Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Thessalonians 3:16

16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace alwayes, by all means . The Lord be with you all.

The Apostle is now taking his leave, and closing up his Epistle; and this he doth with prayer, and what he prays for is peace, and though the word peace hath various acceptions, and is of comprehensive signification, yet here it is to be understood of brotherly peace and unity: Whether it was occasion'd by any dissensions that were actually among them, or his fears of such to arise upon the practise of their duties to the disorderly among them that he thus prayes, is uncertain; and it is that which he much presseth and prayes for in his several Epistles to the Churches, as being that wherein the honour of the Gospel, and their own comfort and edification, were so much concerned: And the person he prays to, he stiles the Lord of Peace, whereby I suppose he means Jesus Christ, who is sometimes called the Prince of peace, Isa. 9.6. As God is called the God of Peace, 1 Thess. 5.23. It is he that hath made peace betwixt God and us, betwixt the Jew and Gentile, and it is one of the fruits of his Spirit in the hearts of Christians, Gal. 5.22. True Christian peace is the gift of Christ, and therefore the Apostle prays the Lord to give it, and saith, the Lord himself, as intimating none but he can give it, and that it is a singular blessing to enjoy it, as we must so interpret the phrase when at any other time we find it, as 1 Thessonians 5.23.

He shews both the desirableness and difficulty of peace. It is worth the using all endeavours for it, and without such we shall hardly attain it, as Rom. 12.18. If it be possible, as much as lyeth in you, live peaceably with all men, Quite contrary to the temper and practise of some men, who will live peaceably with no man; and elsewhere we read of following Peace, Heb. 12.14. and seeking peace and ensuing it, 1 Pet. 3.11. and endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace, Eph. 4.3. And the Apostle prays for it in the Text with much earnestness, and that they might enjoy it without interruption, alwayes. That there might be no schisme rise up among them at any time, and if we read the next words in every thing, he prays that their peace might be universal with respect to opinions, words and actions, and as a final farewell addeth, the Lord be with you all, which shews his affection to them all, though he had reproved sharply the disorders that some were guilty of. And a greater thing he could not desire for them. It comprehends all blessings in it, and the very blessedness of heaven it self. As a usual farewell word Adieu is a recommending a person to God.

Marginal references: Rom. 15.33; Or, every where or, in every [illegible: 1 word]