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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
KEEP TESTING YOUR FAITH

[“Living Proof”]
Key word: Proof
Theme verse: 5

2 Corinthians 13:1-4 – A Powerful Visit Coming

2CO13:1 This is the third time I will visit you [Corinthians]. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses every statement will be established.” 338 [Deuteronomy 19:15]

338	At the mouth of two or three witnesses every statement will be established: Paul quotes Deuteronomy 19:15 as the Nazarene does at John 8:17. Compare notes on John 8:17 in Nazarene Commentary 2000© and the reason Jesus omits the “three.” Compare also Matthew 18:16.

2CO13:2 I have said it before, and I say it again a second time as though present, though absent now, to those who have already sinned and to all the rest [of you Corinthians] – that when I do come again I shall not spare them 339 –

339	When I do come again I shall not spare them: Or, KNX: show no leniency. Paul gives his apostolic threat to the habitual sinners.

2CO13:3 since you keep seeking proof that I speak for Christ. [Christ] is not weak in you, but is powerful among you. 2CO13:4 For he was impaled on a stake out of weakness, 340 but he is living from God’s power. 341 For also we are weak in him, but we shall live together with him from God’s power toward you.

340	For he was impaled on a stake out of weakness: Or, crucified. The weakness, or sin of humanity.

341

Living from God’s power: Or, BAR: it is the power which gives him continuing life; KJV: he liveth by the power of God; KNX: the power of God brought him to life; PME: he lives now by the power of God. The life of the Son is derived from the Father and the Son continues to live because of God’s power. This could not be said if Christ were God Himself, for God surely does not continue to live by the power of another. See notes on John 5:26.

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 – Keep Testing Yourselves

2CO13:5 Continue to test yourselves if you are in the faith; 342 continue to prove yourselves. 343 Or, do you not realize that Jesus Christ is among you 344 [Corinthians]? Unless you are really disapproved. 345

342

Continue to test yourselves if you are in the faith: Or, KJV: examine yourselves; TCN: put yourselves to the proof; PME: you should be looking at yourselves to make sure you are really Christ’s; BAR: you must examine. The Saint should daily examine self in the mirror of God’s Word and meditative prayer to be reassured that faith is firm and strong. Compare James 1:23, 24. Paul has provided all the tools in his two letters to the Corinthians to make this determination: a] doctrine; b] moral standards; c] a life of conviction; d] a loving attitude toward others; and, e] a relationship with God and Christ. If the Christian were finally and absolutely saved, such an examination would be unnecessary.

343

Continue to prove yourselves: Or, test yourselves. Many in Corinth have been too busy focusing on Paul and testing him rather than themselves. It is often true that the critic does not turn this razor-like perceptive power on self. He has written something similar in the context of the Master’s Supper. [1 Corinthians 11:28] Compare notes on Galatians 6:4.

344	Christ is among you: But, as the next phrase shows, only if they have no become disapproved. Compare the Celestial Christ’s walk among the seven apocalyptic congregations. [Revelation 2, 3]

345	Unless you are really disapproved: Or, reprobates, not wrong; PME: not real Christians at all. Not all who profess to be Christians are such. If Christians are irrevocably “saved” this Paul could not say this.

2CO13:6 But I hope you realize that we are not disapproved. 346

346	I hope you realize that we are not disapproved: Or, KJV: reprobates; TCN: we can stand the test; ME: I am a genuine Christian.

2 Corinthians 13:7-10 – Do Nothing against Truth

2CO13:7 Now we continue to pray 347 to The God that you [Corinthians] have done nothing wrong – not that we might appear to be approved – but so that you may do what is best, 348 even though we may appear to be disapproved [by you].

347	We continue to pray: Paul assures them that he and his associates do not give up praying that the Corinthian congregation may be healed.

348	You may do what is best: Or, honest, do right.

2CO13:8 For we cannot do anything against the Truth, 349 but only in support of the Truth.

349

For we cannot do anything against the Truth: Or, TCN: we have no power at all against the truth; KNX: the powers we have are used in support of the truth; NEB: we have no power to act against the truth. Paul uses the phrase “the Truth” over 30 times in his letters. It has already been used at 1 Corinthians 13:6; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 12:6.

2CO13:9 For we keep rejoicing whenever we may be weak, but you [Corinthians] are powerful. We also continue to pray for your recovery. 350

350	We also continue to pray for your recovery: Or, perfect reformation, readjustment, restore. The Greek word for “recovery” is from medicine and has to do with the doctor’s gentle realignment of a broken bone. Compare 2 Corinthians 13:11; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 4:12.

2CO13:10 This is my reason for writing while absent, so that when I am present among you I might not deal sharply with you according to the authority 351 that the Master gave to me to continue to build up and not to pull down.

351	Deal sharply with you according to the authority: Or, sharply, severity. Certain appointed apostolic elders in the early Church possessed such authority. Compare notes on Titus 2:15.

2 Corinthians 13:11-14 – Closing Remarks

2CO13:11 Finally, brothers, continue to 352 rejoice, to be readjusted, to be comforted, to think the same thing, to be at unity – and then The God of compassionate affection and peace will be with you 353 [Corinthians].

352

Continue to: Or, keep on. In closing Paul uses words that summarize his letter as key thoughts within his whole purpose. 1] rejoice [because of their past sadness]; 2] readjusted [be perfected] in those matters about which he has written; 3] comforted [one of his key words in the first chapter]; 4] to think the same [as he counseled in 1 Corinthians 1:10]; 5] unity [or, peace] because of the schisms, heresies, and divisions among them.

353	And then The God of compassionate affection and peace will be with you: God’s love is condition on the factors Paul has just mentioned. Peace in the congregation depends on these characteristics encouraged in the previous phrases.

2CO13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 354

354	Greet one another with a holy kiss: Christians at disunity and fighting among themselves are not moved to embrace their fellows. [Galatians 5:15, 26] On “holy kiss” compare Romans 16:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14.

2CO13:13 All the Saints send you [Corinthians] their greetings. 2CO13:14 The unmerited favor of the Master Jesus Christ, and the compassionate affection of The God, and the communion of the holy Pneuma, 355 be with all of you.

355

The Master Jesus Christ, and the compassionate affection of The God, and the communion of the holy Pneuma: This is often cited as a triune formula in support of the Trinity. Observe that in this formula there is only one called “The God” [TOU THEOU] – logically the Father. The formula does not in any way define the Trinity. On the subject of triune formulas see Nazarene Commentary 2000© and Error of the Trinity. Paul speaks of the grace [or unmerited favor, charity] of Jesus, the love of “The God” [TOU THEOU], and the sharing of the holy spirit. It is clear that neither Jesus nor the holy spirit are “God.”

Review Questions on Chapter Thirteen