# 2 Corinthians 13 📖: Examine Yourselves
[[📚 Explore the Bible Books]]
[[-2 Corinthians Overview]] | [[2 Corinthians 12]] | [[Galatians 01]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#💬 Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#🔗 Related Passages]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#📂 Internal Notes]]
## 📜 Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Paul’s Third Visit to Corinth
**Principle**: Keep your relationship with God healthy and strong.
[[# Verse 01]] This is the third time I am coming to visit you. **_By_** **_the testimony_** **_of two or three witnesses every matter will be established_**. [[Deuteronomy 19]]
[[#Verse 01.]] This is the third time I am coming to visit you. .
[[#Verse 02.]] I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone,
[[#Verse 03.]] since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.
[[#Verse 04.]] For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you.
[[#Verse 05.]] Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, indeed, you fail the test!
[[#Verse 06.]] And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test!
[[#Verse 07.]] Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right even if we may appear to have failed the test.
[[#Verse 08.]] For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.
[[#Verse 09.]] For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.
[[#Verse 10.]] Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority—the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!
### Final Exhortations and Greetings
**Principle**: Work for harmony. Never stop watching over the unity of the local community.
[[#Verse 11.]] Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
[[#Verse 12.]] Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
[[#Verse 13.]] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. In 13:1 Paul quotes Deuteronomy 19:15: every matter is established by two or three witnesses.
2. Paul treats his visits to Corinth like witnesses in a court case (13:1-2).
3. The closing blessing (13:14) is one of the clearest Trinitarian statements in the New Testament.
4. The blessing in 13:14 is widely used as a benediction in Christian worship.
5. Paul did make his third visit. He spent three months in Greece (Acts 20:2-3), where he likely wrote Romans.
6. "Test yourselves" (13:5) uses *dokimazō*, a word used for testing metals.
7. "Restoration" (13:9, 11) translates a word family used for mending nets (Mark 1:19).
8. Paul says the Lord gave him authority for building up, not tearing down (13:10; also 10:8).
9. Paul tells them to greet one another with a holy kiss (13:12), a family greeting in the early church.
10. Some Bibles number the closing verses differently, so the benediction may appear as 13:13 or 13:14.
## 🧠 Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One who was crucified in weakness but lives by the power of God (13:4). He lives in believers (13:5), and the letter closes with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Spirit (13:14).
## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## 💬 Discussion Questions
1. Paul tells the church to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith (13:5). How can we do this without either complacency or fear?
2. Christ was crucified in weakness but lives by God's power (13:4). How does that pattern show up in the Christian life?
3. Paul calls for rejoicing, restoration, encouragement, agreement, and peace (13:11). Which of these does your church need most?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- 📖 verse 4: Christ was crucified in weakness but lives by the power of God.
- 📖 verse 5: Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.
- 📖 verse 11: Rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree, and live in peace.
- 📖 verse 14: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
## 🔗 Related Passages
- 🔗 [[Deuteronomy 19#Verse 15.|Deuteronomy 19:15]] - Two or three witnesses (13:1).
- 🔗 [[Matthew 18#Verse 16.|Matthew 18:16]] - Two or three witnesses (13:1).
- 🔗 [[Philippians 02#Verse 07.|Philippians 2:7-9]] - Humbled to death, raised by the Father's glory (13:4).
- 🔗 [[Romans 06#Verse 04.|Romans 6:4]] - Humbled to death, raised by the Father's glory (13:4).
- 🔗 [[1 Corinthians 11#Verse 28.|1 Corinthians 11:28]] - Examine yourself; the Spirit as evidence (13:5).
- 🔗 [[1 John 04#Verse 13.|1 John 4:13]] - Examine yourself; the Spirit as evidence (13:5).
- 🔗 [[2 Corinthians 10#Verse 08.|2 Corinthians 10:8]] - Authority for building up (13:10).
- 🔗 [[Romans 12#Verse 16.|Romans 12:16-18]] - Live in harmony; the God of peace will be with you (13:11).
- 🔗 [[Philippians 04#Verse 09.|Philippians 4:9]] - Live in harmony; the God of peace will be with you (13:11).
- 🔗 [[Romans 16#Verse 16.|Romans 16:16]] - Greet one another with a holy kiss (13:12).
- 🔗 [[Matthew 28#Verse 19.|Matthew 28:19]] - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (13:14).
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
📝 SOAP: [[2 Corinthians 13 - SOAP|How to Guarantee God Will Be With You]]
## 📂 Internal Notes