The Letters · New Testament
2 Corinthians 13
2 Corinthians 13: a third visit, self-examination and farewell
General context
Paul announces a third visit and cites a rule about establishing every word in the mouth of two or three witnesses. He repeats a warning he gave on his second visit and now writes ahead to those who have already sinned and to everyone else: if he comes again he will not spare. Since they want proof that Christ speaks in him, he points to a Christ who was crucified through weakness yet lives by the power of God, and says the same pattern holds for him, weak in Christ but living toward them by God's power. He turns the test around and tells them to examine themselves and prove their own selves, asking whether they recognise that Jesus Christ is in them unless they fail the test. He hopes they will see that he does not fail it, then says his prayer is not that he should look approved but that they should do what is honest, even if he seems to fail. He can do nothing against the truth, only for it, and is glad to be weak if they are strong, wishing their perfection. He gives his reason for writing while absent: so that when present he will not have to use sharpness, since the authority he was given is for building up and not for tearing down. The letter closes with short commands to be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind and live in peace, a promise that the God of love and peace will be with them, an instruction to greet one another with a holy kiss, greetings from all the saints, and a final blessing of grace, love and communion.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 13:1, 2 Corinthians 13:2, 2 Corinthians 13:3, 2 Corinthians 13:4, 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Corinthians 13:6, 2 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Corinthians 13:8, 2 Corinthians 13:9, 2 Corinthians 13:10, 2 Corinthians 13:11, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Corinthians 13:13, 2 Corinthians 13:14
2 Corinthians 13 (KJV)
1This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
3Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4For 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.
5Examine 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?
6But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
11Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13All the saints salute you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Printed after this letter in the King James Version: The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.
This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.
Historical context
The chapter states plainly that this is the third time I am coming to you and refers back to a warning given as if I were present, the second time, so the letter records three visits, two of them past. The people warned are described only as them which heretofore have sinned. The rule about witnesses is printed without any formula marking it as a quotation: In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. Deuteronomy 19:15 prints at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established, so the wording and the phrase every word differ. After the closing Amen the source prints a further line: The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas. That line is printed as part of the final verse rather than as a heading, and the body of the letter never names Philippi or Lucas.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 13:1, 2 Corinthians 13:2, 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Deuteronomy 19:15
Literary context
The ending reverses the direction of the whole letter. Twelve chapters have asked the Corinthians to examine Paul; here he tells them to examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, and the word reprobates then bounces between them and him across three verses. Weakness and power are set out one last time, first in the crucifixion and resurrection, then applied to Paul himself, so the argument closes on the same reversal that ran through chapters eleven and twelve. The last verses shorten sharply. After long sentences of self-defence the letter finishes in clipped imperatives, a greeting, a salutation and a three-part blessing, with the threat of sharpness left standing just four verses earlier.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 13:3, 2 Corinthians 13:4, 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Corinthians 13:6, 2 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Corinthians 13:9, 2 Corinthians 13:10, 2 Corinthians 13:11, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Corinthians 13:14
Key moments
- The third time (2 Corinthians 13:1). Paul announces a third visit and cites the rule of two or three witnesses.
- I will not spare (2 Corinthians 13:2). He repeats a warning to those who have sinned and have not changed.
- Crucified through weakness (2 Corinthians 13:4). He grounds the weakness and power pattern in Christ's death and life.
- Examine yourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). He turns the demand for proof back onto the readers.
- Written so he need not be sharp (2 Corinthians 13:10). He gives absence as the reason for writing rather than confronting in person.
- Farewell and blessing (2 Corinthians 13:11). The letter closes with short commands and a promise of the God of love and peace.
For reflection
After defending himself at length, Paul tells the readers to prove your own selves. Which is harder for you, being examined by someone else or running the test on yourself?
