2 Corinthians 13:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.

NIV: since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.

NASB: since you are seeking proof of the Christ who speaks in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

CSB: since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you.

NLT: I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you.

KJV: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

NKJV: since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

When coming to visit the believers in Corinth, Paul will be coming as something of a spiritual judge. He is planning to hold accountable all who are living in ongoing sin. His purpose is to expose and confront them for their rebellion against Christ. He wrote ominously that he would not spare them (2 Corinthians 13:1–2).

Though not always in the best ways, the Corinthians have been looking for proof that Christ genuinely speaks through Paul as His apostle. Ominously, Paul says they will get proof when they see how powerfully Christ acts to discipline their sinfulness. Even if they think Paul is weak in person, they should not think Christ will be weak when judging their lack of repentance for sin. They will see that Christ is, indeed, powerful.

Paul is not threatening them, nor promising any particular result. It should be noted—and the Corinthians would have known—that there were instances in the early church where God issued severe punishment (Acts 5:1–11; 13:8–11). At the very least, Paul is being deadly serious in warning of consequences for those who lack repentance from sin.

Second Corinthians 13:1–10 contains Paul's final warning to the Corinthians: repent from sin before he arrives to visit them. None will be spared from Christ's discipline if they remain unrepentant. They will see that Christ speaks through Paul when he executes Christ's powerful discipline among them. He urges them to examine themselves to see if Christ is in them and he prays for their restoration. Paul knows he has God-given authority to represent Christ among them, but he hopes he will not have to do so in a severe way when he arrives.

The final chapter of Paul's letter begins with a harsh warning. Nobody living in unrepentant sin when Paul arrives will be spared Paul's discipline. All will learn that Christ speaks through Paul—because Christ will deal powerfully with their sinfulness despite Paul's own weakness. Paul urges them to examine themselves and verify that Christ is in them and, by extension, that he is a true apostle. He prays for their restoration and hopes they will repent of all sin before he arrives so that he will not have to be severe in the use of his authority.

Second Corinthians 13 follows Paul's listing of two sets of sins he is concerned he will find among the Corinthians when he arrives. These are personal divisions and sexual immorality. He warns them once more that nobody will be spared from Christ's discipline if they remain in sin. Paul urges them to examine and test themselves to see if Christ is in them. He prays for their restoration and hopes they will repent of sin so that he does not have to be severe with them in his authority as Christ's representative when he arrives.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.