2 Corinthians 13:5-6; Prove Your Own Selves

Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with , ,

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 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? 6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

The word “reprobate” literally means “failing to meet the test“, that is, “of false profession of faith, proven false“. [Friberg] He posed this to the Corinthian Christians, under the influence of the enemies of the gospel, who sought to undermine his apostleship. He asked them to examine if their profession was false.

MacDonald observed well, “Paul is not telling the Corinthians to engage in self-examination as a proof of their salvation. Rather he is asking them to find in their salvation a proof of his apostleship.”

If they found that their faith in Jesus Christ in genuine, that Christ is living in them, then, the Apostle Paul’s ministry and that of his gospel team is therefore genuine and they should not be deemed disqualified as they have alleged.

He sought that the Corinthian church will be protected and spiritually prosper as they wrestle to distinguish truth and falsehood in their midst. He sought for spiritual higher ground for their faith that it will be established. The hymn “Higher Ground” written by Johnson Oatman may be the prayer of the Apostle Paul for the Corinthian church in that their faith may grow from strength to strength.

Higher Ground

I’m pressing on the upward way,
New tests I’m facing every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

(Chorus)
Lord, lift me up and let me stand
On Christ the Rock and not on sand;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heaven I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”

Amen.