Examine Yourself
Thinking about 2 Corinthians 13:1-10.
What Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13:1-10 provides many lessons – both to Christians who are refusing to repent of their sin, and also to those who are attempting to restore them to Christ.
The call to “examine yourself” is one made to every member of the Lord’s body.
Considering the Text.
This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare— since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives 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.
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction. (2 Corinthians 13:1-10)
Paul was planning to return to Corinth for the third time – but he gives a warning about this third visit (13:1-6). Those who still refused to repent after Paul’s multiple visits, and after receiving multiple letters from Paul addressing their sin, would face discipline.
Paul refers to numerous Old Testament passages regarding the importance of multiple witnesses to punish someone for a serious crime (Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15). Jesus also referred to this in regards to dealing with sin in the church (Matthew 18:15-17).
Paul had repeatedly warned those who continued in sin that they would not be spared of facing discipline if he returned and found them in that same condition.
It seems that some of these “repeat offenders” were challenging Paul’s authority – “Is what Paul telling us REALLY God’s word?” They were just like the scribes and Pharisees who wanted to see a sign from Jesus after all the miracles He had done (Luke 11:16, 29-32). Jesus pointed them to His approaching death and resurrection for the “sign” they wanted.
Paul does the same thing here – he points these brethren in Corinth to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
While Paul may have appeared to be “weak” by his patience and longsuffering with these sinning brethren, he points out that he is imitating the example of Christ. But just as Christ rose from the dead by the power of God (2 Corinthians 4:14; 1 Corinthians 15:15) and now has all authority, so Paul had been given authority by the risen Lord (Acts 26:16-18). Christ has the power to discipline those in His church (Revelation 2:5).
Once more, Paul urged those in Corinth to “examine themselves as to whether” they were in the faith” and to “test themselves.” In his previous letter, Paul urged them to listen to God’s word and follow it (1 Corinthians 14:37). Jesus Christ was in them if they faithfully served Him – unless they turned away from Him and were “castaway” or “disqualified.”
It was Paul’s earnest prayer to God that those who were sinning in Corinth would “do no evil” and “do what is honorable.”
His motivation was not selfish – “not that we should appear approved” – but for their good. It didn’t matter to Paul how he appeared to others – all he cared about was the Christians in Corinth faithfully serving the Lord.
He would not act in a way that was “against the truth” – but in a way that was “for the truth.” He had no desire to demonstrate his authority just to “let people know who’s in charge.” He would gladly accept being weak if it meant the church would be strong.
He wrote this letter as one final attempt to correct the issues before he arrived in Corinth – because he did not want to “use sharpness.” While his authority from the Lord included disciplining sin, he much preferred to use it for building up, and not for “tearing down” those in sin. But he would do whatever was necessary.
Learning from the Text.
Those in sin.
The resurrection of Jesus means He has all authority – to give life and to discipline (Revelation 2:12, 14-16).
Rather than make excuses for your sin, or trying to undermine those who show you what God’s word says about your sin – examine yourself in light of what God’s word says and change (James 1:21-25).
God, and your brethren, want nothing more than for you to turn from your sin and turn back to God (Luke 15).
Those correcting the sinner.
Gentleness is required in those attempting to restore sinners back to the Lord (Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:24-26).
There should be no joy in having to discipline sinners who refuse to repent (2 Corinthians 2:1-4).
It is entirely possible to be longsuffering with sinners and stand for the truth at the same time (2 Peter 3:9).
Today, if you are in sin, God’s word calls you to “examine yourself” and no longer refuse to repent, but humble yourself and return to God.
To those who are trying to help a sinner return to God, you are called to “examine yourself” and consider how you are going about trying to restore them.
