Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 23. And the very God of peace. The God who gives peace or happiness. Comp. . Sanctify you. . Wholly. ολοτελεις In every part; completely. It is always proper to pray that God would make his people entirely holy. A prayer for perfect sanctification, however, should not be adduced as a proof that it is in fact attained in the present life. Your whole spirit and soul and body.
the very God--rather as the Greek, "the God of peace Himself"; who can do for you by His own power what I cannot do by all my monitions, nor you by all your efforts (Rom 16:20; Heb 13:20), namely, keep you from all evil, and give you all that is good. sanctify you--for holiness is the necessary condition of "peace" (Phi 4:6-9).
In these words, which conclude this epistle, observe, I. Paul's prayer for them, Th1 5:23. He had told them, in the beginning of this epistle, that he always made mention of them in his prayers; and, now that he is writing to them, he lifts up his heart to God in prayer for them. Take notice, 1. To whom the apostle prays, namely, The very God of peace.
Commenting on 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28