In our next section of chapter 13 of 2Corinthians, Paul tells his readers to examine themselves or to test their origin of faith. By this action we fine what it means to have faith, his or ours. Lets see what he says shall we, as I have come to believe that both Corinthian letters are stepping stones to even greater insight and revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our redemption. That'll bring our salvation about in the restoration of mans former, and quite possibly deeper and greater glory, our perfection. As we learn the secret of Jesus Christ's incarnation within us. Humanities original life of origin as know in chapter 2 of Genesis, as spoken of in spiritual language hidden from mere human sight from the beginning of the Corinthian letters own through the end of Revelation. Also known as the kingdom of GOD within you.
2Corinthians 13:5-10 "Examine(G3985) yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove(G1381) your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. 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. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power(G1849) which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction." (KJV)
2Corinthians 13:5-10 "Examine(G3985) yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test(G1381) yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority(G1849) that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down." (ESV)
2Corinthians 13:5-10 "I implore you to [1]examine your faith for yourselves in order to test what it is that you really believe. Faith is so much more than mere veneer of a superstitious belief in a historic Christ; faith is about realizing Jesus Christ in you, in the midst of contradiction! Just [2]as ore is placed into a crucible, where the dross is separated from the gold in a furnace, come to the conclusion for yourselves of his indwelling! Should it appear to you that Christ is absent in your life, look again, you have obviously done the test wrong! (You cannot measure temperature with a ruler! Paul uses the word, [1, G3985 from G3984] peiratzo, to examine closely, it is from (G3984 with the base of G4008 from G4009) peira, meaning to pierce; a test to determine the hidden value of something; is also from the word (G4009) peras, which speaks of extremity or the furthest boundary. Faith is not a veneer to cover up potential depression or disappointments when faced with trying times! Note that Paul is not speaking about you putting your beliefs to the test; but you testing the faith for yourselves! There is only one valid faith, not what we believe about GOD or about ourselves, but what GOD believes about us! Paul wants us to discover for ourselves what GOD already knows and believes about us! GOD is highly persuaded about Christ's indwelling us, you, now he wants you to be equally persuaded! Then he uses the word, [2,G1381] dokimatzo, as in the testing of metals. Self-examination has nothing to do with finding hidden sins and flaws in you; it is all about realizing Christ in you! The object of the furnace is not to reveal the dross, but the gold! Christ himself is the proof of faith, he is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1. The test of truth is foolproof! Look at verse 8. "Truth is not threatened by our scrutiny!" Look at 2Corinthians 4:18, "We are not keeping any score of what seems so obvious to the senses on the surface, it is fleeting and irrelevant; it is the unseen eternal within us that has our full attention and captivation, our gaze!" 2Corinthians 4:7, "We have discovered this treasure where it was hidden all along, in these frail skin-suits made of clay." 1Corinthians 1:6, "You certainly have the testimony of Christ evidenced in you." [You possess full knowledge and give full expression because in you the evidence for the truth of Christ (GOD) has found confirmation.---NEB] ) I really hope that in your discovery of Christ's indwelling, you will realize that we ourselves are equally found to have passed the test! My sincere prayer is that, even if you cannot see us as meeting the requirements in your estimate, you do not use our apparent failure as an excuse to disqualify yourselves! Truth does not become true by popular vote! It is already true without our permission! Therefore truth is not defined by our behavior. Nothing we do distracts from what truth really is. Truth triumphs inspite of what people think or do! (The truth about you has its ultimate reference in Christ. Ephesians 4:21 ) We rejoice in the fact that our weakness serves to prove you strong! We pray that you will find all the evidence you need to persuade yourself of your own perfection! Somehow it seems better for me to write my thoughts to you; I think that was I physically with you now, I might have been more abrupt! Yet [1]who I am in the LORD is a gift to you; I only wish to edify you; there is nothing in me that could possibly do you any harm. (The word, [1,G1849 from G1832, exesti, from a compound of G1537 and G1510] exousia, is from (G1537) ek, source, and (G1510) eimi, I am, is often translated, authority. Thus it would read, "according to the authority which the LORD has given me to build you up and not to disappoint (or destroy) you.) (The Mirror)
There remains just a few closing verses, these we shall look at in our next visit the LORD willing. Until then do your own test as given above, and may the LORD GOD the Spirit of Christ reveal his presences within you and yours.
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