This letter is thought to have been written from Macedonia a few months after first Corinthians. Paul is defending himself as a teacher, leader and apostle. He explains why his travel plans changed and he has not yet visited them, that he and Timothy (and whoever else may be with him) nearly suffered death in Asia. The first verses teach that the Father and the Son are two separate beings. He says, "Grace be to you and peace from the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ..." If the Father and Son were one being, it wouldn't make sense to refer to them in this way, but more like, "Grace be to you and peace from the Father who manifested himself as the Lord Jesus Christ and gave birth to himself to become the Lord Jesus Christ." But Paul, presents them as two separate beings, just as they are always presented in the scriptures.
Verses 17-19 seem to say that there is no wavering back in forth in what they say; things will not be yea one day and nay the next. Verse 22 is talking about being sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise and knowing in our hearts that our souls are like earnest money, deposited in safe keeping until the time of our exaltation.
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