NOTES for Th2 3:6-18

Some words lose all meaning when we repeat them thoughtlessly day after day. Who remembers that the Russian greeting "zdravstvuyte" is literally a wish for good health? Even people who are not particularly religious may wish someone, "Well, God help you!" without thinking of God at all. Does that mean all of this is nonsense and that it would be better not to mention the Lord's name? Yet the Apostle Paul considers it very important to write a blessing to everyone he addresses. Is Paul taking God's name in vain? No. He understands very well what he is writing; moreover, he tries to formulate his blessings differently so that those who read his letter will not merely skim its ending ("Ah, these are just formulas of politeness"), but will read the text attentively. It is probably important to God as well that we speak of Him, but not mechanically—consciously; that we do not exclude His name from our speech, but that every time we name Him, we truly address Him.