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"Grace to you and peace..."

Text: Philemon 3

A TYPICAL PAULINE WAY OF SENDING GREETING

The apostle Paul established the way he sent out greetings. The following is typical of Paul’s way of sending greetings.

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philemon 3

1. This standard way of greeting is seen in the following Pauline epistles:

a) Greeting the church in Rome (Romans 1:7)

b) Greeting the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2)

c) Greeting the church in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:2).

2. Not all the apostles did the same thing

a) The epistle of James did not include a greeting.

b) 1 John did not have a greeting too.

3. The Petrine epistles had a similar set of greetings.

a) 1 Peter 1:2

b) Peter added other wishes in his greetings (1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:2).

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GREETINGS SENT

What was the significance of these greetings? What did Paul have in mind when he wrote these words of greetings?

1. There is significance in the words used: “grace” and “peace”.

a) Grace and Peace are not to be taken for granted.

b) They are special blessings from God!

c) They remind us of the need for “grace” and “peace”.

2. The involvement of God the Father

a) His role is to be acknowledged.

b) His role is to be appreciated.

3. The involvement of the Lord Jesus Christ

a) He is indeed the Christ, the Messiah.

b) He was anointed by God to become our Saviour.

c) His lordship ought to be recognized as well.

d) Paul readily and naturally mentioned the Lord Jesus as the Co-Giver of grace and peace.