Passage Explorer

2 Corinthians 13

Setting the scene
Who wrote it
Paul
Who it was for
The church in Corinth
What was happening
A third visit, a call to examine yourselves, and a final blessing
Read the full background in the book overview

What’s happening

This will be Paul's third visit to Corinth. "Every word shall be established at the mouth of two or three witnesses." He said it before on the second visit and says it again now while absent: if he comes again, he will not spare those who sinned earlier or any others, since they seek proof that Christ speaks in him, who is not weak toward them but powerful among them. "For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you." Then he turns the question around: "Test yourselves, to see if you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or don't you know as to yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you are disqualified." He hopes they will know that he and his companions are not disqualified, and prays that they will do no wrong, not so that Paul will appear to pass the test, but so that they do what is right, even if he looks like he has failed. "For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth." He rejoices when they are strong and he is weak, and prays for their restoration. He writes this while absent so that when present he will not have to use severity, according to the authority which the Lord gave him for building up and not for tearing down. In closing: "Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. 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, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

Why the setting matters

The rule about two or three witnesses comes from Deuteronomy 19:15 and was used in Jewish law and in the early church (Matthew 18:16). Paul uses it to say that his three visits are the three witnesses, a way of saying that the matter must be settled. The Corinthians have been asking for "proof" that Christ is speaking through Paul, and Paul gives the question back: the real test is whether they are in the faith, and the evidence that Christ is in them is the very life of the church that Paul founded. The statement that Christ "was crucified in weakness but lives by the power of God" sums up the whole letter's argument: weakness and power belong together in Christ and so in Paul. The closing blessing (13:14) is the fullest threefold statement in Paul's letters, naming the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, which is one reason it became a standard Christian benediction. The end of the letter also leaves some things uncertain: we do not know exactly how the visit went, though Acts 20:2-3 says Paul spent three months in Greece, and Romans, written during this time, is peaceful.

Read 2 Corinthians 13 (World English Bible)

Who’s in this chapter

Paul

Plans a third visit and calls for self-examination.

The believers in Corinth

Told to test themselves and to be restored.

Jesus

Crucified in weakness, living by God's power.

Talk it through

  1. Paul gives the Corinthians' demand for proof back to them with "examine yourselves." What does that reverse?
  2. "Crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of God." How does that sentence organize the whole letter?
  3. Paul wants restoration, not punishment. What does restoration look like when relationships have been strained?
  4. The closing blessing names Father, Son, and Spirit. What does it say about what the church shares?

Read 2 Corinthians 13

World English Bible

1This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” 2I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare; 3seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you. 4For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you. 5Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know about your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified.

7Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate. 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray for this: your becoming perfect. 10For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.

11Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12Greet one another with a holy kiss.

13All the saints greet you.

14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Text: World English Bible, Public domain. About our sources