2 Corinthians 13:1-6
1: This is the third time I am coming to you. EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.
2: I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,
3: since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.
4: For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.
5: Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
6: But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.
Paul quoted Deuteronomy 17:6 which says that every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. This refers to the Old Testament law of putting someone to death for a crime. It was not to happen based on the testimony of just one person. Some say that Paul was instructing them to have two or three witnesses in place regarding the offenders he would address when he came. Others say this comment about the two or three witnesses refers to his third time coming--a third witness. In either case, he remained consistent with his prior statement that when he came, he would not spare those ones who had sinned. He would not overlook it, or condone it, but would address them directly according to his apostolic authority, since they were looking for proof that the power and authority of Christ was in him.
Paul spoke of Christ who was crucified in weakness yet lives now because of the power of God. In the same way, Paul & Co. were weak in Him yet they would live with Him because of the power of God directed towards the Corinthians. They lived and carried the apostolic authority God had given them in Christ, not because they were anything special. It was not reason for them to boast, but was according to the plan and call of God. Paul tried to get them to see this—to realize that if they challenged him, it was not him they were challenging, it was the authority of God Himself. It reminds me of the people who came to Jesus always looking for a sign for Him to prove Himself. We would do much better to come before God, and His anointed, humbly and with respect, rather than with accusation or dare.
Paul advised the Corinthians to test themselves to see if they were in the faith. Rather than seeking proof of Christ being in Paul, he asked that they examine their own heart to see Christ in them, unless they had not really received His salvation. The very fact that Christ was in them proved that Christ was in Paul because they were the fruit of his apostleship. If they doubted his apostleship then they must doubt their own salvation. But, he said he was confident that they would realize that Paul & Co. did not “fail the test” they were able to provide proof of that which the Corinthians were seeking.
2: I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,
3: since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.
4: For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.
5: Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
6: But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.
***
Paul quoted Deuteronomy 17:6 which says that every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. This refers to the Old Testament law of putting someone to death for a crime. It was not to happen based on the testimony of just one person. Some say that Paul was instructing them to have two or three witnesses in place regarding the offenders he would address when he came. Others say this comment about the two or three witnesses refers to his third time coming--a third witness. In either case, he remained consistent with his prior statement that when he came, he would not spare those ones who had sinned. He would not overlook it, or condone it, but would address them directly according to his apostolic authority, since they were looking for proof that the power and authority of Christ was in him.
Paul spoke of Christ who was crucified in weakness yet lives now because of the power of God. In the same way, Paul & Co. were weak in Him yet they would live with Him because of the power of God directed towards the Corinthians. They lived and carried the apostolic authority God had given them in Christ, not because they were anything special. It was not reason for them to boast, but was according to the plan and call of God. Paul tried to get them to see this—to realize that if they challenged him, it was not him they were challenging, it was the authority of God Himself. It reminds me of the people who came to Jesus always looking for a sign for Him to prove Himself. We would do much better to come before God, and His anointed, humbly and with respect, rather than with accusation or dare.
Paul advised the Corinthians to test themselves to see if they were in the faith. Rather than seeking proof of Christ being in Paul, he asked that they examine their own heart to see Christ in them, unless they had not really received His salvation. The very fact that Christ was in them proved that Christ was in Paul because they were the fruit of his apostleship. If they doubted his apostleship then they must doubt their own salvation. But, he said he was confident that they would realize that Paul & Co. did not “fail the test” they were able to provide proof of that which the Corinthians were seeking.
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