is in my own hand
The phrase "is in my own hand" emphasizes the personal involvement of Paul in the writing process. The Greek term "cheir" for "hand" signifies the physical act of writing, which was a significant gesture in the context of ancient letter writing. By writing with his own hand, Paul assures the Thessalonians of the letter's authenticity, countering any false teachings or letters that might have been circulating in his name. This personal touch also serves as a reminder of Paul's authority and the divine inspiration behind his teachings.

Paul
The mention of "Paul" serves as a signature, affirming the authorship of the letter. In the Greco-Roman world, the name of the author was often placed at the beginning or end of a letter. Here, Paul uses his name to reinforce his identity as an apostle of Christ, chosen to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. The name "Paul" itself, derived from the Latin "Paulus," meaning "small" or "humble," reflects his transformation from Saul, a persecutor of Christians, to Paul, a devoted servant of Christ. This transformation is a testament to the power of God's grace and serves as an inspiration for believers to embrace humility and dedication in their own spiritual journeys.

This is my mark
The phrase "This is my mark" indicates a unique sign or characteristic that Paul uses to authenticate his letters. The Greek word "sēmeion" for "mark" can also mean a sign or token, suggesting that Paul had a distinctive way of writing or a specific phrase that he used consistently. This mark served as a safeguard against forgery and false teachings, ensuring that the recipients could trust the message as genuinely coming from Paul. It highlights the importance of discernment and the need for believers to be vigilant in upholding the truth of the Gospel.

in every letter
The phrase "in every letter" underscores the consistency and reliability of Paul's communication with the early churches. It suggests that Paul made it a practice to include his personal mark in all his correspondence, reinforcing the authenticity and authority of his teachings. This consistency is a reflection of Paul's unwavering commitment to the truth of the Gospel and his dedication to nurturing the faith of the early Christian communities. It serves as a reminder for believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to seek consistency in their own spiritual practices.

it is the way I write
The phrase "it is the way I write" highlights Paul's distinctive style and method of communication. The Greek word "graphō" for "write" emphasizes the act of inscribing or recording, which in this context, signifies the intentional and deliberate nature of Paul's writings. This phrase assures the Thessalonians that the letter is genuinely from Paul, reinforcing the trustworthiness of his message. It also serves as an encouragement for believers to be intentional and deliberate in their own communication of the Gospel, ensuring that their words and actions align with the teachings of Christ.

Which.--Namely, the autograph addition of a salutation, or valedictory prayer, not the special words in which it was couched.

The token.--Rather, a token--a mark, that is, by which to tell an authentic Epistle of his from those forged letters with which false brethren had troubled the Thessalonian Church (2Thessalonians 2:2). At first sight, it seems to us too audacious for any one to have conceived the thought of writing a letter under the name of St. Paul; but, on the other hand, we must recollect several points. (1) St. Paul's genuine First Epistle, in spite of its claim to inspiration (1Thessalonians 4:15), could not yet have acquired in the eyes of the Thessalonians the sanctity it wears for us; they had no notion of such a thing as Holy Scriptures, and even if they had, St. Paul was a familiar figure, a mechanic who had just left them, not yet invested with the heroic halo. (2) Such literary forgeries were not uncommon in that age, and scarcely considered reprehensible, unless they were framed to inculcate with authority some heretical teaching. Apocryphal Gospels soon after abounded, under false titles, and works fathered upon St. Clement and other great Church teachers. (3) There need nor always have been a direct intention to deceive the readers as to the authorship, but the renowned name acted as a tempting advertisement for the work, and the theories thus shot forth hit their mark; whether the real authorship were discovered or not mattered little in comparison. Such points must be borne in mind before we accept as genuine any of the early Christian writings.

In every epistle.--That is, naturally, "in every Epistle which I write." It cannot be narrowly restricted to mean, "in every Epistle which I shall for the future write to you Thessalonians," though that is, of course, the practical significance. Nor does it imply a formed design of writing other Epistles to other churches. It seems necessary to suppose that St. Paul had already made a practice of concluding Letters with his autograph, though only one Letter of his is now extant of an earlier date than our present Epistle. There is no reason whatever to suppose that all the Letters ever written by St. Paul have been preserved to us (see Dr. Lightfoot's Philippians, p. 136, et seq.), any more than all the sayings and acts of Jesus Christ (John 21:25); and even when he wrote his First Epistle to Thessalonica he had seen the necessity of giving careful directions about his Letters (1Thessalonians 5:27), and of rousing his correspondents to a reasonable scepticism (1Thessalonians 5:21). The same solicitude re-appears in 1Corinthians 16:21; Galatians 6:11. And the rule which St. Paul had already made he always observed, so far as we can test; for all his extant Epistles, as Bishop Wordsworth points out on 1Thessalonians 5:28, contain his "salutation" at the end. . . .