Ephesians 6:23,24

Benediction

23. Peace The Apostle returns to his opening benedictory prayer. See on Ephesians 1:2 and note. We may remark here that the phrase "Grace and peace," in apostolic salutations, though no doubt connected with ordinary Greek and Hebrew greetings, is not to be explained by them. Both nouns are surely used in the fulness of their Christian meaning. It is "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ;" "the peace of God."

the brethren The only certain occurrence in this Epistle (see note on Ephesians 6:10 above) of this word in the plural. In the singular it has occurred once, Ephesians 6:21. As children of God, Christians are brothers of one another in a sense full of Divine life and love. See Romans 8:29; 1 John 5:1.

love The Divine gift of love in all its aspects. He prays that "the love of God may be poured out in their hearts" (Romans 5:5), and that they may "walk in love" (above, ch. Ephesians 5:2) as its result. For the word "love" in benediction or salutation, cp. 2 Corinthians 13:11; Judges 2.

with faith As if to secure the reality and purity of the experience of love by its co-existence withfaith, holy reliance, in God through Christ by the Spirit. Here "faith," as well as "love" and "peace," is invokedupon them; it is a "giftof God." See on Ephesians 2:8 above.

from God the Father Cp. Ephesians 1:2, and notes. There "ourFather" is the wording. For the present phrase, cp. 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4. The probable reference of the word "Father" in such an invocation (having regard to the far more frequent other form) is to the Father's Fatherhood as towards the brethren of His Son, rather than directly towards His Son. But the two aspects are eternally and indissolubly united.

and the Lord Jesus Christ See on Ephesians 1:2.