2 Corinthians 13
2 Corinthians 13 is the final part of the letter Paul sends to the church in Corinth. It consists of Paul defending his apostleship while, at the same time, urging the church to stand firm in the faith. Paul intends to visit the Corinthian church for the third time, and he lets them know that firm action will be unavoidable if the community does not repent. However, his purpose is more about love and restoration than about discipline.
1verseThis is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
2verseI have warned previously, and I warn again, 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,
3verseseeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me who is not weak, but is powerful in you.
4verseFor 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.
5verseExamine 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.
6verseBut I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified.
7verseNow 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 may seem to have failed.
8verseFor we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9verseFor we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray for this: your becoming perfect.
10verseFor 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.
11verseFinally, 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.
12verseGreet one another with a holy kiss.
13verseAll the saints greet you.
14verseThe grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Bible Passage Structure and Flow
- Verses 1–4: Paul tells them in advance that he is going to visit Corinth soon and that he will point out problems repeatedly. He also mentions the principle of witnesses (confirmed by the testimony of two or three), emphasizing fairness.
- Verses 5–8: He urges the members of the Corinthian church to “test” themselves, to check whether they are in the faith. This is not meant to prove Paul’s own authority, but to help the community examine their faith themselves. True faith is revealed in its fruit and in life.
- Verses 9–10: Paul states that he genuinely desires the restoration and maturity of the saints. He also emphasizes again that the purpose of exercising authority is to build up the church.
- Verses 11–13: With final exhortation and greetings, the letter closes by emphasizing harmony and peace, as well as mutual acceptance and love.
Meditation Points
- You can reflect on how important it is to take the posture of a “self-test,” seriously looking back on one’s faith and life.
- As Paul urges, you can also realize that in the life of a faith community, in order to build love and harmony, you need a heart that encourages one another and helps one another stand firm.
- Remember that the role of a leader is meant for the restoration and maturity of the community, not for simple reprimand or exercising power.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Today, I reflect on whether my faith is being shown well in my life, and whether I’m doing a periodic “self-check.”
- Think about what small practices I can take to bring about harmony and love in the community I belong to (home, church, workplace, etc.).
- When correcting or encouraging someone, I look back on whether I’m approaching them with the heart that truly desires restoration and growth, just as Paul did.
This is the last chapter of 2 Corinthians.