ll CORINTHIANS LESSON 16
We will begin this lesson in II Corinthians 13:1 "This [is] the
third [time] I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three
witnesses shall every word be established."
This is a statement that Jesus had spoken of as being true with
the Jews, as well as the Christians. This is one of the reasons that
we are not to take everything in Corinthians as doctrine for the
general church. Everything, must be established by two different
witnesses, or else it is a custom, or tradition, instead of a law. In
many of the statements made in Corinthians, Paul is the only one who
said it. Deuteronomy 19:15 "One witness shall not rise up against a
man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at
the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall
the matter be established." In the following Scripture, we read what
the Lord Jesus had to say about this very thing. John 8:17 "It is also
written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true." The
number two means agreement.
II Corinthians 13:2 "I told you before, and foretell you, as if I
were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them
which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again,
I will not spare:"
Paul is saying to those who think he is not coming and are
continuing in their sin, that when he comes in person, he will take
care of the problem.
II Corinthians 13:3 "Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in
me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you."
Paul is saying, I may appear in the flesh to weak, but Christ
speaking in me is very strong. Even though they had strayed, The Lord
Jesus Christ had not abandoned them. They were but babes in Christ who
needed further training in the things of God. Paul was just the one
who could give this training, because of the power of Christ which
worked in him.
II Corinthians 13:4 "For though he was crucified through
weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in
him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you."
It appeared to the world that the Lord Jesus Christ was weak,
because he was crucified. What Satan thought to be his greatest
victory, was actually his defeat. The greatest victory of all time was
the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. He defeated Satan and sin for
all of mankind on the cross. He defeated death, when He rose from the
grave. Paul is saying, we may appear to be weak, but that is our flesh
you are looking at. The power of the living God {Jesus Christ} in Paul
made him stronger than anything that could be thrown against him. Our
lives and Paul's life is hid in Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.
II Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the
faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that
Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
"Reprobates", in the verse above, means unapproved, rejected,
worthless, or castaway. All true Christians have Jesus within them.
The reprobate is those who totally reject Jesus as their Saviour.
II Corinthians 13:6 "But I trust that ye shall know that we are
not reprobates."
There was no question that Paul was not reprobate. He was so full
of the Lord Jesus that many miracles were performed by him in the name
of Jesus.
II Corinthians 13:7 "Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not
that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is
honest, though we be as reprobates."
Paul is not saying he is reprobate, he is saying, that the false
teachers there at Corinth think he is reprobate. Paul's concern is for
his church, and not for himself. Paul prayed to God for his churches
all the time.
II Corinthians 13:8 "For we can do nothing against the truth, but
for the truth."
The Word of God is Truth. I have said, over and over, the 2 great
powers in the world are the spoken and the written Word. Paul's power
and, in fact, our power is in the Truth of God. The only way to
accomplish anything is with the Truth. When we operate in the power of
the Word of God, it is Truth.
II Corinthians 13:9 "For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye
are strong: and this also we wish, [even] your perfection."
Paul is much more concerned for those he led to the Lord than he
is for himself. He says, I do not need to be elevated up. Paul wishes
that they will be perfect in all their deeds.
II Corinthians 13:10 "Therefore I write these things being
absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the
power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to
destruction."
Paul is afraid, if he were with them, and they had not repented
of their sins, that he would get really harsh with them, and possibly
even run them off from God. The Lord has given him power and authority
to rule over these churches that he started. Paul would rather build
them up, instead of destroy them. This is why he is writing, instead
of coming to them in person.
II Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be
of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love
and peace shall be with you."
Paul's last words to them is speaking a blessing on them. He
wants them to feel his love for them in these last few words of his
letter to them. He rebuked them for their sin, which he had to do as
their leader, but he wants them to know that he has not stopped loving
them. He has high hopes for the way they will conduct their lives from
here on in. Just as a loving parent, his last words are instructions
on how to live peaceful lives. He says, I know you will do these
things. Do not fuss and fight. Be of one mind and one accord.
II Corinthians 13:12 "Greet one another with an holy kiss."
This was not a passionate kiss but a kiss of affection between
brothers. This kiss was on the cheek, not the mouth.
II Corinthians 13:13 "All the saints salute you."
This greeting is from the group that were with Paul. He always
had a number of men and women who followed him wherever he went.
II Corinthians 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the
love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all.
Amen."
Now the benediction is spoken by Paul. We see the three of the
Godhead mentioned here. Lord Jesus Christ {Word of God}, God the
Father, and the Holy Ghost. "Grace", as we said before, means
unmerited favor. Paul blessed them in completeness with this blessing.
Many Protestant churches use this very same benediction today to close
their services. I will say Amen to this for all who have taken the
time to study this lesson. Thank you again for your time.
ll Corinthians 16 Questions
1. In the mouth of how many witnesses shall every word be
established?
2. Where, in the Old Testament, do we find this same statement?
3. What did Jesus have to say about this?
4. If there are not two witnesses, it is a _______, and not a ____.
5. What did Paul warn them of in verse 2?
6. They were seeking proof of _______ in Paul.
7. What was their real problem?
8. Who was just the one to give them the training they needed?
9. Why did it appear to the world that Christ was weak?
10. What is the greatest victory the world has ever known?
11. What did Jesus defeat on the cross?
12. What did He defeat, when He rose again?
13. What made Paul stronger than anything they could send against him?
14. Where is the life of the Christian hid?
15. Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be ____________.
16. What does "reprobate" in verse 5, mean?
17. Who are the reprobates?
18. Who had called Paul reprobate?
19. What is Truth?
20. What are the 2 great powers in the world?
21. Who is Paul more concerned for than for himself?
22. What was Paul afraid he would do, if he were with them?
23. What things did Paul tell them to be in verse 11?
24. What did Paul say to them in his last words to them?
25. How were they to greet each other?
26. What is the benediction that Paul spoke here, that is used in many
churches today?
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