Fathers

2 Corinthians 13

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This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare; seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you. For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you. Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know about your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified. Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray for this: your becoming perfect. For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down. Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

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What the Fathers say

2 Corinthians 13:14

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

And that what is here said is no conjecture, hear how he mentions Son and Spirit, and is quite silent of the Father. For, writing to the Corinthians, he says, "But ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11) What then, tell me? were these not baptized into the Father? Then assuredly they were neither washed nor sanctified. But did they baptize them? doubtless then just as also they did baptize. …

Homily 30 on 2 Corinthians ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Having united all together, he, according to his custom, prays that the grace of the Son be upon them, through which He saved us — not by our works, but by grace, having Himself endured being slain for us. And then, as if being asked — whence comes this grace of the Son? he answers: from the love of the Father. And what does it produce? …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

If there is one grace, one peace, one love and one fellowship on the part of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, surely there is one operation, and where there is one operation, certainly the power cannot be divided or the substance separated.

On the Holy Spirit 1.12.13 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

He greets them on his own part, 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. Here it should be noted that there are two modes of appropriating something to the divine persons: one is essentially [essentialiter] and the other causally [causaliter]. Essentially power is appropriated to the Father because he is power essentially; inasmuch as he is the principle. To the Son, wisdom, inasmuch as he is the Word. …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗

Bonaventure

Whence the Apostle: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen." If you wish to have the love of the Son and of the original Principle and of the Gift of the Holy Spirit, dispose yourself to grace. Grace arises from the Father of lights through the Word incarnate, through the Word crucified, and through the Word inspired. A noble influence, which has its origin from God incarnate. This grace ought to be guarded most carefully: but you lose it through sin.

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1 ↗