EXAMINE YOURSELVES

Paul’s earlier joy that things had been put right at Corinth, 7. 11, appear to have been premature and he has warned them that when he comes to visit he will have to exercise apostolic discipline. Paul had acted before with apostolic authority, in the incident of Elymas the Sorcerer, Acts 13. 8-11, and with devastating consequences. However, he doesn’t take this lightly and it is apparent that the thought has caused him great sorrow, 2 Cor. 12. 21. But his love for them was too great to ignore the problems and ultimately weaken the assembly. Of course, whenever it has to be exercised, it should always be in love and with a view to the restoration of the believer(s) concerned. The present writer has found young believers who have great difficulty understanding the need for assembly discipline.

By his subsequent actions Paul gives us some guidance on principles of assembly discipline: it should betransparent, 13. 1, and based on clear evidence, not rumours or fabrication. The offending saints were forewarned, 13. 2, that justice would be both impartial, 13. 2, for Paul writes to them all, not merely the apparent offenders, and severe, 13. 2, in contrast to chapter 1 verse 23.

His enemies at Corinth questioned the genuineness of his apostleship, 1 Cor. 9. 2-3, and Paul in turn challenged them to look at their own spiritual standing. By examining themselves, vv. 5-6, they would see that they were hardly in a position to question whether Christ was speaking through him. After all, they had heard the gospel from his lips, their assembly had been established under his guidance and their appreciation of the things of God had been nourished through his teaching, Acts 18. 7-11. If Paul was a fake apostle then they were fake Christians. They themselves, as real believers in Christ Jesus, were the living proof that Christ spoke in Paul. Paul was confident that they were saved, not that they would be proved to be ‘reprobates’, adokimos, not standing the test, disapproved. Therefore, if they were sure of their own salvation, they would have to acknowledge that he too was not ‘disapproved’ as the servant of God who led them to Christ.