Final Warnings and Exhortations – 2 Corinthians 13

Joy:  You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #162.  Today we’ll read the 13th and final chapter of 2 Corinthians together:  Paul gives us some final warnings and exhortations.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome

Wow!  2nd Corinthians went really fast, didn’t it?  My mind is buzzing with false apostles, Paul’s sarcasm, how smart he is and the sacrifices he made so that the Gospel could be told to the Corinthians.  I also really value his admonition to boast only in the Lord.  What was your favorite lesson?  Did any particular verse stand out to you or stick with you?  I would just love it if you’d take a few minutes to share at Lifting Her Voice.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Website Update

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We’re starting a new book tomorrow and I think you’re going to really enjoy it.  It’s Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia and I’ll tell you all about it in our next episode.  

2 Corinthians Chapter 13

Final Warnings and Exhortations

This is the third time I am coming to you. Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. For he was crucified in weakness, but he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God’s power.

Examine Yourselves

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless you fail the test.

And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test. But we pray to God that you do nothing wrong — not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to fail. For we can’t do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature. This is why I am writing these things while absent, so that when I am there I may not have to deal harshly with you, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send you greetings.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Closing Thoughts

I see evidences in this final chapter of the final communication from Paul to the Church at Corinth that he is exhausted.  It seems that after three letters to the Corinthians, he is emotionally drained.  Paul has babied, cajoled, admonished, begged, been passive/aggressive, and even punitive with the Corinthian Christians.  All that, and I think he’s still not sure at this point that they can be left to fly on our own.  Ordinarily, Paul lists greetings to and from numerous co-workers in the faith, but not here.  He seems to just want to end the letter.  

But not without one final push.  With all being said that can be said, Paul directs them – and us – to examine ourselves, to see if we are in the faith.  As I‘ve mentioned before, I am seeing so much more in the Scriptures as I read out loud to you.  Somehow, reading it out loud adds a different texture; a different perspective.  This is the first time that I’ve looked at Paul’s exhaustion with the Corinthians alongside that challenge to examine myself.  It peels another layer away from my hidden self to consider the probability of teachers that I have had who have been exhausted with me, too.  I can be stubborn, prideful, and self-righteous, all of which could cause someone to question whether I am in the faith.

A little further down Paul says to become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace.  As a result, the God of love and peace will be with you!  These are things the Corinthian Christian had to foster in their own lives, without Paul.  The same goes for you and me.  Let’s pray.

Prayer

Father, I praise You and am so grateful that You are the God of all mercy and grace, even though there have been things You’ve had to tell me over and over again.  I don’t want to stay there, Lord.  The only offering I have to give to You is to daily aspire to grow in the faith, to be mature, to be of one mind with my brothers and sisters, and to be at peace with everyone.  Daily remind me to examine my heart and my motives, Holy Spirit, so that I might be pleasing to You.  Draw us back to learn from Paul and the Corinthians every year.  Amen.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.