LESSON 1, VERSE 1:
The Lord has impressed me to study one of
Paul's sermons. Actually these words comprise part of the
Apostle's closing remarks to the Corinthians. To be precise, 2nd
Corinthians 13:1-6.
Let's read these verses, one by one.
"This is the third
time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three
witnesses shall every word be established. 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: since
ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is
not weak, but is mighty in you. 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. 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? But I trust
that ye shall know that we are not reprobates."
These verses are often misunderstood. Paul,
though still quite tender hearted, is here being firm,
like a father with his children! He's really expressing love for
these struggling believers. Yet doing so in a ironic way,
typically Paul-like, "Pauline" the teachers call it.
For example, that first verse.
"This
is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth
of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."
2nd Corinthians 13:1
What Paul is about to say is important. So
much so that he calls for "witnesses!" That's the Greek noun "martus."
It really gives us our word "martyr," the most powerful form of
"witnessing" that exists!
I don't think Paul has anything legal in
mind, not by using this term "witnesses." Rather, since the
Corinthians have been doubting so much about Paul, recently even
questioning his very Apostleship, he wants to validate what he's
about to say. And "witnesses," especially more than one, fulfill
that role!
And as far as his coming to them "a third
time," this is historical fact. Paul visited Corinth time and
time again. He had to, the church stayed in such turmoil!
Let's face it. The presence of a preacher is
essential for the welfare of God's people, God's little "flock."
No doubt Paul has other preachers in place in Corinth, feeding
these folks God's Word every Lord's Day, more often than that
probably, maybe even every day.
But still, they needed Paul too!
It appears that some false teachers have
crept into the assembly. Telling lies and creating confusion
and, especially, attacking Paul as well.
Paul just needs to set the record straight.
In a way he is here defending his very
ministry.
It's an outright shame when a preacher must
do that! Defend himself! Other faithful folks in the Church
should do it for him. Folks saved under his ministry or
Christians whose lives have been dramatically helped by his
preaching.
But nobody will vouch for Paul!
Watch this verse, 2nd Corinthians 12:11, only
one chapter earlier than our Text. "I
am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought
to have been commended of you." Paul just said that he
was going to have to "brag," or "glory" about himself!
Why?
The cowardly Corinthians have "compelled" or
"forced" him to do so.
While in reality they should have
"commended" him, stood with him, bragged a little on him,
defended him against false accusers!
If nothing else works, the epistle he's just
writing included, Paul will physically go
to Corinth, a third time now!
"This
is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth
of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."
Can you sense his heavy heart?
His lack of "friends" in a Church he
established only a few short years earlier!
How sad!
Well, I've made up my mind!
I am going to be a friend of
Preachers, God's Preachers, those who have been True and
Faithful to the Word of the Lord!
Paul here in our Text nearly "opens up his
heart." That's something the Apostle seldom does in his
writings. He rarely mentions himself, or anything very personal.
I can't wait to see how he "thinks!"
Even when his "friends," many of them at
Corinth at least, have apparently turned against him.
I'll tell you this much. He is not going to
"turn the other cheek!" He's going to fight for his ministry,
and the Gospel! And the Truth! He's going to try to scatter the
false prophets who have entered southern Greece!
He will do so verbally!
And if that doesn't work, he will go there
physically!
Thank God for Preachers who care!
And, occasionally, church members who love
God's Men!
This may be a strange Series of Bible
studies, the next five mornings. And I will need some feed-back
on their content and impact, but the Lord has laid these verses
on my heart.
Pray for me please as I write these daily
lessons.
And also pray for some other Man of God
today. One who faithfully preaches God's Word!
We may never know what burdens they carry!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 2, VERSE 2:
Today we hear a Preacher warn his people! Warn them about sin!
In no uncertain terms!
It seems that Corinth, the Church there I
mean, was plagued with sins of one kind or another!
Paul had sought to rid them of such things,
apparently several times! But to no avail!
"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." 2nd Corinthians 13:2
The verse opens with two
"communication" verbs! "Told before," in Greek "proereo," and
"foretell," spelled "prolego" cover every linguistic base!
Paul has, in the past, preached against these
sins! In fact, he never quit! He "told them before," in previous
visits to Corinth! This verb is expressed in the "perfect"
tense, so to speak. He warned them previously, and that warning,
that sermon, is still ringing in their ears! Or should be
anyway!
The "foretelling" refers to the preaching
Paul plans to do as soon as he arrives in Corinth next time! On
his "third" visit there! But he's not waiting until the ship
arrives! He's already preaching against certain of their sins,
even now!
Wow!
That's a missing element in much of today's
pulpit work!
Warning, strongly warning, God's people
against sin!
Paul is "pastoring" these folks, as if he
were still "present" among them! He cares that much about their
spiritual welfare!
Though he is "absent," in Greek "apeimi,"
something like "having gone away," to preach in other places.
Yet Paul still cares about these people! Dear to his heart,
these largely carnal Corinthians!
"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."
The verb "write" is "grapho," present tense.
Paul is currently holding the quill in his hand! Under the power
of the Holy Spirit, divine inspiration in action!
But here, strangely, he's not addressing the
leaders of the Church, not just them anyway! Or its most godly
members either! He writes to "them which
have have heretofore sinned." The verb, "proamartano,"
means they have been sinning quite a while now! And that their
sins have had lasting consequences, detrimental to the whole
church! Still, they will not repent!
And Paul is getting upset!
Do we get that concerned about sin?
Then Paul addresses some "others." Watch.
"...
And to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare."
These may represent a second group of erring
church members. Perhaps involved in a different kind of
wrongdoing.
If so, both groups are in Paul's mind. He
longs to see all categories of sin dissipate! He wants a pure
church, even down at Corinth! Here's Paul just a few verses
earlier. "For
I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused
you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste
virgin to Christ." Wow! What love for his people, 2nd
Corinthians 12:2.
Paul "will not spare" them severe treatment,
if they still have not repented by the time he arrives!
"If
I come again, I will not spare." This verb is one
that means "to abstain." Paul will not keep quiet. He will not
change his mind! He will be straightforward!
But, Brother Bagwell, what are the possible
sins involved?
What has Paul so very upset?
Here they are, we believe. Paul has already
named them. "For
I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would,
and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not:
lest there be
debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings,
swellings, tumults: and lest, when I come again,
my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail
many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the
uncleanness and
fornication and lasciviousness which they have
committed." 2nd Corinthians 12:20-21
Two kinds of sins!
I call them "social sins" and "sexual sins."
Both are embedded at Corinth, in the church!
And Paul cannot tolerate such!
He is a real Man of God.
The first group, common sins yet today in our
churches! Much too common!
"Debates, envyings,
wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults,"
Paul carefully and precisely labels them. These have
become "acceptable" today! But not with Paul!
Then come the sexual aberations. The
"uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness," in the
church!
Preaching against sin!
Thank God some Preachers still do so!
And Paul was one of them.
I'm sure your Preacher does too.
And if not, perhaps not every Sunday, but if
not regularly, or at least occasionally, you might
want to be careful!
No warning against sin, ever, can lead to a
life of ease and, worse yet, careless unconfessed sins
of various kinds.
Real preaching, if balanced, at times
includes warning against iniquity! "Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
Notice the underlined verbs, 2nd Timothy 4:2.
Preaching against sin!
Wow!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 3, VERSE 3:
The verse we study today is critical to the Text in which it
rests. It actually gives us a "hint" as to the meaning of the
passage's most significant verse.
Plus, it's "classic" Paul, to the core!
"Since
ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is
not weak, but is mighty in you." Verse 3 of 2nd
Corinthians 13:1-6.
Can you believe this?
These Corinthian "Christians" are actually
doubting if Paul is really an Apostle!
"Ye seek a proof of
Christ speaking in me."
Wow!
As if they have scrutinized his life and can
find no evidence of genuine faith! Mercy!
The verb "seek" is "zeteo" and is strong
enough to insinuate looking with "strong desire" or even a
"demand!" It's a continual thing, too. Durative seeking, for
months if not years now!
They are now doubting the one who led them to
Jesus in the first place!
"Since
ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me"
The noun "proof" means "a test" of some kind,
one that reveals a genuine product. "Dokime" it's spelled. Used
in testing coins to see if they are counterfeit, for example!
Why would the Corinthians so doubt their
spiritual father? "For
though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have
ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel." Paul to this same crowd, earlier in
1st Corinthians 4:15.
Here are some of the things they have said
about Paul.
"His speech is
contemptible." The adjective "exouthenomenos" means "out
of nothing!" No good, of no account! 2nd Corinthians 10:10
They even mocked his appearance, his "looks."
Here's how, "His bodily presence is weak."
In other words, "He does not even look like a preacher!" What's
that got to do with anything?
They had questioned his sincerity and honesty
too!
They had apparently found some "new"
Preachers they liked better! From Jerusalem! Rabbi trained men
who were more "professional."
But Paul called that crowd
"false apostles!" In 2nd
Corinthians 11:13, that's where he did so.
Who's telling these people the truth?
Paul, or the others?
"Since
ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is
not weak, but is mighty in you."
The verb "speaking" is "laleo" as a present
participle. Not just Paul's preaching is in question now, but
everything he says! If he gives a weather report, some of them
apparently would doubt it!
And now, watch their utter pride!
They sought
"... Christ speaking
in Paul, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you."
They said Paul was "weak!"
His preaching!
His testimony!
His life for Christ!
Everything about him!
"Astheneo," lacking strength of any kind!
Perennially so! Constantly! They seem to have lost all
confidence in Paul!
How sad!
"Paul is weak," the Apostle ironically says,
quoting these people and their new leaders! "Weak in Christ"
even!
Ha!
No way!
But they now think so, the Corinthians do.
See how the devil deceives and confuses and
misleads?
This same Jesus who is so "weak" in Paul, is
of course, "mighty" in the Corinthians!
How typical of the flesh!
"I am right," always!
"And anyone who disagrees with me, is
automatically wrong!"
Egotism to the extreme!
"Since
ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is
not weak, but is mighty in you."
"Mighty" here, as suspected, is a form of "dunamis!"
Our English word "dynamite!"
Paul is a weakling, especially spiritually.
But the carnal Corinthians, they are
"giants," at least in their own eyes!
Paul has been tested today, and did not do so
well I think!
But Paul is not worried, not at all!
He knows he has the "approval" of God! To
him, that's far more important! That's what counts most!
"Since
ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is
not weak, but is mighty in you."
So, you know what Paul is going to do?
He, I think, is going to "return the favor,"
and "test" these Corinthians a little bit!
Watch, though studying the verse will have
to wait until later.
"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?" Verse 6 of our Text!
Way to go, Paul!
Instead of him being examined all the time,
let's turn the tables! Let the Corinthians examine themselves!
If Paul is not a real Apostle, a genuine
Preacher, then maybe they are not even saved!
Not "in the faith!"
Wow!
See the irony?
The Corinthians are about to saw off the limb
on which they are sitting!
More tomorrow.
Until then, be careful attacking a real Man
of God!
It might backfire on you!
Especially if the "target" is the Man of God
who has taught you much of the Scripture you know!
Wow!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 4, VERSE 4:
The Apostle has yet again been called "weak."
His presence was said to be "weak."
So was his preaching!
"Lacking strength," spelled "asthenes" in
Greek, Paul's language.
Everything about him, about Paul, was
disappointing to the Corinthians. Or so it now seems.
Today's verse highlights this situation. Yet,
so very typically, Paul compares his "weakness" to that of
Jesus!
"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." 2nd Corinthians 13:4
Jesus died in "weakness."
He lost all his physical strength as He hung
that day on the cross! Six hours of inhuman suffering!
Dehydrating!
Bleeding!
Cramping!
Exposed!
Mocked!
The verb "was crucified," as you can easily
tell, is in the passive voice. These things were done to
Jesus, not by Jesus! He did not commit suicide that day!
He was, in one sense anyway, murdered! In another sense He gave
His own life, true. But that fact is not being emphasized here,
not now. "Stauroo" means "to drive a stake into the ground," and
then affix a man on it! So very cruel!
The preposition "through" is "ek," meaning
"out of." Jesus, in His almighty omnipotence alone, could
have never been crucified! He is God!
But "out of" His humanity, out of His earthly
nature, though still God, Jesus willingly submitted to that kind
of death, "even the death of the Cross" Paul later called it.
"For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth by
the power of God."
But, good news, Jesus is no longer dead!
He "liveth," present tense of "zao." He is
alive right now, after two thousand plus years! And always will
be alive, never to die again!
But He is alive "ek" the Power of God, "out
of" God's Strength!
Jesus, through "weakness," became "Stronger"
than ever!
This is one of God's paradoxes!
Opposites, that don't make sense, humanly
speaking. But they sure do "work" in a heavenly sense!
"Power" here is the word every New Testament
student knows, "dunamis." Inherent power, power "stored" within,
by the Holy Spirit of course!
Just like Jesus,
"For though He was
crucified through weakness, yet He liveth by the power of God."
So is Paul, or much like Jesus anyway!
"We also are weak in Him, but we shall
live with Him by the power of God ...."
Look!
Paul is linking with Jesus, even in a weak
human manner!
Every issue Paul ever faced, he took straight
to His Saviour! And therein found some way of association, some
nexus!
Yes, Paul admits. The Corinthians have called
me "weak." An "invalid" nearly! I will not fight the charge!
Maybe he was indeed, at times, very weak.
Very sickly.
Very soft spoken.
Very unimpressive.
So was His Lord, at least by some accounts!
"Many were astonied at Him; his visage was
so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of
men. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and
acquainted with grief. And we hid as it were our faces
from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. He was
oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth."
Wow, this is Jesus being described in Isaiah 53, that great
chapter!
One word sums that account, "weak!"
"For though He was
crucified through weakness, yet now 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." 2nd Corinthians 13:4, most of it.
So Paul just claims the weakness
that's being ascribed to him. So he can turn right around and
claim the accompanying strength that God will give to the
weak!
Wow!
This is irony!
Holy irony!
"The use of words to express something
different from and often opposite to their literal meaning."
Or, "An expression or utterance marked by a
deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning."
Irony.
Yes the Bible is a grammar handbook as well
as the divinely inspired, inerrant Word of God!
Amen!
Paul is thankful for his perceived
"weakness!" Because it drives him straight to Jesus' great
Strength!
Listen to Paul here.
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake:
for when I am weak, then
am I strong." 2nd Corinthians 13:9, note the
capitalized words! Goodness!
Next time you're weak, dear friends, ask
Jesus for some of His Strength! Paul did. There's plenty to go
around, too. God's Strength! I think it's unlimited, can't be
exhausted!
And next time you're discouraged, ask Jesus
for some of His Courage!
Next time you're out-of-control, ask the Lord
for some of His Self-Control! He's absolutely loaded with it!
Next time you're upset, ask him for some of
His Peace! It "passes all understanding!"
That's exactly what Paul is doing in today's
verse!
Coming to Jesus!
For whatever is needed!
Is Jesus sufficient for such things?
He is!
He is indeed!
He is all-sufficient!
Praise his Name!
No wonder Paul, speaking for himself, once
called Jesus "my life!" That's in Colossians 3:4, I believe.
"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall
ye also appear with him in glory."
Live in Jesus!
Live through Jesus!
Live for Jesus!
Better yet, let Jesus live in you!
"For though He was crucified through weakness, yet now 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."
Then, in conclusion, let me add the last two
words of our text. I have purposely omitted them so far.
"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." 2nd Corinthians 13:4
Mean as the Corinthians have been to Paul,
ugly and accusatory, downright offensive, he still loves them
and prays for them! And plainly even "lives" for God so as to
leave them a good example!
For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the
power of God toward
you."
When someone does you wrong, ask God
for strength and help to do them right!
That's God's Way!
Appropriating Jesus!
All He is!
Absolute Perfection!
All He is, for all I
am, shamefully at times!
I am so frail.
Jesus, our very "all!"
Whatever I need, Jesus is!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 5, VERSE 5, EXAMINE YOURSELVES:
The verse we are about to analyze is the very "heart" of our
Text. Actually we will begin with the first clause only.
"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?" 2nd Corinthians 13:5
Is Paul truly doubting the salvation of the
Corinthians?
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own
selves."
Is he accusing them of still being lost in
their sins?
At first, it sure looks like it!
And a case can be made that Paul is precisely
doing this, insinuating a lack of real saving faith in
the Corinthians!
After all, for 29 chapters now (1st and 2nd
Corinthians combined) one "problem" after another has been
surfacing! In the church at Corinth!
These people have fought among themselves,
tolerated immorality in the church, sued each other in heathen
courts of law, violated marriage principles, argued over the
kinds of food to eat, bragged over their spiritual gifts, become
intoxicated at their Lord's Supper services, failed to give
financially, and even doubted the Resurrection of our Lord! And
these all happened in 1st Corinthians!
In 2nd Corinthians they have basically turned
against Paul! That's Paul who first preached to them Jesus! Who
won them to Christ! They have talked about him, criticized him
mercilessly!
Really, are they saved?
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own
selves."
Any Preacher would wonder!
But, upon deeper reflection, I question if
that's what Paul is really asking them! I suspect Paul knew
these people were saved, truly so. Beyond doubt, in the
Apostle's mind!
Here's what's happening.
They now for quite some time have been
asking, "Is Paul a real Apostle?"
So Paul has ironically "turned the tables" to
ask, "Are the Corinthians really Christians?"
See?
When in fact, the Believers in Corinth knew
beyond any shadow of a doubt that Paul was a genuine Apostle!
And Paul equally knew that the Corinthian Church was composed of
born-again folks as well!
Paul is exasperated! He's had enough! Bold as
he can be, he now thunders at them:
"Examine yourselves,
whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves."
The verb "examine," an imperative here, is "peirazo,"
meaning "to look all the way through" something! To scrutinize
that carefully!
The phrase "in the faith" is really a
parallel term for being "saved."
The accompanying verb "prove" is also a
command. "Dokimazo" means "to test an object for approval." A
proof that it is not counterfeit, used especially of money in
Paul's day, of coins particularly!
The Corinthians said, "Is Paul real?"
Paul said, "Are you real?"
Bottom line, both were "real" in the Lord!
Listen to Paul as he "proves" his own
Apostleship, his own name as a Preacher!
"I am become a fool in bragging; but ye have compelled me. For I
ought to have been commended by you Corinthians! For in nothing
am I behind the very chiefest apostles. Truly the signs of an
apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and
wonders, and mighty deeds." By Paul of course! 2nd
Corinthians 12:11-12
Now listen to Paul prove to himself that the
Corinthian people, church people, were indeed saved too! Those
to whom he is writing.
He called them "saints" all the way through
both Corinthians Epistles! "Paul, called
to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God,
unto the church of God which is at Corinth,
to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all
that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
both theirs and ours." 1st corinthians 1:1-2
Wow!
Paul is also sure of the fact that the Holy
Spirit indwells these people! "What? know
ye not that your body is
the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of
God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a
price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
spirit, which are God's." 1st Corinthians 6:19-20
If so, they are saved! The Holy Spirit does
not live down in the hearts of sinners, of unregenerate folks!
What do you all think today, you our dear
readers?
Read this too. Paul to these same folks:
"Now He which stablisheth
us with you in Christ,
and hath anointed us, is God;
Who hath also sealed us,
and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."
Whatever Paul's spiritual status, the
Corinthians share it! I just quoted 2nd Corinthians 1:21-22.
They are saved.
Paul just wants them to know how much it
"hurts" to be doubted!
To have one's sincerity questioned!
To be called untrue!
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own
selves."
Paul has already examined his beloved
Corinthians! He has proved them too, end to end!
He just wants them to know, and then to
acknowledge, that they both are real in their
relationship to God!
What a good feeling!
A clear conscience!
Knowing that you're right with God!
"Nothing between" your soul and Jesus!
Non-hypocritical!
And, Paul to the Corinthians, in full
fellowship again!
Something is always lacking when one believer
is in contention with another child of God.
Paul always lived this way,
"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace." Ephesians 4;3
And that's what he's doing in our text this
week!
For sure!
Now, to you and me?
Are we real?
Genuine?
Not counterfeits?
I trust the answer is "yes."
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 6, VERSE 5, EXCEPT YE BE
REPROBATES:
The word is only used by Paul.
In our Text it is rendered as "reprobates."
And it's spelled "adokimos."
"Know
ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except
ye be reprobates?" Paul asked this question to the
Corinthians. Here in 2nd Corinthians 13:5.
The verb "know" is "epiginosko," an intensive
form of "ginosko." It means "to perceive, to understand, to
recognize very well!" It's full knowledge,
complete knowledge, first-hand knowledge! Experiential
knowledge!
Paul is challenging the Corinthians "to know"
that Jesus is in them. And they do know,
positively!
And furthermore, the preposition "in," the
Greek spelling "en," means "on, at, near, by," as well as "in."
Pretty close, pretty intimate! This is an "indwelling"
relationship!
Paul knows that these folks are saved.
In fact, he's the one who led most of them to Jesus.
"Except ye be
reprobates," the whole clause, is constructed so as to
expect a negative answer!
Are they reprobates?
No!
And "reprobates" means someone who has
"failed."
Been "rejected!"
"Tested"... and found lacking!
"Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you,
except ye be reprobates?"
If Paul already knows the answer, why is he
asking the question then?
To show the validity of both Paul's
testimony ... and theirs, the Corinthians' witness too. He's
trying to establish the fact that both the Preacher and his
hearers are for "real!"
Even though earlier they had said they
doubted Paul's call to the ministry! They had doubted his very
Apostleship too!
But watch this! Paul now says he might be
doubting their salvation, too! Goodness, tough love!
Paul is here, under the direction of the Holy
Spirit, being a little sarcastic, I think.
"Know ye not your
own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be
reprobates?"
The Apostle is primarily trying to establish
that he is really a Man of God! Wow, who could doubt
that?
And ultimately, in turn, Paul will establish
that the Corinthians are really saved, too!
Everything in this Lesson hinges on the word
"genuine." Or one of its synonyms.
The Corinthians, even with all their
problems, are real!
So too is Paul, even with all his weaknesses!
That only leaves two questions to ask.
Is Brother Bagwell genuine?
And you, are you for real, my dear
friend?
Truly saved?
Are we sincere followers of the Lord?
It is essential that we make
sure!
Do so today!
And if you're not sure, the Holy Spirit can
tell you! He certainly can!
Just ask Him.
"The
Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God." Romans 8:16
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 7, VERSE 6, WE ARE
NOR REPROBATES:
To some degree, at times anyway, Paul the
Apostle needed the love and approval of those around him.
Who doesn't?
I know what he said in 1st Corinthians 4:3,
"But with me it is a very small thing that
I should be judged of you." Still, Paul was human!
His beloved Corinthians were so very
important to him, obviously.
And they have been "doubting" Paul!
Some have even questioned his integrity!
Others have wondered if he was even a true
Preacher of God's Word!
This issue became so critical to Paul that he
reacted to the Church there in Corinth.
He, ironically, called them "unsaved," too!
Or at least insinuated so.
"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?"
Quite bold, 2nd Corinthians 13:5.
Really, he knew they were saved and had said
as much time and time again throughout his Corinthian
correspondence, both epistles.
He's just trying to "wake them" to the pain
they are causing. To "pinch" them back into reality!
Now today, Paul goes right to the "core" of
the issue. "But I trust that ye shall know
that we are not reprobates." 2nd Corinthians 13:6
The verb "trust" is "elpizo," meaning "to
hope, to confidently await." Here it's in the present tense,
active voice, indicative mood.
This "authenticity" thing is really on Paul's
mind, and in his heart!
The verb "know" is just "ginosko" this time,
but as a future tense, middle voice, indicative.
Hinting that the Corinthians may not know
this yet, but they will sooner or later! That Paul is not a
fake, a failure! Not an imposture!
What's bothering Paul so deeply?
That he not be thought a "reprobate."
"But
I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates."
2nd Corinthians 13:6, today's verse.
Again, from yesterday, the word is "adokimos."
By the way, "are" is a verb too! Present
tense of "eimi," that is "to be, to exist, to happen."
"That we are not reprobates."
Paul?
But this reprobate business has been in the
Apostle's thinking for a while! Back in 1st Corinthians 9:24 it
surfaced. "But I keep under my body, and
bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I
have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
And, some of you remember, "castaway" is really "adokimos."
"Dokimos" can mean, and often does,
"accepted, pleasing, approved." When that opening "a" is added,
as here, it however becomes "adokimos," not approved!
Not pleasing!
Not acceptable!
Rejected!
Yes, "rejected," as in Hebrews 6:8.
"But that which beareth thorns and briers
is rejected,
and is nigh unto cursing."
Wow!
Plainly stated, Paul wants the approval, the
recommendation, the cooperation of his friends at Corinth!
"But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates."
It's that important. Right now at least, for Paul!
Hey you all ...
Do the people down at your local Church think
you are real?
Does it matter?
Do you even, deep down within yourself, think
that you are genuine, in your personal faith
toward the Lord?
Is it important?
If others think I am truly saved and
serving Jesus, that concerns my testimony.
If I myself think I am truly
saved and serving Jesus, that concerns my assurance!
And, yes, both are important!
One of the very qualifications for being a
Pastor, a God-called Preacher, is having
"a good report of them which are without." 1st Timothy
3:7
And Paul was held in such high esteem
by many of his converts. Like the Galatians, for example.
"For I bear you record, that, if it had
been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and
have given them to me." Galatians 4:15, part of it.
That's love for one's Preacher, an eye transplant! It is thought
that Paul had very bad eyesight.
If Paul were here, I'd love to tell him today
that Brother Bagwell thinks he is real! In fact, one of
the greatest Christians who ever lived!
Paul, the approved one!
But here's the final Place of approval. And
the Corinthians have nothing to do with this one.
"For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things
done in his body, according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad." 2nd Corinthians 5:10
"Approved of God!"
Remember?
"Study
to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth." 2nd Timothy 2:15
Paul was not a reprobate!
He knows that now, for sure.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
