New Testament: 2Co 13.2–4

To read the Bible in a year, read Second Corinthians 13 on September 22, In the year of our Lord Christ 2024

By Don Ruhl 

The Corinthians wanted proof that Christ was in Paul. He said he would show that proof, but not necessarily in the way that they wanted to see it, “I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you” (Second Corinthians 13.2–3). 

The problem was not with Paul, that he lacked a proof of Christ, but the problem was their sin and they could not cover that up by making it look as though Paul had a deficiency. He would make those things known when he arrived. Then they would see the proof of Christ in the apostle. 

He drove his point home further, “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives 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” (Second Corinthians 13.4). 

They thought Paul was weak. Well, Christ was crucified through the weakness of men, but now he lives through the power of God. 

Likewise, Paul the preacher, let those brethren know that he also was weak in Christ, but Paul would live with Christ by means of the power of God as Paul worked with the Corinthians. 

That would be a proof of Christ. 

Questions: 

• Does your preacher have Christ in him? 
• Does your preacher do his work on behalf of Christ? 

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Don preaches with the Savage Street Church of Christ in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

Listen to his sermons here: GrantsPassChurchOfChrist.com