2 Corinthians 13:7-8 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
These words express Paul’s goal for the Corinthians. He is beginning to wind down the letter and repeat the key ideas. He wants them to do what is right and not do anything wrong. They can do this by listening to his exhortation and responding by 1) accepting his authority and thus his gospel, and 2) not listening to the false teachers anymore. This letter has pointed out to them the test. The test is how they will respond to the truth of the gospel. Paul and his companions may look like a failure from the world’s perspective, and possibly from the Corinthians’ perspective. Paul listed many of his failures in ch. 11. These were not of his own choice but they came as a result of following the will of Christ in preaching the gospel.
Paul’s focus was the truth of the gospel. This truth was all about what Jesus did on the cross. The cross provides the role model for humility and submission to God. The Corinthians needed to follow this same cross-style pattern. This would resolve the problems they were having and would also empower them to do God’s will. The way of the cross opens us to hear the Holy Spirit within our spirits because we have made Jesus our Lord. This matter of sovereignty is the ultimate test. Paul had passed the test and was experiencing the grace of Christ in abundance. This grace kept him strong through all the challenges he faced. Would the Corinthians pass this same test? We can bring this to our own day also. Have we followed Paul’s pattern and followed the way of truth that is in Jesus (Ephesians 4:21)?
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