2 Corinthians Chapter 13: Meaning

Paul gives a final warning and urges the Corinthians to check their own faith before his third visit.

Summary

Paul tells the Corinthians this will be his third visit. He warns that this time he will not go easy on people who have been sinning and refusing to change. He says every charge has to be confirmed by two or three witnesses, which was the rule in Jewish law. Christ is not weak, he is powerful.

Then Paul flips the question around. Instead of asking them to prove that he is a real apostle, he says they should test themselves. Is Jesus really living in them? Do they truly belong to God? He hopes they will find that they do. Paul is not trying to show that he passed the test, he just wants them to do what is right.

The letter ends on a gentle note. Paul tells them to be joyful, to get right with God, to encourage each other, agree with one another, and live in peace. He closes with a blessing about all three persons of God: the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the friendship of the Holy Spirit.

Historical Context

Paul had already visited Corinth twice. This letter was leading up to his third trip. The church had problems, people were fighting, doing wrong things, and not listening to Paul. He wanted them to fix things before he arrived so he would not have to be strict with them.

The final blessing Paul writes, about Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit, is one of the earliest times in the Bible where all three are mentioned together in this way. It is still used in church services today.