2 Thessalonians 3:18
What does 2 Thessalonians 3:18 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Thessalonians 3:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Thessalonians 3:18 means
Paul closes with a comprehensive blessing: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” Grace is the beginning, middle, and end of Christian life—undeserved favor that saves, sustains, corrects, and comforts. By including “all,” he extends grace even to those needing correction, holding out hope for restoration. This final word brings the church back to Christ, whose generous heart and finished work supply what the Thessalonians require: strength to obey, patience to endure, and love to pursue one another rightly. The letter ends as it began—rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ as the church’s sufficiency.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ <FI>is<Fi> with you all! Amen.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all.
Context
The final verse seals the epistle with Christ’s grace, following the personal authentication in verse 17. It serves as a summary blessing, encompassing every exhortation—from prayer to work to discipline—under the canopy of the Lord’s gracious provision. With this, Paul ends his practical counsel, leaving the Thessalonians not with mere rules, but with the ongoing presence and favor of the risen Christ who empowers their obedience.
v.17The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
v.18This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 16:20
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
- Romans 16:23
Gaius my host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you, and Quartus the brother.
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