2 Corinthians 13

Paul’s Third Visit to Corinth

13:1 This is the third time I am coming to visit you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter will be established.

According to Deuteronomy 19:15, the sins of Israelites were judged when found guilty by two or three witnesses. Paul was about to visit Corinth for his third time. When he arrives, he will use his apostolic authority to deal with the problems that he mentioned in the last chapter.

13:2 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,

When Paul returns, they will see the weakness of Paul deal mightily with their sins. No one will be spared. Paul will end the arguments and strife in the church.

13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.

When Paul returns, the sinners will understand Paul's apostolic authority. Peter put Ananias and Saphirra to death with a word. Paul carried this same apostolic authority. When the Corinthians had rebelled against Paul's apostolic authority, they had actually rebelled against Christ himself.

13:4 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.

Paul desired for the power of Christ to be used for constructive rather than punitive purposes.

13:5 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!

The "yourselves" is emphatic in the Greek. Paul is reversing the charges against the Corinthians. They were questioning Paul's motives. Now, Paul was challenging their motives.

13:6 And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test!

If the Corinthians would examine themselves, they would see that Paul was in the faith.

13:7 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.

Paul wanted his spiritual children to lead godly lives, even if they were not convinced by Paul's apostleship. 

13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.

No one can stop God's truth from being proclaimed.

13:9 For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.

The Greek word for "fully qualified" is κατάρτισις (kataptisis). This is a hapax legemenon, meaning that the Holy Spirit used this special Greek word only one time in Scripture. It means that the Corinthians need to exchange their arrogance for repentance. Paul will pray for this change of attitude.

13:10 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!

This is a one sentence explanation of why Paul wrote the letter. When he arrives in Corinth, he desires to use his apostolic power to build them up rather than tear them down.

Final Exhortations and Greetings

13:11 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.

Paul is telling the Corinthians that they need to grow up and quit being baby Christians. They need to encourage one another with the promises of God.  Instead of quarreling, they should rejoice of their standing in Christ. They need to quit sinning and do what is right. They need to live in peace, not strife. This is the only time in the New Testament that God is called a "God of love". We cannot make peace, but we can live in peace with God, because of what Christ did on the cross.

13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

The holy kiss was similar to the brotherly handshake among two Christian friends.

13:13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The benediction was an early and clear evidence of the Corinthian’s belief in the Trinity.