Articles
Self-Examination
Living faithfully in a world full of deception, carnal desires, self-will and other things antagonistic to spiritual health requires ongoing self-examination. But one of the passages often cited in this regard may not make the point we think it does.
Let’s first note the broader context of the passage in question. A strong theme throughout both 1 and 2 Corinthians is the legitimacy of Paul’s apostleship. It is clear there is a cadre of Judaizers in Corinth who are attacking Paul in order to neutralize his influence and seize control of the congregation. Paul calls them “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ” (2 Cor 11:13). They “desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast” (11:12).
To this end they have criticized Paul’s writing and speaking skills (2 Cor 10:10; 11:6); faulted him for refusing support from the Corinthians (11:5-11); accused him of misleading the Corinthians when his travel plans changed (1:15-2:2); and framed him as just another itinerant peddler of philosophy (2:17).
Sadly, and incredibly considering Paul’s history with this congregation, their incessant slander is working: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it … For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. To our shame, I say that we were too weak for that!” (2 Cor 11:3-4, 19-21). Paul is extremely sarcastic in this section, for he wishes to drive home the point that the Corinthians are rejecting his divine authority and selfless service in favor of charlatans and apostolic wannabes who are intent on taking advantage of them. These self-proclaimed “wise” Corinthians are unwittingly embracing ministers of Satan, in spite of the fact that the great apostle affirms of his own ministry, “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds” (12:12).
While Paul answers the attacks of the false apostles in a variety of ways, there is one theme that he hammers on repeatedly: the very faith of the Corinthians is a testament to the validity of Paul’s apostleship. Their spiritual heritage is directly traceable to his work among them:
» “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase … According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation …” – 1 Cor 3:5-6, 10.
» “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” – 1 Cor 4:15.
» “Are you not my work in the Lord?” – 1 Cor 9:1.
» “Now I trust you will understand, even to the end … that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus” – 2 Cor 1:13-14.
» “Do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; you are manifestly an epistle of Christ, ministered by us …” – 2 Cor 3:1-3.
» “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain …” – 2 Cor 6:1.
» “For we are not extending ourselves beyond our sphere … for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ” – 2 Cor 10:14.
» “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” – 2 Cor 11:2.
Now, with this background in mind we come to the passage in question: “Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you … Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified” – 2 Cor 13:3, 5-6. Paul’s point to the Corinthians is this: If you examine your own spiritual life, you will find evidence of my apostleship. The very fact that you are believers in Christ is not a testament to the false apostles, for they are trying to build on a foundation that I have already laid. The examination Paul urged them to undertake was not so much, “Is my faith real?” but “Since my faith is genuine, this very fact substantiates Paul’s apostleship.”
So, we need to take care how we refer to 2 Cor 13:5 and make sure that we honor the underlying context. Having said that, it is also true that we need to scrutinize ourselves regularly and, as objectively as possible, question our motives, evaluate our actions, challenge our presuppositions and test our Scriptural conclusions. But this more aptly arises from other passages:
» “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” – Jas 1:25.
» “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit … and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” – Heb 4:12.
» “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged” – 1 Cor 11:31.
We must beware of creeping weakness, like that plaguing the Hebrews (Heb 5:12). But we must also be on guard against personalities who are intent on undermining our confidence in the truth of the gospel, like those who were hoodwinking the Corinthians. Both of these require an honest assessment of ourselves.Self
