Introduction: Our last study in our series on 1 & 2 Corinthians considers Paul’s closing remarks and warnings to the Corinthian Christians. His closing repeatedly refers to “testing.” As a professor, that is a term I understand. But Paul seems to reverse the normal testing process. He says the Corinthians are testing him, their teacher! Paul reverses this and asks them to test themselves. What is all of this about? The good news for all who go through a test is that Paul wishes them grace in testing. Let’s jump into our study of 2 Corinthians 13 and learn more!
I. Trial Standards
A. Read 2 Corinthians 13:1. If someone said to you, “This is the third time I am coming to deal with this,” would you think that is good or bad? (On the face of it, this sounds like someone who is exasperated. Why should I have to speak with you three times to get you to do the right thing?)
B. Read 2 Corinthians 13:1-2. Are we right that Paul is exasperated? (Yes. He says that he has warned them and says that if he has to show up again he “will not spare them.”)
C. Look again at 2 Corinthians 13:1. It seems very odd that Paul cites an evidentiary standard (two or three witnesses) in connection with warning the Corinthians that if he visits, he will not spare them. Why do you think Paul is citing an evidentiary standard?
1. What do you think about the merits of this evidentiary standard? And who gets the benefit of it? (Read Deuteronomy 19:15. This is a very honest and fair evidentiary standard for someone accused of wrongdoing. You expect something like this in countries which have a fair judicial system. Paul, of course, is citing God’s standard.)
D. Read 2 Corinthians 13:2-3. Who gets the benefit of this evidentiary standard? (Everyone. Notice that in verse 2 Paul says that he will not spare them, but verse 3 reports that the Corinthians are seeking proof that Christ speaks through Paul. So both Paul and the Corinthians are being charged with something. As you may recall, last week we studied the problem of false teachers. When judgment is flying around the church we need to remember to be fair to all who are accused.)
1. The title of our lesson is “Grace, Love, and Fellowship.” Does this starting section sound like a message about grace or love? (Being fair is important to grace and love.)
II. Testing Paul
A. Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 13:3 again. If the question is proof of Paul’s authority to speak on behalf of Jesus, why is Paul writing about the power of God? Isn’t it Paul, and not God, that is being tested?
1. If it is Paul that is under the microscope, what kind of proof are the Corinthians demanding of Paul? What are they expecting?
2. Let’s stop a minute and think like lawyers. Who is being accused of wrongdoing? (Paul is being accused of falsely saying that he speaks for God.)
a. Now apply the “two or three witnesses” rule. Who has the burden of proof? (If the Corinthians are the accusers, they have the burden of proof and they must come up with the two or three witnesses to show that Paul is not speaking for God.)
B. Step back a moment and consider what we have read. Paul starts out saying that he will not spare sinners, and the Corinthians seem to be saying, “Why should we think you are speaking for God?” Is this discouraging? (To me it sounds more like a pre-trial conference. We agree on the evidentiary standards and we are sorting out who is being charged with what.)
C. Read 2 Corinthians 13:4. What is Paul saying about being weak and strong? (Paul has a very interesting argument. He says that he is weak, which I doubt is the kind of proof the Corinthians are looking for. But Paul says that Jesus was crucified in weakness but now is the “power of God.” Paul’s point is that being weak is perfect for exercising the power of God. And Paul is going to come in power for those who are out of line.)
D. Read 2 Corinthians 13:5. The Corinthians want Paul to prove that Christ is speaking through him. What surprising test does Paul propose? (He tells them to test themselves! Are they in the faith? Is Jesus Christ living in them?)
1. How could examining themselves help answer their challenge to Paul? (Paul brought the gospel to Corinth. If Christ is genuinely living in them, they themselves are evidence that Christ has been working through Paul’s ministry.)
2. Does this mean Paul’s earlier discussion of weakness is irrelevant? (No. It tells them they have been using the wrong standard for judging Paul. God’s power can work through apparent human weakness, just as Christ was crucified in weakness but lives by God’s power.)
a. Do you agree with Paul on the correct answer to the test that should be applied to Paul and to the Corinthians? (Remarkably, it is a test that looks for an understanding of weakness – the understanding that only God can make us successful.)
E. Read 2 Corinthians 13:6. What does Paul expect their self-examination to show about him? (If they recognize Christ’s work in themselves, they should also recognize that Paul has not failed the test.)
III. The Purpose of Spiritual Authority
A. Read 2 Corinthians 13:7. Is Paul defending himself? (He does not seem to be. He says that they might think he failed the test.)
1. How is Paul failing the test a good thing? (It shows that Paul’s priority is the Corinthians. He wants them to do what is right, even if in their eyes he scores poorly on the test.)
B. Read 2 Corinthians 13:8. What does Paul mean when he says that he cannot do anything against the truth? (Paul’s goal is to promote the truth.)
C. Read 2 Corinthians 13:9. Who is Paul seeking to help? (Paul puts the Corinthians first. He wants them to be restored even if he is still personally weak.)
D. Read 2 Corinthians 13:10. What does Paul say is the purpose of church discipline? (It is to build up and not tear down the church.)
1. As you consider what Paul has written, is he more interested in winning the fight or restoring the Corinthians? (Paul is putting the interests of the Corinthians first.)
IV. The Goal
A. Read 2 Corinthians 13:11-12. What is Paul’s goal for the Corinthian church? (He wants it restored. He wants them to be in harmony with each other.)
1. What promise accompanies Paul’s call for harmony and peace? (The God of love and peace will be with them.)
2. Do you feel like you are riding a roller coaster? Paul has just written to the Corinthians about the coming confrontation and test. He is now writing about peace and love. Can you make any sense of this? (Doing God’s will. Being filled with His Holy Spirit. Turning from sin brings peace and love. That is Paul’s goal for the Corinthians.)
B. Read 2 Corinthians 13:12. Why greet others with kisses? (Imagine if the conflict was so great that members felt like punching other members. You could get that feeling from reading verses 1-10. This is just the opposite attitude. This is what Paul wants for the Corinthians.)
C. Read 2 Corinthians 13:13. Are other church members interested in what happens in the Corinthian church? (Yes.)
1. What should that say to the Corinthians? (This is not just about you. This is a message for all Christians at all times. We need to consider our influence.)
V. The Trinity
A. Read 2 Corinthians 13:14. Why are grace and Jesus linked? Why are love and God linked? Why are fellowship and the Holy Spirit linked? (When Jesus kept the law on our behalf, when He died on our behalf, He showed us great grace. He suffered as we should have, so that we could live forever with Him. God the Father loved us so greatly that He was willing to give His Son for our salvation. The Holy Spirit lives in us and in that way we have the fellowship of God.)
B. Friend, sometimes we need an honest test of whether we understand and apply God’s principles to our lives. God’s grace brings us into line with His will and produces love and fellowship among us. Will you be open to God’s testing?
VI. Next week: We begin a series entitled, “The Gift of Prophecy.”
Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.
