Some greetings are just pleasantries. Paul’s was never one of them. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” was Paul’s signature greeting in all his epistles. We see this greeting in various forms in Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:2, 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, and Philemon 1:3.
The question then is: why did Paul use this greeting consistently with his audience? Aside from being a culturally accepted way to greet people in his day, Paul wanted to communicate more through this greeting to the saints he wrote to.
Grace
The Greek word for grace is charis. While the term is used in different ways throughout Scripture, for the believer it primarily speaks of the merciful kindness of God by which He exerts His holy influence upon the soul, turns people to Christ, keeps and strengthens them in the faith, increases their knowledge and affection toward Him, and enables them to exercise Christian virtues. (BLB)
We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 3:24; 2 Timothy 1:9). But grace does not stop at salvation. We are also kept by grace (Galatians 3:3; Hebrews 4:16; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Romans 5:2; Titus 2:11–12; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:10).
Therefore, when Paul greets believers with “grace,” he is not simply reminding them of how they came to salvation. They have already received salvation. Rather, he is reminding them that the grace of God continues to strengthen them as they walk with the Lord.
God’s grace is available to believers:
- When we sin or fall — Hebrews 4:16
- When we need help of any kind — Hebrews 4:16
- When we are going through trials — 2 Corinthians 12:9
- For spiritual growth and service in the work of the ministry — 1 Corinthians 15:10
- For living a holy and sanctified life — Titus 2:11–12
- And more
God’s grace not only saves us; it sustains us. Therefore, Paul wanted the churches and individuals to whom he wrote to continue enjoying God’s grace. He wanted them to remember that they were never without God’s grace, and that His grace remained available to strengthen them as they grew in their faith.
Peace
The Greek word for peace is eirēnē. With regard to our salvation, peace refers to the settlement of the enmity that existed between a holy God and sinful humanity. Christ came to pay the consequence of sin and, through His work, brought humanity back into relationship with God. (BLB)
Romans 5:1 tells us that, because of what Christ has accomplished, we now have peace with God. Romans 5:9 further reminds us that we have been saved from God’s wrath. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and the peace He gives is different from the peace the world offers (John 14:27). This peace does not merely restore our relationship with God; it also helps us endure a world filled with persecution and trials (Philippians 4:7).
Many of the people to whom Paul wrote were experiencing difficulties in their world — including persecution for their faith. Timothy and Titus were also facing struggles as they served as leaders in their respective churches.
Paul’s desire was that they would remember they were now in right standing with God. They had a peace that no one could take away from them, together with the assurance that God would be with them in the midst of their troubles. He wanted them to keep their focus on peace rather than on their troubles (Romans 8:6; Isaiah 26:3). Peace was also necessary for the unity of the church and for the progress of God’s work through them (Colossians 3:15).
Grace and peace, therefore, were more than a simple greeting. They highlighted what God had already done for them in Christ — their salvation — but also what God continued to do for them and through them in Christ. It was a greeting that directed their minds toward God before Paul even began to write to them. Paul was careful to say in his letters that grace and peace are from God. He is the giver. He is the source. And He alone deserves all the glory.
