: My peace I give to you (John 14:27); For God is not a God of confusion but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33); God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us (Romans 5:5).

He is also the author of peace: In me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation (John 16:33); His abode has been established in peace (Psalms 71:3, Vulgate). Furthermore, He is not only the God of peace but also of love; hence, he says, the God of love and peace will be with you. This is so because a person who lives in true peace of heart and body lives in charity, and He who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (1 John 4:16). A person also merits God's favor through peace and love: If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him (John 14:23).

When he says, Greet one another with a holy kiss (2 Corinthians 13:12), he gives the greeting. He does three things here:

1. He instructs them to greet one another.
2. He greets them on behalf of others (see verse 12b).
3. He greets them on his own behalf (see verse 13).

He requests that their mutual greeting be made with a kiss; hence, he says, Greet one another with a holy kiss. It should be noted here that a kiss is a sign of peace. A person breathes through the mouth, and so when people give one another a kiss, it is a sign that they are uniting their spirit of peace.

But there is a false peace, practiced by those who speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts (Psalms 28:3). This is accomplished with a deceitful kiss: Better are the wounds of a friend, than the deceitful kisses of an enemy (Proverbs 27:6, Vulgate). There is also an evil and degrading peace, which occurs when people come together to commit evil: Afterward it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God, but they live in great strife due to ignorance, and they call such great evils peace . This is sealed with a lustful kiss. In Proverbs 7:13 (Vulgate), it is said of an evil woman that, Catching the young man, she kisses him, and with an impudent face, flatters him.

Finally, there is a holy peace which God produces: And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). This peace is obtained by a holy kiss, because it unites the spirit with holiness. It is of this kiss that the Apostle speaks here: with a holy kiss. From this arose the practice of believers and holy people kissing one another as a sign of charity and union.

He greets them on behalf of others when he says, All the saints greet you (2 Corinthians 13:12), because all the saints and faithful hope for, desire, and work toward our salvation with their prayers. Hence, all of Christ’s faithful hope and desire salvation for one another, as in the prayer, Make me a partaker, O God (from Aquinas's commentary on Psalm 119).

He greets them on his own behalf when he says, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14). Here it should be noted that there are two ways of "appropriating" attributes to the divine Persons: one is essentially and the other is causally. Essentially, power is appropriated to the Father because He is power by His essence, as He is the principle. To the Son, wisdom is appropriated, as He is the Word. To the Holy Spirit, love is appropriated, as He is goodness. But here the Apostle does not appropriate these things by essence; rather, he appropriates them by cause.

Grace is the gift by which sins are forgiven: Justified by his grace as a gift (Romans 3:24). The remission of sin is accomplished in us by the Son, who took on our flesh and made satisfaction for our sins: Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). For this reason, the Apostle attributes grace to Christ when he says, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Charity is necessary for us to be united with God: He who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (1 John 4:16). This charity comes from God the Father, who so loved the world that He sent His only Son , for God shows his love for us (Romans 5:8). Therefore, the Apostle attributes charity to the Father as its source when he says, and the love of God.

Finally, the distribution of divine gifts is accomplished by the Holy Spirit: All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11). Therefore, he attributes this distribution, or "fellowship," to the Holy Spirit when he says, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. He may also attribute this to the Spirit because He is common to the other two Persons.

Thus, in his greeting, the Apostle wishes them all necessary things when he says, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. He wishes them the grace of Christ, by which we are justified and saved; the charity of God the Father, by which we are united to Him; and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, who distributes divine gifts to us. Amen.