The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
Parallel translations
- WEB The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter: this is how I write.
- BSB This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.
- NKJV The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.
- NASB I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.
- NLT Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul. I do this in all my letters to prove they are from me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul adds a greeting in his own handwriting as the authenticating mark in all his letters. This guards the church against the forged letters that had troubled them.
Overview
Having dictated the letter, Paul signs off personally, his handwriting serving as a seal of genuineness. This directly counters the false letter "as from us" mentioned in 2:2, helping the church distinguish true apostolic teaching from counterfeit. It underscores the care taken to preserve a trustworthy, authoritative message for the church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 1 Cor 16:21The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
- Col 4:18The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
- 2 Th 1:5Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
- Josh 2:12Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
- 1 Sam 17:18And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ will be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, glorified in his saints, overthrowing the lawless one — the certain hope that steadies the suffering church.
How 2 Thessalonians 3:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.