2 Corinthians 13:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.

NIV: And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.

NASB: But I expect that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.

CSB: And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test.

NLT: As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.

KJV: But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

NKJV: But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

In the previous verse, Paul asked the Corinthians to test themselves to see that Jesus Christ is in them. In this context, he apparently assumes the answer will be that Christ is, truly, living within them, despite their flaws and errors. If that is their answer, Paul and his associates will have passed a test, as well. That would imply they are genuine in representing Christ. Paul is the one who introduced them to Christ. If Christ is real and genuine to them and in them, they must acknowledge that Christ is also in Paul and speaking through him.

The logic of that relationship continues, however. If Christ is speaking through Paul, the Corinthian believers must prepare to be judged by Christ, through Paul, for any unrepentant sin in their lives. They must acknowledge Paul's authority as an apostle.

Another layer of meaning here would be that if Christ is truly in them, the Corinthians should know to repent of sin and move away from it, in order to avoid Christ's discipline through Paul.

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.

Accessed 5/1/2024 9:41:08 PM