Oct. 23, 2024

Dear Friends,

You can probably almost (or fully) quote 1 Corinthians 13 from memory. But how about 2 Corinthians 13? Tonight, we will look at a good portion of this concluding chapter to that letter. I hope you can join us.

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE 

WAYNE BARRETT 

HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL 

OCTOBER 23, 2024 

2 Corinthians 13:5-14 

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this 

about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will 

find out that we have not failed the test. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we 

may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 

8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak 

and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. 10 For this reason I write these things while I 

am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the 

Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. 

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in 

peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the 

saints greet you. 

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with 

you all. 

__________ 

v 5 – “Examine yourselves…” 

more lit. “Test yourselves whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves.” 

“test” – peirazó, test/challenge—as when the Pharisees and others asked Jesus questions to “test” 

him; also translated “tempt” 

“prove” – dokimazo, prove, as in a proving ground; to demonstrate its claimed or desired 

qualities, as in a “proven remedy” 

In this case “whether you are in the faith”  

Strong language, if issued as a warning. But the things going on in the church at Corinth called 

for it. 

The intent may have been a validation of the apostles’ work in Corinth (which was under attack). 

In other words, “When you see how you have been established in the faith, doesn’t this show 

you that Jesus Christ is in you? And doesn’t this validate what we did among you?” This 

reading seems to be supported by Paul’s next question… 

“Or do you not yourselves definitely recognize (epiginóskó) that Jesus Christ is in you…” 

“yourselves” – in other words: “We, the apostles recognize this about you. Don’t you also 

definitely recognize this?” 

And the testing of themselves would result I knowing that “Jesus Christ is in you.” 

Doctrine may have been involved, but this was not a doctrinal test! 

“unless indeed…” 

more lit. “if you are not unproven” adokimos, a+dokimos  (see above) 

This is, Paul would hope, rhetorical—but in some cases, no doubt, it was not 

But the verbs/pronouns are plural—this is to everyone 

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So the sense is—"unless you discover that you are not in the faith”—they either are or they are 

not. And if they are—which surely is the case—then they must recognize how God used the 

ministry of the apostles. 

v 6 – “I hope you will find out…” 

more lit. “and I hope that you will know that we are not unproven.” 

As another leg of Paul’s defense of the apostles’ ministry, he once again invites that their lives be 

examined. 

They taught by example—not just with words 

v 7 – “But we pray…” 

“wrong” – kakos, evil, bad, morally rotten; it does not mean incorrect, an honest mistake, etc. 

more lit. “and we pray to God that you do not nothing evil!” 

Double-negative for emphasis 

“Not that we might appear proven (dokimos)…” 

As in by contrast with you 

“but that you may do what is right, though we should be as unproven” 

The apostles desire is for the Corinthians to walk in the faith—even if that would mean that the 

apostles would be considered “unproven” in their faith” 

vv 8-9 – “For we cannot do anything…” 

This is, perhaps, a surprising statement in the midst of what is being discussed 

Paul means that all of their energy can only be used to proclaim and establish the truth (alétheia), 

of the gospel—and here to establish it among the Corinthians. This is their sole object come 

what may, as far as personal considerations 

“For we rejoice when we might be weak, but you might be strong” 

This reinforces the point he has just made 

“Side note” – Paul does a great deal of “reinforcing” various points in his writings. We must bear 

in mind that there were almost no printed copies of his letters. People heard them read on 

very limited occasions. The reinforcement of a teaching was a great aid to impressing it upon 

the memory. 

More lit. “also this: we pray for your perfection” 

“perfection” – katartisis, only here (as a noun) in the Bible, a preparing, an equipping 

v 10 – “For this reason…” 

more lit. “because of these things…” 

Paul is referencing the totality of issues that have addressed 

Paul was planning another visit (12:14, 13:1) 

He wanted to be able to come in a spirit of encouragement and upbuilding 

“that I may not have to be severe” 

We do not know all that would be involved in such a visit 

Certainly, false teachers would be called out and opposed 

Sinful living would probably have also been addressed (cf John Wesley’s reviews of the 

Methodist societies) 

And as a whole, the tone of his visit would have been one of reproof and correction 

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Paul had apostolic authority from the Lord 

He preferred that this authority be used for building up—which is the Lord’s desire and intent as 

well 

vv 11 – “Finally, brothers…” 

“Rejoice” – ever the theme! 

“be perfected” – katartizó (see v 9), be equipped, be properly adjusted, put in good working 

order 

“be exhorted/comforted” – parakaleó 

“be of the same mind” 

“be at peace.” 

(In the Greek, all of these verbs rhyme.  “…chairete, katarizesthe, parakaleisthe, to auto 

phroneite, eireneuete.”) 

Followed by a promise of blessing 

vv 12-13 – “Greet one another…” 

Still a practice in some places 

v 14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ…” 

An oft-quoted, Trinitarian benediction. 

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