December 30 Click on verses for Full Scripture	previous - - - - - - - - - - next
Today's Pathway: II Corinthians 13:6-7 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

At the end of verse 5 Paul spoke of the possibility that some in the Corinthian church were reprobates. The word "reprobate" refers to "failing the test". We showed yesterday that Paul could mean that some in the church were unsaved, but it probably means that there were believers there who were in sin against God's Word. Paul writes that he hopes that the Corinthians know that he and his co-workers are not reprobates. The word translated "know" indicates "to know by experience". While many in Corinth may have been failing the test, it should have been obvious that Paul was passing the test with flying colors. His testimony both in person and throughout the epistle has shown the validity of his message and his willingness to suffer for the cause of Christ. His apostolic authority has been vindicated beyond any shadow of a doubt.

Donald Carson had an interesting comment on this section. He wrote,

"If the Corinthians declare that they have failed the test (II Corinthians 13:5), then doubtless Paul will be humiliated (II Corinthians 12:21); but in that case the Corinthians are in no position to point the finger at anyone. If on the other hand, they feel they have passed the test, then since Paul did all the initial evangelization among them he is the last person they are in a position to condemn."

In verse 7 Paul tells the Corinthians that his prayer for them is that they would not do anything evil. This is a prayer that we as believers should be praying for both ourselves and others. When was the last time that you prayed that you would not do anything sinful that day? When was the last time that you prayed that prayer for a brother in Christ? I fear that we often spend so much time praying for physical needs that we neglect that which is far more important: a person's spiritual walk with the Lord. Paul adds that he is not praying this so that he will look good, but simply because he wants the church members to do what is right, Sometimes it is easy to pray for the right thing, but to do it for the wrong reason. For example, a pastor may pray for his church to grow numerically. But is he praying for this because he understands that people need to be in church and he wants to see them get saved and then grow in grace? Or is he praying for this so he can tell his pastor friends about his attendance increase and can maybe get a salary increase as well? The prayer is the same, but the first motivation is concerned with others, and the second motivation is completely selfish. Our incentive for prayer is important, for God sees the heart.

Paul finishes verse 7 by saying, "though we are as reprobates". One of the ways that Paul could show himself approved as an apostle would be to discipline the wayward Corinthians. However, if they repented before he arrived, then he would not have to do that. Therefore, their repentance would, on some level, keep him being "approved" as an apostle. Paul is saying that he would rather the Corinthians be right with God than he get the opportunity to prove his authority. Albert Barnes interpreted it this way,

"I am willing to be regarded as rejected, disapproved, and worthless, provided you lead honest and holy lives. I prefer to be so esteemed, and to have you live as becomes Christians, rather than that you should dishonor your Christian profession, and thus afford me the opportunity of demonstrating, by inflicting punishment, that I am commissioned by the Lord Jesus to be an apostle."