Written ~ 09-11-2024
Read 2 Corinthians Chapter Thirteen
2 Corinthians 13
Paul had been fighting against the comparison to “so-called apostles” and his own authority given to him by the Lord. In some statements he makes, you can feel his frustration, but he takes it all in stride. Why? Because he knows he has the power of the Holy Spirit to back him up. We learned in chapter 10 that there was a group of people in Corinth who were basically mocking him for being weak and timid. To which, he defended himself. In chapter 11 he had to declare that he was not inferior to those “super apostles,” because he had the knowledge of Scripture to back him up. Paul never felt the need to boast in his own achievements because it was the Lord who was working through him. Even with a “thorn in his flesh” he continued on, pushing forward, never once giving up hope.
In the second half of chapter 12, Paul continues defending himself…
2 Corinthians 12:11-12…
11 “You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all. 12 When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.”
We clarified in chapter 10 that the last four chapters of 2 Corinthians were shifted to a different set of listeners. The group of people Paul was addressing now were throwing accusations at Paul to make it seem he wasn’t anything he claimed to be. And unfortunately, these lies got to the believers in Corinth and caused confusion as to who Paul really was. Can you imagine the dismay Paul must have felt. Now he had to respond and do some damage control. He didn’t need to prove himself to anyone! But I think he went on the defensive to make sure the Christians knew that his authority came from God. As Paul was preparing for his Corinth visit, he was wondering what he was going to find. Would the believers there be so caught up in the rumors and lies that they were led astray? Or would they be steadfast in their foundation of God’s Word.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21…
20 “For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 21 Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.”
Even after his first letter (1 Corinthians) and the good report from Titus, in these last two verses of chapter 12, even now Paul wasn’t sure what he was going to walk into.
2 Corinthians 13:1-2…
1 “This is the third time I am coming to visit you (and as the Scriptures say, “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”). 2 I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare them.”
I actually found these two verses quite compelling and wanted to dive in a little to deeper to fully understand their meaning. Here is what the “Expositor’s Bible Commentary” had to say about verses 13:1 and 2…
- After expressing his personal fears about his third visit (2 Corinthians 12:20-21), Paul issues two direct warnings relative to this issue: “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (vs.13:1), and “On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others” (vs.13:2).
- What are the “two or three witnesses?” Some believe Paul is referring to his three visits to Corinth (two actual, one promised) as three separate “witnesses.” Another possible view sees a reference to the threefold warning that Paul would not spare the Corinthians: the first was either 1 Corinthians 4:21 or the warning given on the “painful visit”; the second is the warning given here in vs.13:2; and the final one is the proposed third visit. In any case, the general import is clear: “Sufficient warning has been given; punishment is imminent.”
- “Those who sinned earlier” are the immoral persons of (vs.12:21b) who did not repent during Paul’s “painful visit” and were evidently still indulging in their sexual sins. “The others” are probably those Corinthians who had been adversely influenced by the false apostles and were arrogantly inciting unrest within the church (vs.12:20b). Both groups receive their final warning here. If they remained unrepentant, he would be harsh in his use of authority (vs.13:10).
This third visit would now be the final warning for those who are not repentant of their ongoing sin. Though his accusers said he just looked like a weak, timid old man… he is setting that record straight in the following verses…
2 Corinthians 13:3-4…
3 “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. 4 Although He was crucified in weakness, He now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with Him and will have God’s power.”
In this final warning, Paul is asking the Corinth believers to get right with God, otherwise the severe punishment he was trying to avoid would fall heavily upon them.
2 Corinthians 13:5-10…
5 “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 6 As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.
7 We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come – even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. 8 For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. 9 We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.
10 I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won’t need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down.”
Listen… we all need to examine ourselves regularly. We need to see if we are failing our test of genuine faith. Do we test ourselves regularly enough to make sure we correct the disobedience settling into our hearts and minds before it gets completely out of hand? Nobody likes discipline, but at times the Lord must show His authority in our lives and whatever punishment for our disobedience deems necessary, He will do it to get us back on track.
Paul says in verse 13:8, “…we cannot oppose truth, but must always stand for the truth…” That’s how every believer should live. Do you agree? We should be living by the truth of God’s Word and nothing else! What about you? Have you been given warning after warning not to proceed in something you know is not Scriptural and you do it anyway? How is that working out for you? Have you ever humbled yourself before the Almighty God and repented?
Reading the Word of God isn’t just a suggestion. The passages we read are Powerful, they cause change in a heart that is willing to open up to its truth. If you are living with unrepentant sin, think of Paul’s warning to the Corinthian believers as your last warning too. Repent, turn away from the sin you are continuing in, and have the Lord save you from the punishment He will need to administer to get you back on the path towards righteousness. Look at Paul’s words from verse 13:2b, “…Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare you.” Have you received those warnings? Well, it’s time to give your heart over to the Lord.
Paul is giving the Corinth believers time to get things right with God… but how much time do you have to get right with the Lord and repent? How many warnings have you received? Don’t delay, ongoing sin must be taken care of…
Any mentor or brother/sister in Christ, who knows the sin you struggle with every single day, want to be there to strengthen you, to encourage you, to build you up in your faith. It’s a bummer if time and time again your mentor has to constantly point out the sin you are living in. In verse 13:9b it says, “…We pray you will become mature…” Living for Christ is a daily growing experience. If the sin in your life has stunted that growth, it is time to get rid of it so you can flourish in the abundance of life the Lord wants to give you. IT IS WORTH IT!
In closing, let’s use the words of Paul…
2 Corinthians 13:11-14…
11 “Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. 13 All of God’s people here send you their greetings.
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
~AMEN~