2 Corinthians Week 22

Day 1 

READ 

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 

5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 6 As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority. 

For the Corinthians who had doubts about Paul, he wanted them to check their hearts as to whether they were trusting in Jesus. As Paul had done the works of an apostle among them and many said they had believed in Jesus, had they really believed or not? Many today also ask the question about what does it mean to believe. 

REFLECT 

Have you or others you know had uncertainty about what it means to believe in Jesus? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the important matter of what it means to believe in Jesus. Read verses that can be helpful. See John 1:12 to see that receiving or accepting Him is equated with believing in Him. Read John 3:7 about the need to be born again or literally to be born from above. See also John 3:16 that refers to believing in Jesus. To believe is to trust. One trusts an object will hold his weight and in this sense he believes. Believing in Jesus is trusting in Him as your Savior. Do you trust in Him or not? 

Day 2 

READ 

2 Corinthians 13:7-8 

7 We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. 8 For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. 

Paul’s desire was that the Corinthians would take care of the problem among them before he came to visit. He was not concerned with showing his authority. He was most concerned with the problem being solved before he arrived. What was the problem? It was described in 2 Corinthians 12:21.  

REFLECT 

Are you most concerned that spiritual problems be resolved or that you might have a speaking part in helping to solve them? 

RESPOND  

Visit with a friend about the purpose of church discipline. The end goal is not to punish but to recover the friend needing to be brought back in fellowship. Seeking to punish will only drive the person further from the group and may make recovery impossible. 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 is a key chapter about church discipline.  

Day 3 

READ 

2 Corinthians 13:9-10 

9 We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature. 10 I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won’t need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down. 

Paul knew he had authority as an apostle—a direct representative of Jesus. He wanted to use that authority to build up others rather than having to spend time disciplining and correcting others. The word “edify” means “to build up,” and that’s what Paul wanted to do with the Corinthians. That would only be possible; however, if they took care of their problems before he arrived on the scene. 

REFLECT 

Is it your main desire to build up other believers? That pleases Jesus. 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and Hebrews 10:24-25. Both of these passages emphasize the need to spiritually encourage others. Talk about this with a friend and seek to do even more in this aspect of your life. 

Day 4 

READ 

2 Corinthians 13:11 

11 Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 

As Paul began his closing remarks, he was especially concerned that he might encourage them with his comments. His instructions were actually commands: be joyful; grow to maturity; encourage each other; live in harmony and peace. The result would be that the God of love and peace would be with them. This reveals their relationships needed to be improved before they could expect God’s blessing on their lives. As they loved each other, God’s love would be revealed through them. 

REFLECT 

How are you doing in your relationship with others? God’s Word was inspired to be written not only for that time but the benefit of others for all the time. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the commands Paul gave the Corinthians. Consider whether these are being carried out in your lives. What can you do to do even better at expressing God’s love to others? 

Day 5 

READ 

2 Corinthians 13:12-14 

12 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. 13 All of God’s people here send you their greetings. 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 

Judas had forever tarnished the intent of a friendly kiss so Paul encourages believers to use a “sacred kiss” in greeting others. The word in the Greek text is related to the word “holy” that refers something set apart to God. Affectionate forms of greeting differ with different ethnic groups. For many, a warm handshake will do; for others it’s a kiss that takes place in various ways. Paul concludes his remarks in verse 14 with a reference to the three persons in the trinity when he wrote, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 

REFLECT 

What is the manner of a gracious greeting in your culture?  

RESPOND 

Consider how you can weave in a testimony as you talk to a friend. You might say something like, “Thank you for your friendship. I hope you will have a long and full life, but someday we will all be in eternity. Trusting in Jesus as your Savior is the way to be ready for that time. He has made a tremendous difference in my life, and I’m sure He will do that in yours.”