Survey
of the Letters of Paul: 1 Timothy 6:21
Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of
Phrygia Pacatiana.
Grace to you - This word properly means “favor.” It is very often
used in the New Testament, and is employed in the sense of benignity or
benevolence; felicity, or a prosperous state of affairs; the Christian
religion, as the highest expression of the benevolence or favor of God;
the happiness which Christianity confers on its friends in this and the
future life; the apostolic office; charity, or alms; thanksgiving; joy,
or pleasure; and the benefits produced on the Christian’s heart and life
by religion - the grace of meekness, patience, charity, etc., “Schleusner.”
In this place, and in similar places in the beginning of the apostolic
epistles, it seems to be a word including all those blessings that are
applicable to Christians in common; denoting an ardent wish that all the
mercies and favors of God for time and eternity, blended under the
general name grace, may be conferred on them. It is to be understood as
connected with a word implying invocation. I pray, or I desire, that
grace, etc. may be conferred on you. It is the customary form of
salutation in nearly all the apostolic epistles. And peace - Peace is the state of freedom from war. As war conveys the idea of discord and numberless calamities and dangers, so peace is the opposite, and conveys the idea of concord, safety, and prosperity. Thus, to wish one peace was the same as to wish him all safety and prosperity. This form of salutation was common among the Hebrews. But the word “peace” is also used in contrast with that state of agitation and conflict which a sinner has with his conscience and with God. The sinner is like the troubled sea, which cannot rest, Isaiah 57:20. Quoted verse: Isaiah 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. The Christian is at peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1. Quoted verse: Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By this word, denoting reconciliation with God, the blessings of the Christian religion are often described in the scriptures, Romans 8:6; Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:22; and Philippians 4:7. Quoted verses: Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost [Spirit]. Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost [Spirit]. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. A prayer for peace, therefore, in the epistles, is not a mere formal salutation, but has a special reference to those “spiritual” blessings which result from reconciliation with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. ~Barnes Notes |
More commentary on, Grace be with thee:
Grace be with thee - May the favor and influence of God be with thee, and
preserve thee from these and all other errors! ~Adam Clarke
Grace be with thee. Amen. - This the apostle wishes to him, that he might be
enabled to discharge every branch of his duty he had pointed to him in this
epistle, and to keep him from all evil, and every false way, and preserve him
safe to the kingdom and glory of God. And which he doubted not but would be his
case, and therefore puts his "Amen" to it. The Alexandrian copy and Arabic
version read, "grace be with you. Amen". ~John Gill
Grace be with thee - Grace includes all that is good, and grace is an earnest, a
beginning of glory; wherever God gives grace, he will give glory. ~Matthew
Henry Concise
Grace be with thee - Our apostle concludes with a solemn prayer and benediction:
Grace be with thee. Amen. Observe, this is a short, yet comprehensive prayer for
our friends, for grace comprehends in it all that is good, and grace is an
earnest, yea, a beginning, of glory; for, wherever God gives grace, he will give
glory, and will not withhold any good thing from him who walketh uprightly.
Grace be with you all. Amen. ~Matthew Henry Main
back to the top
back to main page
for this verse