2 Corinthians 13:1-10·~1 min

Examine Yourselves

Paul says his third visit will proceed on the scriptural principle of established witness, and he warns those who sinned before that he will not spare them if he comes again. Since the Corinthians want proof that Christ speaks through him, he reminds them that Christ, though crucified in weakness, now lives by God's power, and that apostolic weakness stands in that same pattern.

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.

Paul then turns the examination inward: instead of demanding proof from him, the Corinthians should test themselves to see whether they are in the faith and whether Christ is truly in them. He hopes that in doing so they will also recognize that Paul and his companions have not failed the test.

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.

Paul says his prayer is not that he appear vindicated, but that the Corinthians do what is right, even if he seems weak by comparison. They can do nothing against the truth but only for it, and he rejoices if they are strong while he appears weak, because his aim is their restoration; this is why he writes sternly now, so that when present he will not need to use his authority severely.

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.

Section summaryPaul 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.

Role in the chapterThis opening section closes the long defense of Paul's ministry by turning the question of proof back on Corinth itself. It gathers the letter's themes of weakness, power, truth, and upbuilding into one last warning and appeal.