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How Paul ends his Letters
How various letters in the New Testament end – usually with a prayer of blessing. 1 Corinthians. Paul’s favourite prayer of blessing is immediately before the end of this letter, at 16.23. Look also at the end of Galatians, Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and you will find it there too. But what did Paul mean by “grace”? It was obviously very important to him. Take a little time to think what he might have meant. 2 Corinthians. Look at the very last verse - yes, this is indeed where “The Grace” comes from! Romans is different. The final verse is not a blessing, it is what is known as an “ascription” – it ascribes glory to God. (You can find another, rather grand, ascription at the end of the Letter from Jude. You probably know this better in the old Authorized Version translation.) Sometimes an ascription is said at the end of a church service, just before the Grace. You will find a blessing in Romans at 15.33, which in a way is where the letter itself ends – the final chapter is really more like a postscript. One of the best-known blessings is not in the New Testament at all, but in the Book of Numbers. You will find it at 6.24-26. (Again, you are probably more familiar with it in the Authorized Version translation.) This is known as the Aaronic Blessing. Why not think of someone who needs your prayers, and use these words to pray for them? © Adrian West 2009
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