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2 Corinthians Chapter 13
Commentary by Ron Beckham
Verse 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."
There has been a lot written about how many times Paul visited the Corinthians.
Some have said the "third time" of this verse meant he was threatening to send a
third letter. Others think he was hindered from visiting before and this was to be
his third attempt. The simplest interpretation of events is often the best and
it’s sufficient to receive it as he said – He intended to visit them in person
for the third time.
Paul quoted Deuteronomy 17:6 in this verse, and it’s interesting that the issues
revealed by Moses in that place, involved life and death. He said someone should
only be sentenced to death on sufficient evidence. The issues of Paul also involved
life and death. Life to those who are in Christ, and death to those who reject Him.
The continued attacks on Paul by the Corinthian people, suggested that many of them
did not know Christ. Certainly they were not exercising discernment from the Holy
Spirit.
Verse 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,"
Paul was God’s agent, and as such, he carried out the will of God in the lives of
those to whom he ministered. There were those among the Corinthians who were like a
cancer within an otherwise healthy body. Paul would be to them as a skilled surgeon
– he would not spare any who wrongfully infected the body of Christ.
The judgment of God is fair, by the way – We are all condemned to death because of
our sins. Christ died for all, and the judgment of God is that all who trust in Him
will be saved from spiritual death. But the "lost" will enter eternal
death – by their own choice. None will be spared except those who follow the
Son. Paul, who followed the Lord, reflected his Master, in that he was both full of
the judgment and the mercy of God.
Verse 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."
The Corinthians were something like Thomas, the "doubting" apostle (actually,
all the apostles doubted, one way or another). Thomas had to SEE before he
would believe. Actually, part of the wonder of God is that we "see" Him in
our hearts, when we merely open ourselves to Him and His Word. The Corinthians
should have simply looked into themselves for the evidence that Christ spoke through Paul.
The proof they needed was already in their midst, brought to them by Paul in the
first place.
Paul came to them in weakness. That is, he did not win them by his oratorical
skills, or by the great learning he had received as a child. They were won by the
Christ of God in him. Paul the man stepped aside and let the Holy Spirit do the
work. They were swept into the kingdom "not by might nor by power, but by My
Spirit," as the Lord said in Zechariah 4:6.
Verse 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."
Every time I sit down to prepare one of these studies, I am reminded of my weakness.
I have nothing to say, and yet Christ has everything to say. The Lord was
killed and died a terrible, degrading death. Yet His executioners are long dead and
He is alive by the power of God.
All people, including you and me, are weak. We just think we’re strong for a
time, and then, as we get older, we learn the truth we should have seen as children.
Paul, like Christ Himself, is an example to us of how God’s strength is
manifested in outward weakness. Yes, we are weak, but if we live in Him, we have HIS
strength and we shall always be alive (in Him). The same Power that raised Christ
from the dead, is operating in you and me.
Verse 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?"
Many years ago, I was having a very difficult time and some Christian people told me,
"If you’re having so much trouble, you’re probably not saved."
The words hit me like a physical blow and this verse became my "watchword" for
decades. I examined myself over-and-over again, to see if I was in the faith.
The net result was interesting, for the Lord used this examination to show me that,
indeed, I do belong to Him. Not because I deserve it, but because of what HE did for
you and for me.
Here are some questions that Alan Redpath suggested we ask ourselves in relation to the
"test" of this verse: Am I consciously creating the impression that
I’m better than I am? Am I honest? Do I exaggerate? Do I pass on
confidences? Am I trustworthy? Am I self-pitying? Does the Bible live to
me? Do I enjoy prayer? Do I pray about what I spend? Am I touchy?
How do I spend my spare time? Am I proud? Do I complain? Is Christ real
to me?
These are excellent questions, and as you pray about them, make your own list, for the
Lord may have special questions, just for you. You might think people who ask such
things are "too hard" on themselves but think about this: "The heart
is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it? I the Lord
search the heart, I test the mind…" (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Fearlessly look at
yourself with Him, and trust Him, for Jeremiah continues "…I give every man
according to his ways." The Lord will take our "little faith" and
turn us into people who TRUST in God. Trust Him - and take a look at who you are.
Verse 6. "But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail
the test."
Paul was challenging them to examine themselves with the same scrutiny he had applied
to himself, under the searching gaze (and protection) of the Holy Spirit. Note that
Paul says he did "not fail the test" which means that he examined himself, just
as we see him suggest in 2 Corinthians 13:5. For if he did not take the test,
he could not have passed.
Paul has been building toward this point for several chapters. The Corinthians
were doubting the sincerity of this man of God, but he had passed all tests and KNEW he
was in Christ. Take the test, just like Paul – you’ll be glad you did.
To become open is to find the humility of Paul. To be open is part of what it
means to "take up your cross". To be open in such a manner is to find God,
in ways you never expected.
Verse 7. "Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may
appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear
unapproved."
Our love for other people is not about ourselves. We do not love in order to
receive some kind of credit. To love someone is to give them something of our Lord.
It is His love that all of us really need. Paul wanted them to be delivered
from narrow, petty, sinful ways of looking at life and other people.
Paul did nothing and said nothing, just to make himself look good. He wrote to
them, and visited them, with the goal in mind that they would live wholesome, righteous
lives, even if it meant Paul would remain unappreciated for what was done. We were
not created to live for ourselves, but instead we were made to help others in their need.
Verse 8. "For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the
truth."
Paul did not know ALL the truth, any more than we do. But he did know the One who
IS the truth (John 14:6). Paul was for Christ and would do nothing against Him.
His whole concern in this letter was that something good and true might be given to
the Corinthians.
Everything of importance to Paul was in giving Christ to people. The person who
is of God becomes willing to give his or her life, that others might know our Lord.
Some of the Corinthians had thought Paul was untrue, and yet this man could only act for
his Lord, and he was true to Him.
Verse 9. "For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this
we also pray for, that you be made complete."
If it was true that he was weak and the Corinthians were "strong" (in the
Lord), Paul would say something like – "Wonderful!" Unlike the people
we so often find in our culture, he actually rejoiced when others did well. And it
did not matter what they thought of him, IF they were made complete in the Lord.
Paul prayed for them. Keep in mind that when he prayed for them, he was praying
for many who did not like him. And yet he PRAYED for them anyway, and with just as
much genuine fervor, as if they were his actual sons and daughters. Our responses
should not be based in how people treat us. Prayer is directed to the NEED, and is
not in relation to whether we are appreciated or not.
Verse 10. "For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that
when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave
me for building up and not for tearing down."
The Corinthians had said of Paul, "his letters are weighty and powerful, but his
bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible" (2 Corinthians 10:10). And
even though he knew this, he still wrote (instead of blasting them in person). He
did not wish to destroy them – his ministry was to gently lift them up.
God, who has all authority, gives differently to various people. The intelligent
person will understand that, and we should restrict ourselves to God's will for our lives.
Paul loved the Corinthians (though many of them did not like him). He also
loved God, and he carefully stayed within the limits God had set in relation to these
people.
Verse 11. "Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be
like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."
What does God want from you? He wants you to be filled with joy (to
"rejoice"). Up to this time, your "happiness" has probably been based
in the circumstances of your life. If things were good, you were happy; if things went
bad, you became sad. Paul (and the Holy Spirit of God) wants to shake you loose from
dependence on circumstances, and give you lasting JOY, along with the peace of God. All
this comes from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
God intends for you to feel COMPLETE inside and to be comforted at all times (even in
jail or the cancer ward). He also wants us to find out that our "differences"
are superficial – we CAN be "like-minded" with other Christians. We are to
live in peace with one another – that is His goal. When all in this verse is present
in your life, you will KNOW that God is within you.
Verse 12. "Greet one another with a holy kiss."
The key word is "holy" (or "set apart"). I think the Church gave up
greeting with the "holy kiss" because we tend to lack holiness. It was a lovely
custom but it can be dangerous for a human race that is inclined towards sin.
(Additionally, we tend to avoid "holy" hugs and kisses because we are a people
frightened by true intimacy.)
Obviously, we can go too far with displays of affection. They can be misinterpreted and
our exuberance can get us into trouble. But the pendulum tends to swing too far, and those
of the Church have historically been more apt to greet one another an icy coldness, which
is not "holy" at all.
Verse 13. All the saints greet you."
The loneliest hermit in a mountain cave, needs people. God has given us one another, to
greet and love, in Christ Jesus. The things that frightened us about people have been done
away in Him. He longs that we "may be one" (John 17:22), just like the Father
and Son are one. In the phrase "the saints greet you", it is important to see
that God intends to take you out of loneliness and bring you into active fellowship with
other people.
Verse 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."
If you have received the grace given you in Christ Jesus, you have the love of God the
Father. If you have them, you also have been given the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
whether you fully recognize His gentle Hand in your life or not.
It is true that if you receive Christ, you’ve got it all. You may not APPROPRIATE
all His benefits, but in Him, you are given the POTENTIAL for joy without limit.
Everything, everyone else in your life, is transitory and relationships will not last.
Even to be together for life is to see the togetherness tragically end in death. Not so
with our Lord: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"
(Hebrews 13:7), and "His love and peace shall be with you" (Hebrews 13:11). We
shall live in the joy of the Lord - Forever.
And the bonus is: We will be reunited with all those (in Christ) that we
"lost" during our time here on earth. You and I are going to have "joy
unspeakable and filled with glory". If you have Christ, you have the Father, and in
them, you have the Holy Spirit of God. And because of them, any separation from your
brothers and sisters in Christ will only be for a time. Lift up your head and rejoice in
your God! (For He loves you and me).
Ron Beckham
Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
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