The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 13:14 Explained

2 Corinthians 13:14

KJV: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

YLT: the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, is with you all! Amen.

Darby: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

ASV: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The grace  of the Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the love  of God,  and  the communion  of the Holy  Ghost,  [be] with  you  all.  Amen.  {{The second [epistle] to  the Corinthians  was written  from  Philippi,  [a city] of Macedonia,  by  Titus  and  Lucas.  }} 

What does 2 Corinthians 13:14 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This Song of Solomon -called "Trinitarian benediction" is one of the most widely quoted verses in the Pauline corpus. In each of the three phrases the genitive is subjective (i.e, the grace that comes from Jesus Christ, etc.).
Paul wished that God"s grace demonstrated in the work of Jesus Christ on Calvary might be the atmosphere in which all his readers lived their lives. Appreciation for that grace banishes self-assertiveness and self-seeking. He hoped that God"s love demonstrated in the Father"s work in sending Jesus Christ as our Savior might be the motivation for their lives. Thankfulness for His love subdues jealousy and strife. He longed that the fellowship that God"s Spirit produces among all the saved might unite their lives in fellowship with one another and with all believers. Gratefulness for that fellowship minimizes quarreling and factions.
Note the centrality of Jesus Christ"s cross work in Paul"s arrangement of these prayerful wishes. Note, too, the clear testimony to the Trinity that this verse provides. It is in the grace of Jesus Christ displayed in His substitute sacrifice ( 2 Corinthians 8:9) that we see God"s love ( Romans 5:8), which the Spirit uses to produce fellowship ( Ephesians 4:3).

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 13:7-14 - How To Be Built Up
None can really injure the truth or stop its victorious progress. As well try to stop the sunrise. We often help others most in our weakness, because then we rely most on the Spirit of God. It is the noblest end of life to build up others through our own expenditure, even to the draining of our strength and resources. The world is apt at destruction; and indeed not much art is required for pulling down. But the divine work is to build; we have God's authority for that.
The valedictory address is very touching. Be perfected, 2 Corinthians 13:11, r.v., is really "be adjusted," "properly jointed," "articulated." God desires to set us as a skilful surgeon sets a dislocated limb. Let Him do it; let the Comforter comfort; let love and peace enter with the Holy Dove; and see that the inner atmosphere does not hinder the gracious healing work of the Spirit of God.
Note the threefold benediction, which maintains the doctrine of the Trinity, 2 Corinthians 13:14. The love of the Father is the fountain of all; the grace of the Lord Jesus is the channel for all; while the communion of the Holy Spirit brings us into partnership with the aims and resources of God. The salutation of the saints and the divine benediction are the worthy close of this noble letter [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 13

1  Paul threatens severity, and the power of his apostleship, against obstinate sinners
5  And, advising them to a trial of their faith,
7  and to a reformation of their sins before his coming,
11  he concludes his epistle with a general exhortation and a prayer

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 13:14

The grace, etc. []
The most complete benediction of the Pauline epistles. In most of the epistles the introductory benedictions are confined to grace and peace. In the pastoral epistles mercy is added. In the closing benedictions uniformly grace.sa40 [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 13:14

Luke 5:10 Partners [κοινωνοὶ]
In Luke 5:7 the word rendered partners is μέτοχοι ; from μετά ,with, and ἔχω ,to have. The word here denotes a closer association, a common interest. The kindred noun, κοινωνία ,fellowship, is used of the fellowship of believers with Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9); the communion of the body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16); the communion of the Holy Ghost (2 Corinthians 13:14). The persons referred to in Luke 5:7 might have been only hired workmen (Mark 1:20), temporarily associated with the principals. [source]
John 5:42 But I know you [αλλα εγνωκα υμας]
Perfect active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō “I have come to know and still know,” the knowledge of personal experience (John 2:24.). The love o‘ God Objective genitive, “the love toward God.” See Luke 11:42 for this phrase in the same sense (only other instance in the Gospels, but common in 1John (1 John 2:5; 1 John 3:17; 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:9; 1 John 5:3) and in 2 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Romans 5:5. The sense of God‘s love for man occurs in 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:9, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:16; John 15:9. of Christ‘s love for man. These rabbis did not love God and hence did not love Christ. [source]
Colossians 4:18 Grace be with you []
On the benedictions, see on 2 Corinthians 13:14. This short form occurs only here, 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 4:22.sa40 [source]
Titus 3:7 By his grace [τῇ ἐκείνου χάριτι]
By the grace of Jesus Christ. See Acts 15:11; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Romans 5:6; Galatians 1:6. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 13:14 mean?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and love of God fellowship of the Holy Spirit [be] with all of you Amen
χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ κοινωνία τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν ⧼Ἀμήν⧽

χάρις  grace 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: χάρις  
Sense: grace.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Κυρίου  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
Χριστοῦ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
ἀγάπη  love 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγάπη  
Sense: brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence.
Θεοῦ  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
κοινωνία  fellowship 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: κοινωνία  
Sense: fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἁγίου  Holy 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.
Πνεύματος  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
μετὰ  [be]  with 
Parse: Preposition
Root: μετά  
Sense: with, after, behind.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
⧼Ἀμήν⧽  Amen 
Parse: Hebrew Word
Root: ἀμήν  
Sense: firm.