Skip to reading
Atomic Bible
2 Corinthians

Chapter 13

Examination and Final Peace

Paul prepares the Corinthians for his third visit by warning that unresolved sin will be dealt with and by insisting that Christ's power is not absent simply because apostolic authority appears weak. He turns the demand for proof back toward the church itself, telling them to examine whether they are in the faith, while making clear that his deepest wish is not to prove himself right but to see them restored. The letter ends with a brief summons to peace, unity, and encouragement, followed by a final blessing of grace, love, and fellowship.

This closing chapter gathers the letter's main tensions into a final appeal: weakness and power, testing and restoration, authority and upbuilding. It ends the letter not in triumph over Corinth, but in the hope that discipline will not be needed and that peace will prevail.

2 sections·329 words·~1 min read

Begin reading Zoom into first section
Reader

2 Corinthians 13

A continuous BSB reading flow. Turn on the guide when you want authored orientation; leave it off when you simply want the text.

vv. 1-10

Examine Yourselves

Open section

T1his is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone, 3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you. 4For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. For we are also weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him concerning you.

5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you — unless you fail the test? 6And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.

7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong — not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed. 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection. 10This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

vv. 11-14

Benediction and Farewell

Open section

F11inally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13All the saints send you greetings. 14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Section map

Open the closer view when you want it.

Each section keeps the passage focused, adds summaries and cross references, and gives verse-level links.

  1. 01vv. 1-10Examine YourselvesPaul says his coming for the third time will proceed with proper witness and that those still persisting in sin should not expect to be spared. Yet his concern is not to display force for its own sake, but to see Christ's truth at work among them, so he urges the Corinthians to examine themselves and explains that his authority exists to build up rather than tear down.
  2. 02vv. 11-14Benediction and FarewellPaul ends with a compact set of final calls: rejoice, seek restoration, encourage one another, share one mind, and live in peace. Greetings are exchanged, and the letter closes not with further argument but with a blessing that gathers the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit over the whole church.
Previous Chapter 12All 13 chapters in 2 Corinthians