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KJB-1611 1 He threatneth seueritie, and the power of his Apostleship against obstinate sinners. 5 And aduising them to a triall of their faith, 7 and to a reformation of their sinnes before his comming, 11 He concludeth his Epistle with a generall exhortation and a prayer.
(1 He threatneth seueritie, and the power of his Apostleship against obstinate sinners. 5 And aduising them to a triall of their faith, 7 and to a reformation of their sins before his coming, 11 He concludeth his Epistle with a generall exhortation and a prayer.)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

2 Corinthians 13 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

7. Paul defends his apostolic authority (10:1–13:10) * Paul warns the Corinthians about his third visit (12:19–13:10)8. Closing (13:11–13)In this chapter, Paul finishes defending his authority. He then concludes the letter with a final greeting and blessing.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Preparation

Paul instructs the Corinthians as he prepares to visit them. He is hoping to avoid needing to discipline anyone in the church, so he can visit them joyfully. (See: disciple)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Power and weakness

Paul repeatedly uses the contrasting concepts “power” and “weakness” in this chapter. The translator should use words that are understood to be opposites of each other. It seems that people had been criticizing Paul for speaking powerfully in his letters, but being weak when in person (See: 10:1). Paul explains that although he is weak, Christ works powerfully through him (13:3-4). God gave Paul power and authority to discipline believers who are living sinfully, but Paul prefers to use this power to encourage the believers to trust in God rather than to discipline them for not living in the right way (13:10). This is why he did not visit them again. It was so that he could persuade them in a letter rather than discipline them harshly in person (1:23;10:2;13:2,10).

Examine yourselves

Scholars are divided about the examination that Paul has in mind in verse 5. Some scholars say that believers are to test themselves to see whether their actions align with their Christian faith. The context favors this understanding. Others say that this test is to determine if the person actually belongs to God or not. Paul may have both ideas in mind. If a person examines his actions, finds them to be sinful but refuses to change them, then he has rejected God.

Approved and unapproved

In 13:5-7, Paul uses the concepts “approved” and “unapproved.” The words he uses for these are forms of the word translated “examine” in 13:5. The idea then, is that someone who is “approved” has been examined and has passed the examination. Paul begins in verse 5 by asking the Corinthian believers to examine themselves, to see if they are living as God wants them to live. Then in verse 6 he challenges them to evaluate Paul and his companions in that same way, because they are living in the right way. Finally, in verse 7 he says that he does not care about this kind of approval from them or from any humans, but he only wants the Corinthian believers to pass this test to show that God approves of them.

Parallel 2COR 13:0