2Cor 13:3-5 | KingComments | STEP | . As Paul mentioned in the previous chapter ( ), he was ready for the third time to visit them. It is evident that he held the Corinthian believers close to his heart. His attachment to them was true and deep. He was not indifferent to his children’s development in their faith. He had heard much about the poor quality of their faith life. There was much that needed correction. But he could deal with them only on the basis of clear facts and evidences. Certain things came to his ears but he could not pronounce judgment based on superficial evidences. The facts must be shown. Witness statements are of great importance in each case of sin that happens in the church. God has already had it recorded in the Old Testament ( ) that in the case of iniquity and sin conviction should be established only if there are two or three witnesses. There might be one trustworthy witness, but still there must be a second or even a third witness to establish the fact without leaving any room for ambiguity. If only the church had acted cautiously according to this prescription the amount of divisions wouldn’t have been that manifold as unfortunately is seen today. Paul, a man of great discernment who was well aware of all that happened in Corinth, wanted to stick to this biblical principle. . He will spare those who sinned before. Once again he gives this warning. He did not want to come with a rod. What he wanted was a pleasant visit in which they would together rejoice about the great things the Lord had worked in their life. They would prepare themselves for this event if they listened to what he wrote in this letter. This letter played a preparatory role for his coming. . In he refutes the latest charge of the false prophets. According to them Paul was a ‘nobody’, an insignificant person and therefore it was impossible that Christ could speak through him. must be read as a parenthesis to see how Paul refutes this accusation. continues in . Did they seek a proof of Christ speaking in him ( )? Well, then they must look at themselves ( ). Could they say they were in the faith? Yes, they could. Then they have to admit the fact that Christ spoke through Paul because they came to the faith through his preaching. They should just test themselves to see in what way they are saved. Were they saved because something they did themselves or because Christ had done something for them? Also here they must acknowledge that it was only because of Christ, and that Christ was preached to them by none other than Paul. does not challenge you to check the proofs of your salvation. It is not meant to bring you to doubt the certainty of your salvation by examining your heart and life to make sure that you have brought forth enough fruit. Such a test is not mentioned here, but just the opposite. This verse confirms the assurance of your salvation. What is essential is that we are aware of the foundation of your faith. Is your faith founded on something in you or from yourself? Or is your faith based on something that happened outside of you, separate from you and for your benefit? The latter is the case. The work of Christ was fully accomplished outside of you regardless of your feeling or experience. God expects that you simply accept it by faith. That afterward the works of faith must be visible is also true and that is spoken of elsewhere in the Bible, as in the letter of James, but this is not the subject here. Beware of the ones who teach that you cannot know for sure if “you are in the faith”. ‘To be in the faith’ means that you are a believer. “Examine yourselves” means consider how it happened and not what is seen in your life. The one who says that Christ is not in him stands outside of salvation, and he is not a believer and therefore he has no part in the life of God. In all it is seen that Christ spoke in and through Paul. Paul accepts that it is possible that he did not create any sensation in his ministry. In the parenthesis of the he explains the reason why he did so. First they had to know that Christ has not been weak toward them. What power went out of Him when they came in contact with Him. He turned their whole dirty, corrupt life inside out. Their evil and dark heart came to the light. They came to know themselves and were converted in repentance to God and accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. What a power! But how did He make this possible? It was because He was crucified in weakness. Is there anything weaker than a crucified man? Can such a person ever do anything? Yet they placed their faith in Him, and rightly so. The power of God was needed to make Him alive, although He also rose in His own power – as the Lord Jesus is the Son of God at the same time ( ). But here it is all about what people, including the Corinthians, saw in Him when He hung on the cross. Paul was pleased to be made one with such a weak Christ. That is the reason why his preaching was not with enticing words, and therefore he was weak in his outward appearance. He was weak in Christ. But Paul also knew that one day he will live with Him indeed by the same power which had already worked out the new life in the Corinthians. Is it not something wonderful to see that he uses everything to win the hearts of the Corinthians and at the same time he keeps himself completely identified with Christ? He doesn’t say that he himself will live for Christ through the power of God, although it is true, but he applies the power of God to what happened to the Corinthians in their conversion. . There is nothing left for him except to express the hope that his explanation shows them that he did not fail the test or that he is not disqualified as an apostle. He just wanted to preach Christ and nothing else. You have a good example in Paul that shows the way to deal with people who accuse you falsely. You cannot do anything better than what he did to win the hearts of your opponents. Show Christ and show that you want to be one with Him in your preaching and in your whole life. If those who bring false charges against you are believers, then show them the privileges they have in Christ. That will shame them. It is not easy but that is the Lord’s way of victory. Now read 2 Corinthians 13:1-6 again. Reflection: What is meant by ‘prove yourselves’? Why is it said?

‏ 2 Corinthians 13:3-5

Examine Yourself

2Cor 13:1. As Paul mentioned in the previous chapter (2Cor 12:14), he was ready for the third time to visit them. It is evident that he held the Corinthian believers close to his heart. His attachment to them was true and deep. He was not indifferent to his children’s development in their faith. He had heard much about the poor quality of their faith life. There was much that needed correction. But he could deal with them only on the basis of clear facts and evidences. Certain things came to his ears but he could not pronounce judgment based on superficial evidences. The facts must be shown.

Witness statements are of great importance in each case of sin that happens in the church. God has already had it recorded in the Old Testament (Deu 19:15) that in the case of iniquity and sin conviction should be established only if there are two or three witnesses. There might be one trustworthy witness, but still there must be a second or even a third witness to establish the fact without leaving any room for ambiguity. If only the church had acted cautiously according to this prescription the amount of divisions wouldn’t have been that manifold as unfortunately is seen today. Paul, a man of great discernment who was well aware of all that happened in Corinth, wanted to stick to this biblical principle.

2Cor 13:2. He will spare those who sinned before. Once again he gives this warning. He did not want to come with a rod. What he wanted was a pleasant visit in which they would together rejoice about the great things the Lord had worked in their life. They would prepare themselves for this event if they listened to what he wrote in this letter. This letter played a preparatory role for his coming.

2Cor 13:3-5. In 2Cor 13:3 he refutes the latest charge of the false prophets. According to them Paul was a ‘nobody’, an insignificant person and therefore it was impossible that Christ could speak through him.

2Cor 13:3b ; 4 must be read as a parenthesis to see how Paul refutes this accusation. 2Cor 13:3a continues in 2Cor 13:5. Did they seek a proof of Christ speaking in him (2Cor 13:3a)? Well, then they must look at themselves (2Cor 13:5). Could they say they were in the faith? Yes, they could. Then they have to admit the fact that Christ spoke through Paul because they came to the faith through his preaching.

They should just test themselves to see in what way they are saved. Were they saved because something they did themselves or because Christ had done something for them? Also here they must acknowledge that it was only because of Christ, and that Christ was preached to them by none other than Paul.

2Cor 13:5 does not challenge you to check the proofs of your salvation. It is not meant to bring you to doubt the certainty of your salvation by examining your heart and life to make sure that you have brought forth enough fruit. Such a test is not mentioned here, but just the opposite. This verse confirms the assurance of your salvation. What is essential is that we are aware of the foundation of your faith. Is your faith founded on something in you or from yourself? Or is your faith based on something that happened outside of you, separate from you and for your benefit? The latter is the case.

The work of Christ was fully accomplished outside of you regardless of your feeling or experience. God expects that you simply accept it by faith. That afterward the works of faith must be visible is also true and that is spoken of elsewhere in the Bible, as in the letter of James, but this is not the subject here. Beware of the ones who teach that you cannot know for sure if “you are in the faith”. ‘To be in the faith’ means that you are a believer. “Examine yourselves” means consider how it happened and not what is seen in your life. The one who says that Christ is not in him stands outside of salvation, and he is not a believer and therefore he has no part in the life of God.

In all it is seen that Christ spoke in and through Paul. Paul accepts that it is possible that he did not create any sensation in his ministry. In the parenthesis of the 2Cor 13:3b-4 he explains the reason why he did so. First they had to know that Christ has not been weak toward them. What power went out of Him when they came in contact with Him. He turned their whole dirty, corrupt life inside out. Their evil and dark heart came to the light. They came to know themselves and were converted in repentance to God and accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. What a power!

But how did He make this possible? It was because He was crucified in weakness. Is there anything weaker than a crucified man? Can such a person ever do anything? Yet they placed their faith in Him, and rightly so. The power of God was needed to make Him alive, although He also rose in His own power – as the Lord Jesus is the Son of God at the same time (Rom 1:4). But here it is all about what people, including the Corinthians, saw in Him when He hung on the cross. Paul was pleased to be made one with such a weak Christ. That is the reason why his preaching was not with enticing words, and therefore he was weak in his outward appearance. He was weak in Christ.

But Paul also knew that one day he will live with Him indeed by the same power which had already worked out the new life in the Corinthians. Is it not something wonderful to see that he uses everything to win the hearts of the Corinthians and at the same time he keeps himself completely identified with Christ? He doesn’t say that he himself will live for Christ through the power of God, although it is true, but he applies the power of God to what happened to the Corinthians in their conversion.

2Cor 13:6. There is nothing left for him except to express the hope that his explanation shows them that he did not fail the test or that he is not disqualified as an apostle. He just wanted to preach Christ and nothing else.

You have a good example in Paul that shows the way to deal with people who accuse you falsely. You cannot do anything better than what he did to win the hearts of your opponents. Show Christ and show that you want to be one with Him in your preaching and in your whole life. If those who bring false charges against you are believers, then show them the privileges they have in Christ. That will shame them. It is not easy but that is the Lord’s way of victory.

Now read 2 Corinthians 13:1-6 again.

Reflection: What is meant by ‘prove yourselves’? Why is it said?