Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

2 Corinthians 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

The Apostle Paul’s desire was for the Corinthian church to move toward spiritual maturity, to be spiritually equipped and strong. He sought that the sinning ones in their midst will come back to God, repent of their sins and be restored in fellowship with God’s people. Hodge said well, “Paul prayed that they might be perfectly restored from the state of confusion, contention and evil into which they had fallen.”

As to why they were glad when they were weak? Gill observed well, “Appear to be so, look like persons disarmed of all power and authority; the apostles rejoiced when they had no occasion of exerting themselves, and of exercising that high office, and extraordinary commission they had received of Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

Matthew Poole said well, “Truth in this place notes integrity of life and conversation; truth in action, opposed to hypocrisy, or scandalous living. He had before prayed, that they might do no evil; which if they did not, they need not fear his coming with a rod; for though he had a power from Christ to punish, yet he had no power to punish such as did well; his power was to be used for them, not against them. As the law was not made for the righteous, and the civil magistrate is not ordained of God for the terror of those that do well, but only of those that do evil; so neither did Christ ever ordain ecclesiastical censures for the punishment of good and holy men. And indeed here is the just boundary of all civil and ecclesiastical power; no magistrate or minister, acting as Christ’s servants, can (lawfully, or as by any commission from him) do any thing against the truth, or those that own, defend, and practise it; the power with which they are trusted is for edification, not destruction.”

MacDonald observed similarly, “Paul is saying that all they do must be done with a view to the furtherance of the truth of God, and not with any selfish motives in view. Even in the matter of discipline, no thought of personal vindictiveness must enter. All must be carried out with a view to the glory of God and the good of one’s fellow Christians.”

MacDonald observed well, “Paul now continues the subject of the discipline of sinning members of the church at Corinth. He states he is praying to God that the Corinthians would do no evil by countenancing sin in their midst, but that they would work ceaselessly toward the discipline and restoration of the sinning members.”

Futhermore MacDonald explained well, “He does not pray this in order that he himself might appear approved, or might be seen in a better light. He does not want them to do it simply because he could then point to their obedience as an evidence of his authority. That is not the thought at all. He wants them to do it because it is right and honest. And he would rather have them do that, even though it meant that he might seem disqualified.”

The logic of the Apostle Paul’s thought is well captured by the words of Clement of Alexandra, Polemicists of the East in the third century, who gave the theology of discipline when he said ” The physician is not evil to the sick person because he tells him of his fever. For the physician is not the cause of the fever; he only points out the fever. Likewise, he who reproved is not ill-deposed towards him who is diseased in soul. For he is not the cause of the transgression on him. He only reveals the sins that are there.” Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E),2.231.

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

The word “reprobate” literally means “failing to meet the test”, that is, “of false profession of faith, proven false”. [Friberg] He posed this to the Corinthian Christians, under the influence of the enemies of the gospel, who sought to undermine his apostleship. He asked them to examine if their profession was false.

MacDonald observed well, “Paul is not telling the Corinthians to engage in self-examination as a proof of their salvation. Rather he is asking them to find in their salvation a proof of his apostleship.”

If they found that their faith in Jesus Christ in genuine, that Christ is living in them, then, the Apostle Paul’s ministry and that of his gospel team is therefore genuine and they should not be deemed disqualified as they have alleged.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

They themselves were the proof of his apostleship. It was through him that they were led to the Savior. If they wanted to see his credentials, they should look at themselves… But Paul is not telling the Corinthians to engage in self-examination as a proof of their salvation. Rather he is asking them to find in their salvation a proof of his apostleship. [MacDonald]

As for his faith in Christ, the Apostle Paul boldly declared in 2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

2 Corinthians 13:3-4 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. 4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

God’s ways are not our ways, neither His thoughts, our thoughts. Human ingenuity could not comprehend the scene of the crucified Saviour. Such humiliation and defeat. Yet in the wisdom of God, the gainsayers are themselves helped when the Spirit of God enabled them to understand and see the power of God in the resurrection, in the defeat of sin and death by the Saviour’s crucifixion.

Indeed, as the prophet Isaiah foretold in Isaiah 53:6-7 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

2 Corinthians 13:3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

What was the proof of Christ in the life of the Apostle Paul? It was the guidance of the Spirit of Christ manifested in his life and ministry – John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. The Spirit of Christ brought comfort and strength to his heart as he suffered for the sake of the gospel.

He was in-tuned with God’s will and submitted himself accordingly for His blessings – John 14:20-21 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Hendriksen observed well here, “The Corinthians had been deceived by the false teachers into doubting that Paul was a true apostle. In fact, they actually challenged him to give them some proof that he was an authentic spokesman for God.”¹”