EXAMINE YOURSELVES (2 Corinthians 13:5-6)

EXAMINE YOURSELVES (2 Corinthians 13:5-6)

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test 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 Corinthians 13:5-6)

The Greek grammar places great emphasis on the pronouns “yourselves” and “you.” Paul turned the tables on his accusers; instead of presuming to evaluate his apostleship, they needed to test the genuineness of their faith (James 2:14–26). He pointed out the incongruity of the Corinthians’ believing (as they did) that their faith was genuine and his apostleship false. Paul was their spiritual father (1 Corinthians 4:15); if his apostleship was counterfeit, so was their faith. The genuineness of their salvation was proof of the genuineness of his apostleship.