Chap. 13:1-2—Paul concludes his defence of his apostleship by giving a solemn warning in view of his approaching visit to Corinth. If there wasn’t repentance and reformation on the part of the Corinthians in regards to their allowance of false teachers in their midst, he would find it necessary to demonstrate his apostolic authority by exercising discipline on them.
He makes a “third” proposal to come to them “the second time,” reminding them that if he came and found them in such a state as he feared, he would “not spare” them, but would deal with the assembly in judgment. Such, of course, would be founded on well-established facts because all disciplinary actions must be according to the principle: “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
Chap. 13:3-6—Through the influence of the false apostles and workers among the Corinthians they actually asked Paul for “a proof of Christ speaking” through him! Before answering this objection, in a parenthesis from the middle of verse 3 through verse 4, Paul tells them that it is often God’s way to work through outward weakness. He points to the Lord Himself. The Lord was “not weak” toward the Corinthians when the gospel reached them; He effected a tremendous revolution in their lives for blessing through their receiving Him in faith as their Saviour (vs. 3b). But in the Lord's life and ministry on earth, he was surrounded with outward weakness and was “crucified through weakness.” However, in resurrection, the Lord “lives by God’s power.” This same power works through the Lord’s weak servants toward the saints in ministry. The Corinthians, however, would see the power of God toward them in another way, if they continued to allow that element of false apostles to move among them—and it wouldn't be a pretty sight. Paul would have to exercise judgment when he came.
Then in verses 5-6 Paul takes up the challenge of his opposers as to whether Christ was truly speaking in him. The false teachers among them had questioned his apostleship, and the Corinthians had foolishly given ear to those questionings. But they were the last persons who should have had any doubts as to whether Christ had spoken through Paul. It shows that they were under the influence of the Greek ideology of the day that idolized human strength and beauty, and they had misinterpreted Paul’s bodily weakness, and this led them to conclude that he was not an apostle of Christ. Paul’s answer to these worldly thoughts is: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.” Since they were his converts, they were the proof of his apostleship. If they wanted credentials, all they had to do was to look at themselves!
Verse 5 has often been turned into a plea for self-inspection, and has even caused some to doubt their salvation. Scripture does not teach that we should look within ourselves to find the assurance of our salvation; this will only lead to doubt and discouragement. We are to look back to the cross to thank Him for all that He has done, to look forward to trust Him for what is to come, and to look up to expect His coming at any moment, to look around to serve Him, but never to look within. Introspection is a dangerous thing—invariably it leads to self-occupation and discouragement.
Assurance of our salvation comes from taking what God has said in His Word. The “witness” is found in His Word (Heb. 10:15-17), not in ourselves. Resting in faith on what the Word of God says about Christ risen and our acceptance in Him is what gives inward peace (Rom. 8:1-6).
Paul was not asking them to engage in self-examination as a proof of their salvation, but rather that they would find in their salvation a proof of his apostleship. With a tinge of irony he adds that unless of course, they were “reprobate”—worthless frauds and good for nothing persons. What they were insinuating in Paul meant that they themselves were not saved! If that were the case, then Christ had not been speaking through him. However, Paul was confident that after they had made a quick examination of themselves as being definitely in the faith, they would know that he was not a fraud but an apostle indeed. He says, “I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates” (vs. 6).
The Apostle’s Prayer For the Corinthians
Vss. 7-10—In drawing the epistle to a close, Paul expresses his desire and prayer for them as an assembly. He prays that they would “do no evil” in challenging his apostleship and allowing the false teachers to have free reign in the assembly. He makes it clear that his prayer was not that he and his fellow workers would “appear” in a better light and be “approved,” but that they would behave rightly as a Christian assembly ought to in these matters. In other words, he did not want them to do it merely so that he and his fellow workers looked good, but that they would go on rightly, even if it meant that he and those with him appeared “as reprobates.” Here we see another example of Paul’s willingness to sacrifice his personal reputation if it meant that others would go on for the Lord. It showed that he was not in the ministry to promote himself. Mr. W. MacDonald said, “If Paul went to Corinth with a rod and asserted his authority, and succeeded in gaining obedience to his instructions concerning discipline, then he could use that as an argument against the false teachers. He could say this was evidence of his lawful authority. But he would rather that the Corinthians take the necessary action themselves, in his absence, even if it might put him in an unfavourable light as far as the legalists were concerned.”
Vs. 8—Paul and the other apostles did only that which would further “the truth.” In saying this he wanted to erase any thought that they might have had that he was acting out of personal vindictiveness toward the false teachers; all his instructions were “for the truth” and for the glory of God.
Vs. 9—Paul also prayed for their “perfecting” as to their collective condition as an assembly. He says that if his weakness, humiliation, and reproach resulted in their being strengthened in the things of God, then he was “glad” for it. This again, shows the utter selflessness of the Apostle.
Vs. 10—He explains why he wrote the epistle. He wrote it “being absent” from them, hoping that it would further exercise them as to setting right the remaining issues among them—namely their allowing false teachers among them and their questioning the apostleship of Paul. “Being present” with them he would have to “use sharpness” according to his apostolic power and thus he would deal with the evil that was still in their midst. But he did not want to do that, because the first purpose of his apostolic power was for the “edification” of the saints, and not for their “destruction.” He had mentioned this already in chapter 10:8.
The Closing Salutation
Vss. 11-14—Then, in the closing salutation we see that Paul aimed not only at restoring the fellowship of the Corinthians with himself, but also with one another and all the saints—and with “the God of love and peace.”
Five Short Exhortations
He gives five short exhortations. If these things were acted on, the Corinthians would have a happy and healthy assembly.
The first exhortation is to “rejoice.” This would only result from going on in fellowship with the Lord.
The second is to be “perfected.” This is a reference to completing their responsibility in dealing with the outstanding issue in their midst—namely, their allowing the false teachers to minister.
The third is to be “encouraged.” This is a direct reference to the need to receive the admonitions Paul gave them in this letter in a good spirit.
The fourth is to be “of one mind.” This was in connection with their needing to have unity of thought in the assembly.
The fifth is to be “at peace.” This would result from having unity of thought, and would result in unity of action, which is so important in assembly life.
If the Corinthians heeded these closing exhortations, they could count on “the God of love and peace” being “with” them. He was in their midst already, but if they went on in a good state it would be manifested in power:
“Greeting one another with a holy kiss” (vs. 12) is an expression of fellowship with one another.
“All the saints” saluting the Corinthians (vs. 13) is an expression of fellowship with other assemblies.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion [fellowship] of the Holy Ghost [Spirit] be with you all” (vs. 14) is fellowship with the triune Godhead.