II Corinthians Chapter XIII

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two witnesses, even of three, shall every word be established.

1. The full quote from Deuteronomy 19:15-20 - Spiritual Court
15 "A single witness shall not prevail against a man for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed; only on the evidence of two witnesses, or of three witnesses, shall a charge be sustained. 16 If a malicious witness rises against any man to accuse him of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days; 18 the judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother; so you shall purge the evil from the midst of you. 20 And the rest shall hear, and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you.

2 I have said before, and say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have previously sinned, and to all the rest, that if I come in regard to that again I will not spare, 3 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, Who is not weak toward you, but is mighty in you.

1. The Criticism of Paul was equivalent to doubting Christ

“And observe how grievous he makes what he says. For he said not, `Since you seek a proof of me,' but ‘of Christ that speaks in me, showing that it was against Him they had sinned. And he did not say merely, `dwelling in me,' but ‘speaking in me,’ showing that his words are spiritual. But if he does not display His power nor punish, it is not from His weakness; for He can do it: but He is long suffering. (Chrysostom, II Corinthians 13, Homily XXIX)

4 For even if he was crucified out of 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.

1. Three different meanings of “weakness” found in scripture (Chrysostom)
A.) Bodily Sickness (John 9:3-4)
B.) Not being established firmly in the faith (Rm 14:-1-2)
C.) Persecutions, intrigues, insults, trials, assaults (II Cor, 12:8-9)

2. The crucifixion of Christ is seen as “weakness” among the unbelievers

I Cor. 1: 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

5 Be putting yourselves to the test if you are in the faith; be examining yourselves. Or do you yourselves not fully know that Jesus Christ is in you- unless you are unapproved. 6 But I hope that you shall know that we are not unapproved.

1. All have been sealed with Christ
“For if ye will but examine yourselves who are in the rank of disciples, you will see that Christ is in you also. (Chrysostom, II Corinthians 13, Homily XXIX)”

2. Being in the faith is not a guarantee of being in Christ - our life must reflect it
“For he seems to me to be here alluding to them, even as to their lives. For since faith is not enough [by itself] to draw down the energy of the Spirit, and he had said that 'if you are in the faith’ you have Christ in you,' and it happened that many who had faith were destitute of that energy; in order to solve the difficulty, he says, ‘except you be unapproved,’ except that is, if you are corrupt in life. (Chrysostom, II Corinthians 13, Homily XXIX)”

3. How do Christians put themselves to the test and conduct an examination?

7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil at all, not that we should appear approved, but that you may be doing that which is good, and we may be as those not proved. 8 For we are not able to do anything against the truth. 9 For we rejoice whenever we are weak, and you are strong; but we pray for this also, your perfecting.

1. His desire for them is to be found free of sin and not to exercise his authority

`I entreat God. I beseech Him,' he says, `that I may find no one unreformed, may find no one' that has not repented. Yes, rather, not this alone, but that none may have sinned at all. For,' he says, `that you have done no [evil], but if you have perchance sinned, then that you may have changed your conduct . . .and arresting all wrath. For this is not what I am eager about, that we should be approved in this way . . . For if you should continue,' he says, `sinning and not repenting, it will be necessary for us to chastise, to punish, to maim your bodies; (as happened in the case of Sapphira (the wife of Ananias Acts 5) and we have given proof of our power. (Chrysostom, II Corinthians 13, Homily XXIX)”

2. The apostles will not work against God in correcting them if it is not necessary

`For if we find you,' he says, ‘in good repute, having driven away your sins by repentance and having boldness towards God; we shall not be able thereafter . . . to punish you, but, should we attempt it, even God will not work with us. For to this end He gave us our power, that the judgment we give should be true and righteous, not contrary to the truth.' Do you see how in every way, he makes what he says void of offensiveness, and softens the harshness of his menace? (Chrysostom, II Corinthians 13, Homily XXIX)”

3. On the Perfecting of Christians
“For he is rich, not who is in need of many things, but who is in need of nothing; so he is glorious who does not love glory, but who despises it; for this glory is but a shadow of glory. . . do not pursue these shadows . . . ' Where does this desire come from and how is the passion engendered? ' By littleness of soul, by an imperfect mind, by a childish judgment. Let us then cease to be children, and let us become men: and let us every where pursue the reality, not the shadows, both in wealth, and in pleasure, and in luxury, and in glory, and in power; and this disease will cease, and many others also. For to pursue shadows is a madman's part.(Chrysostom, II Corinthians 13, Homily XXIX)”

10 Therefore I write these things being absent, that I might not when present use severity, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for pulling down.

11 Finally, brethren, keep on rejoicing, keep on being perfected, being comforted, being of the same mind, being at peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.

Grace in the Tradition of the Eastern Orthodox

1. Grace & Human Freedom Cooperate together - Divine & Human Wills united

“As the grace of God cannot descend upon souls which flee from their salvation, so the power of human virtue is not of itself sufficient to raise to perfection souls which have no share in grace. . . the righteousness of works and the grace of the Spirit, coming together to the same place, fill the soul in which they are united with the life of the blessed.” (St. Gregory of Nyssa)

A.) Grace is not a reward for merit of the human will. (Lossky, Vladimir, Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church, SVS press, 1976, p. 199)

2. Grace Defined

“Grace is a presence of God within us which demands constant effort on our part; these efforts, however, in no way determine grace, nor does grace act upon our liberty as if it were external or foreign to it.” (Lossky, p. 197)