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Topic: 2 Corinthians 13:5 ►
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Carol Swenson
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posted
I think the Believers Bible Commentary posted by Bloodbought made a good point. The people were themselves proof of Paul's apostleship. A false teacher would not have brought them to a saving faith in Christ Jesus.
On the other hand, there are many professing Christians today who have had the same exposure to the truth as true believers.
So we must be sure that both the teacher is true and that we are in the faith.
Wiersbe wrote:
The Judaizers in the church had accused Paul of being a weak man (see 2 Cor. 10:7-11). Their approach to ministry was heavy-handed and dictatorial, while Paul's was gentle and humble (see 2 Cor. 1:24). Now Paul assured them that he would show them how strong he could be—if that is what it took to solve the problems. "I will not spare!" was his warning, and he used a word that means "to spare in battle." In short, Paul was declaring war on anybody who opposed the authority of God's Word.
"Let Paul prove he is a true apostle!" said his opponents. Paul's reply was, "Like Jesus Christ, I am strong when it appears I am weak." On the cross, Jesus Christ manifested weakness; but the cross is still "the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). Paul had already explained his method of spiritual warfare (2 Cor. 10:1-6) and had cautioned his readers not to look on the surface of things, but to look deeper.
By the standards of the world, both Jesus and Paul were weak; but by the standards of the Lord, both were strong. It is a wise and mature worker who knows when to be "weak" and when to be "strong" as he deals with the discipline problems in the local church.
A pastor friend of mine, now in heaven, had a quiet manner of delivery in the pulpit, and a similar approach in his personal ministry. After hearing him preach, a visitor said, "I kept waiting for him to start preaching!" She was accustomed to hearing a loud preacher who generated more heat than light But my friend built a strong church because he knew the true standards for ministry. He knew how to be "weak in Christ" and also how to be "strong."
How do people measure the ministry today? By powerful oratory or biblical content? By Christian character or what the press releases say? Too many Christians follow the world's standards when they evaluate ministries, and they need to pay attention to God's standards.
"Examine yourselves!" (vv. 5-8) This paragraph is an application of the word proof that Paul used in 2 Corinthians 13:3. "You have been examining me," wrote Paul, "but why don't you take time to examine yourselves?" I have noticed in my ministry that those who are quick to examine and condemn others are often guilty of worse sins themselves. In fact, one way to make yourself look better is to condemn somebody else.
To begin with, Paul told the Corinthians that they should examine their hearts to see if they were really born again and members of the family of God. Do you have the witness of the Holy Spirit in your heart? (Rom. 8:9, 16) Do you love the brethren? (1 John 3:14) Do you practice righteousness? (1 John 2:29; 3:9) Have you overcome the world so that you are living a life of godly separation? (1 John 5:4) These are just a few of the tests we can apply to our own lives to be certain that we are the children of God.
Bible Exposition Commentary - Be Encouraged (2 Corinthians).
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Bloodbought
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Those in Acts 17:11 were more mature Christians than those in 2 cor 13:5, they received the word with all readiness of mind, while those in 2 cor 13:5 needed to be exhorted to examine themselves to discover whither they were really in the faith that Paul preached.
quote:
What does, "In the faith" mean to you?
To be in “the faith” means the same to me as it did to Paul. It means to believe “the gospel.”
There are many who are in faith, believing false teaching, but not “the true faith of the gospel.”
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WildB
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quote:
Originally posted by Bloodbought:
Their question was not “how do I prove that I am in the faith?” Their question was how do I prove that Pauls teaching is correct?
Not really , what the real Q was,
"Who are you to tell us what sin is!"
3 witness? 3 times same same, sounds like a little more to me?
2 Corinthians 13
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I 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:
![[cool_shades]](graemlins/cool_shades.gif)
The Bereans looked for themselves and didn't need constant correction. THEY CORRECTED THEMSELVES!....They remained In the Faith by doing so. Others need to be pulled out of the fire or God finally corrects them with a shortened life.
1 Corinthians 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
What does, "In the faith" mean to you?
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That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
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Bloodbought
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Their question was not “how do I prove that I am in the faith?” Their question was how do I prove that Pauls teaching is correct?
2 Corinthians 13:3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
Paul gives the answer,
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine 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?
Paul goes on to say,
2 Corinthians 13:6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
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WildB
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Member # 2917
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Bloodbought:
"Rather he is asking them to find in their salvation a proof of his apostleship."
How is that a proof of Pauls Apostleship?
What does Pauls Apostleship have to do with
ones self examination of one self with
Christ as it maters to the Word spoken by
Paul that was in him?Is it not the Word
that is the measure of each? That one must
prove ones own motives by?
The Bereans looked for themselves....
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
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That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
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Bloodbought
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posted
2 Corinthians 13:5
13:5 This verse connects with the first part of verse 3 as follows: “Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me … examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” They themselves were the proof of his apostleship. It was through him that they were led to the Savior. If they wanted to see his credentials, they should look at themselves.
Verse 5 is often misused to teach that we should look within ourselves for assurance of salvation, but this could lead to discouragement and doubt. Assurance of salvation comes first and foremost through the word of God. The moment we trust Christ we can know on the authority of the Bible that we have been born again. As time goes on, we do find other evidences of the new life—a new love for holiness, a new hatred of sin, love of the brethren, practical righteousness, obedience, and separation from the world.
But Paul is not telling the Corinthians to engage in self-examination as a proof of their salvation. Rather he is asking them to find in their salvation a proof of his apostleship.
There were only two possibilities: either Jesus Christ was in them, or they were disqualified, spurious. The word translated disqualified was used to describe metals which, when tested, were found to be false. So the Corinthians were either true believers, or they were disqualified by failure to pass the test.
Believer’s Bible Commentary:
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Carol Swenson
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posted
2 Corinthians 13:5 is a great topic.
Are you a Christian? Many people who claim to be point to some event in the past to substantiate their claim. But inviting Jesus to come into your life in the past is not proof that you are genuinely saved. In 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul says to the Corinthian church, " Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves (emphasis added)." He wouldn't have said that if some event in the past were obviously the answer. The Bible never verifies anyone's salvation by the past but by the present. If there is no evidence of salvation in your life now, you need to face the fact that you may not be a Christian. You need to examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith. How does one do that? Jesus shows us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
Matthew 5:20, the key verse in the Sermon on the Mount, says, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." The scribes and Pharisees went to the Temple regularly, paid tithes, fasted, and prayed constantly. But Christ wasn't impressed with their religious performance. He said no one would enter His Kingdom whose righteousness didn't exceed theirs. Righteousness--living by God's standards--is what sets a person apart as God's child.
Hebrews 12:14 says, "Follow ... holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Second Timothy 2:19 says, "The Lord knoweth them that are his; and, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Titus 1:16 says that some people "profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." A person's profession of Christ means nothing apart from obedience and holiness. Some people believe you can come to Jesus Christ without a consequent change in life-style. But God expects a transformation. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Being righteous doesn't mean you never sin; it means you confess your sin to the Lord, repent of it, and despise it. First John 2:3 says, "By this we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." In John 14:15 Christ said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." First John 2:9 says, "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now." First John 3:9 says, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."
Complete article from MacArthur at
http://www.gty.org/resources/positions/P03/Examine-Yourself
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WildB
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Parallel Verses
New International Version
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?
New Living Translation
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
English Standard Version
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
New American Standard Bible
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?
King James Bible
Examine 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?
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
13:1-6 Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine power. So the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to the world, yet, as instruments, they manifested the power of God. Let them prove their tempers, conduct, and experience, as gold is assayed or proved by the touchstone. If they could prove themselves not to be reprobates, not to be rejected of Christ, he trusted they would know that he was not a reprobate, not disowned by Christ. They ought to know if Christ Jesus was in them, by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit, by his kingdom set up in their hearts. Let us question our own souls; either we are true Christians, or we are deceivers. Unless Christ be in us by his Spirit, and power of his love, our faith is dead, and we are yet disapproved by our Judge.
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That is all.....
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