Examine Yourself: Paul’s Warning to Corinth (2 Corinthians 12:13-13:14)
Why does Paul warn the Corinthians to examine themselves to see if they are really believers, and what does that mean for us? We will find out in this episode. Along the way we will see why Christ’s power often comes wrapped in weakness and how Paul’s authority is aimed at building people up.
Review
Today we finish our series on 2 Corinthians. We are in the last section, which began in chapter 10, where Paul confronts his critics directly.
Paul’s critics charge that he was bold in his letters but meek and unimpressive in person. Paul replied that when he comes again, he plans to be very bold toward those who dismiss him. His weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses, and he is ready to punish all disobedience.
Remember that Paul is on his way to Corinth when he writes this letter. He has come as far as Macedonia. Titus has reported how they responded to his last letter. Paul is sending this letter ahead of him, and then he will follow after it. They will have the opportunity to read it before he shows up.
That is important here because he is preparing them for what they may face when he comes. This next visit has the potential to be difficult. Their relationship is not great. He says this will be his third visit. That fits our timeline.
See: How many letters did Paul write to Corinth?
Boasting in Weakness
In the last podcast we looked at the end of chapter 11 and the beginning of chapter 12. Paul engaged in what he called foolish boasting. His critics challenged him on foolish issues, so he answered them in kind.
Instead of defending his ministry with impressive achievements, Paul boasted in his weakness. He even recounted the humiliating story of being lowered out of Damascus in a basket, showing that his authority as an apostle was not based on worldly power but on God’s deliverance and grace.
What looked like failure to his critics was proof that God was at work through him.
If he wanted to, Paul could boast about being taken to heaven and taught by revelation. That far surpasses any degrees his critics boast in. Yet he quickly shifted the focus away from this revelation to his “thorn in the flesh.”
Whatever the thorn was, it humbled Paul and kept him from getting conceited about his credentials. He recognized that his hardship created the clearest stage for displaying God’s strength.
Paul then delivered a painful rebuke. He said, I should have been commended by you. They had every reason to trust him as a true apostle, yet many listened to his opponents.
Why Paul Refused Their Money
For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? – 2 Corinthians 12:13-15
Paul returns to the question of why he did not take money from them. This should not be a problem. He should not need to explain it, but he is.
The Corinthians were upset that Paul would accept support elsewhere but not from them. This issue appears several times in the latter part of the letter.
Paul explains that he would not take their money because he did not want to be accused of ripping them off. We know he accepted a generous gift from the Philippians, for example. Perhaps his relationship with Corinth was more fragile. He did not want to become a stumbling block, so he avoided any misunderstanding.
Ironically, they also misunderstood his refusal. They took it as rejection, as if he did not want to be beholden to them.
Paul says he still will not take their money when he arrives. They should interpret his motives differently. He is doing it out of love. He says, I do not seek what is yours but you. He wants their hearts. He wants them to embrace the gospel.
He compares himself to a loving parent. Children are not responsible to save for their parents, but parents for their children. As their spiritual father, it is appropriate for him to sacrifice for them, not the other way around.
He is glad to sacrifice himself if it helps their progress in the faith. Then comes the sad question: If I love you more, am I to be loved less? The more Paul sacrifices, the less some love him back.
Accusations of Deceit
But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps? – 2 Corinthians 12:16-18
Paul sounds as if he is being charged with deceit. His enemies suggest that while he did not take money openly, he was crafty and took it indirectly through his coworkers. Paul denies it. None of those he sent took money. Titus did not take advantage of them. They all acted in the same spirit and with integrity.
Paul challenges them: What grounds do you have for suspecting me? Who among my associates exploited you?
Perhaps some felt insulted that he would not accept their money. Perhaps others claimed it was a ploy and he was taking it through back channels. Paul insists this should not be an issue. He is not taking their money out of concern for them. That is all.
Not Self-Defense but Upbuilding
Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. – 2 Corinthians 12:19
At first this sounds odd. Paul has spent much of the letter defending himself. But his motive is not self-protection. When people say untrue, hurtful things, our impulse is to defend ourselves to make life easier. Paul says that is not what he is doing. He is not trying to preserve his reputation. He speaks for their upbuilding.
It is spiritually dangerous for them to embrace Paul’s critics. Rejecting Paul could lead to rejecting the gospel. If they judge by worldly standards and chase impressive personalities, they are in danger. He is concerned for their souls.
Paul’s Fears
For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish, that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced. – 2 Corinthians 12:20–21
Paul fears he will find the worst of human nature prevailing. Notice the first list centers on broken relationships, especially between himself and the Corinthians: strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
He also fears God will humble him before them by making him mourn over those who refuse to repent of sexual immorality. We saw that issue in 1 Corinthians, written not long before 2 Corinthians. Opposition to Paul sometimes went hand in hand with immoral lifestyles. If people can dismiss Paul, they can ignore his call to holiness.
Paul worries that his teaching will be ignored and that many will remain unrepentant. If so, his visit could be very difficult.
The Third Visit and True Power
This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them. since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. – 2 Corinthians 13:1–4
Paul uses the Deuteronomy principle that every fact is established by two or three witnesses. He treats his three visits as three witnesses to the same persistent problems. He lived with them for a year and saw the issues. He came for the painful visit and found the issues unchanged. Now he is coming a third time. If the problems remain, that is strong evidence they are real.
Some say Paul is meek in person because he did not solve the problem during the second painful visit. He left and wrote instead. Paul reminds them he warned at that time that if the issue continued, he would be severe. He repeats the warning now to prepare them.
They seek proof that Christ speaks in him. He answers that Christ is not weak among them but powerful. Jesus was crucified in weakness but lives by God’s power. Paul is weak, yet God’s power works through him. They have already seen the power of the gospel in their midst.
If they want to see another kind of power, they will see the wisdom, strength, integrity, and authority he will exercise if he must deal with error when he comes.
Examine Yourselves
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. – 2 Corinthians 13:5–6
They want Paul to prove he speaks for Christ. Paul turns the tables. The real issue is whether Christ is at work in them.
Paul is not telling the average believer to live in constant self-examination. One reason God tests our faith through difficulties is because we are not good at testing ourselves. We easily deceive ourselves. The normal Christian is not to spend every moment questioning whether belief.
Remember the situation. Paul is addressing people who are rejecting him or are in danger of drifting away. They dismiss him as unimpressive, refuse to repent of sexual immorality, and judge by worldly standards. So are they believers at all?
They can examine themselves by asking: Do I believe Paul’s gospel? Am I willing to change my life according to it? If they reject Christ’s apostle, refuse to repent, and prefer worldly wisdom, in what sense are they believers?
Either the power of God is at work in them through genuine faith in Paul’s gospel. Or, if they fail the test, the power of God will be at work through Paul’s strong correction when he arrives.
Whatever may be true of them, Paul is confident he is preaching the gospel he received from God. They can be confident he is an apostle. The real question is whether they believe the gospel.
Paul’s Aim Is Restoration
But we pray to God that you may not do wrong, not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. – 2 Corinthians 13:7–10
If Paul cared only for his reputation, this would be the moment to throw his weight around. Instead, he hopes they will respond to the letter so that he will not need to be severe when he arrives. He is prepared to be severe if necessary, but his aim is their good.
He prays they would do what is right, not to make him look good. He cares about them. He wants them to embrace the truth. He prays for their restoration, for maturity and stability in the faith. If he looks weak but they become strong, he will rejoice.
God gave Paul authority to build up the people of God, not to tear them down. He would rather they repent now, even if he loses the chance to appear powerful later.
Final Greetings and Charge
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. – 2 Corinthians 13:11–14
This closing is typical for Paul, yet it follows a contentious letter. He fears what he may find, but his final admonition is simple: believe the gospel and live it out.
Rejoice in the hope of the gospel. Aim for restoration. Grow into a mature understanding of the gospel and let its implications reach into all of life.
Encourage one another. Let the truth of the gospel strengthen you in your difficulties.
Be like-minded. Embrace the same gospel so you see life from the same true perspective.
Live in peace. Treat each other as brothers and sisters united by a common belief and destiny. Paul never argues for harmony for its own sake. It is always rooted in the truth of the gospel.
We know from Acts 20 that when Paul visited Corinth the third time he stayed about three months. Evidently, he was able to address the situation enough to stay and work things out.
Summary
- Paul reminds the Corinthians that he is coming soon. Once again, he will not rely on their financial support. This does not mean he cares less for them. Nor is he taking money deviously through others. He will not take their money because he cares about them.
- He worries he will find fighting, arrogance, slander, and unrepentant sexual immorality. If so, he is prepared to deal severely with those who require it.
- He has been accused of weakness, yet the power of God has been at work in his proclamation of the gospel. If necessary, that power will be at work through him in discipline when he visits.
- He is not concerned about his personal reputation. He would be delighted if they repent, even if he does not look good in the process. One way or another, it is time for the Corinthians to face reality. They must examine themselves to see whether they are in the faith.
- In the end, it does not matter what they think about Paul. It matters what they think about the gospel. This letter has been about weakness and power, and especially the relationship of weakness and power to authority.
- Paul does not look powerful by worldly standards, but the genuine power of God is at work through his ministry. That gives him real authority. By God’s power he understands the gospel, knows the way to eternal life, and knows how the gospel shapes our lives. The same power is at work in all believers.
- His authority is not for show. It is for building up the church. If the time comes to act, he will act with wisdom and integrity because he knows the truth.
The Corinthians must sort out appearance versus reality when they look at the false teachers who seem impressive. Impressive by worldly standards.
They must also face appearance versus reality when they look at themselves. Yes, they call themselves believers in Christ. But look at what they are doing, believing, and who they are listening to. Does their claim match reality?
We face the same decision. By the world’s standards, the gospel and its ministers may not look compelling. But where is the real power? Paul claimed it is with God and his gospel. Paul was a weak man serving a powerful God. What will we do with the gospel preached by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles?
Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.
Previous: 16 Thorn in the Flesh: How to Embrace Weakness (2 Corinthians 12:1-12)
Series: 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts
Resources to help you study: 2 Corinthians
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Podcast season 26, episode 17
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