What does the apostle mean when he says that he and his brothers have power not against the truth, but for it? One might, of course, think that Paul, like any preacher of a new teaching, is convinced of its truth and confident that...
What does the apostle mean when he says that he and his brothers have power not against the truth, but for it? One might, of course, think that Paul, like any preacher of a new teaching, is convinced of its truth and confident that knowing the truth and being faithful to it make a person stronger. Convinced and confident just as all genuine preachers of every age and nation have been convinced and confident in the power of their truth. If Christianity were a new philosophical teaching, that would probably indeed be the case. And if we were speaking of a new religion, this conviction would be reinforced by the certainty that, embodying the fullness of revelation, it would, with God's help, one way or another win minds and hearts, and that anyone opposing it would thereby challenge not only the new religion but God Himself.
But what, then, could be said of genuine Christianity, which is neither a religion nor a philosophical teaching, but simply life in the Kingdom, reducible to no philosophical or theological concepts and no religious rules? Bearing witness to ‘simply life’ would seem the easiest thing of all—and at the same time, the hardest.
It is the easiest because nothing is more evident: a person lives as they live, and no preaching or theological arguments can replace that life, any more than philosophical or ethical declarations can. If a person lives the life of the Kingdom, they inevitably become its witness. Then the Kingdom's power begins to bear witness to the truth of their testimony, and that power is indeed difficult to resist.
Yet the witness of life also proves the most difficult, because one must bear witness continuously. There is no chance to take a break, relax or prepare for the next act of witness as a preacher prepares for the next sermon. One simply has to manifest the power of the Kingdom, which alone can be true witness, every day and every hour. If at some moment an inhabitant of the Kingdom betrays what they live by, their witness is not merely interrupted but, in effect, becomes a counter-witness. Such betrayal devalues not only the particular moment of their life when it occurred, but everything previously said and done. The witness ceases to be connected with the truth and loses the power of their testimony. For one can bear witness to the Kingdom only as long as one lives its life.
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13:4 He was crucified through weakness - Through the impotence of human nature. We also are weak with him - We appear weak and despicable by partaking of the same sufferings for his sake. But we shall live with him - Being raised from the dead. By the power of God in you - By that divine energy which is now in every believer, Co2 13:5.
13:5 Prove yourselves - Whether ye are such as can, or such as cannot, bear the test - This is the proper meaning of the word which we translate, reprobates. Know ye not yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - All Christian believers know this, by the witness and by the fruit of his Spirit. Some translate the words, Jesus Christ is among you; that is, in the church of Corinth; and understand them of the miraculous gifts and the power of Christ which attended the censures of the apostle.
13:6 And I trust ye shall know - By proving yourselves, not by putting my authority to the proof.
13:7 I pray God that ye may do no evil - To give me occasion of showing my apostolical power. I do not desire to appear approved - By miraculously punishing you. But that ye may do that which is good, though we should be as reprobates - Having no occasion to give that proof of our apostleship.
13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth - Neither against that which is just and right, nor against those who walk according to the truth of the gospel.
13:9 For we rejoice when we are weak - When we appear so, having no occasion to show our apostolic power. And this we wish, even your perfection - In the faith that worketh by love.
13:11 Be perfect - Aspire to the highest degree of holiness.Be of good comfort - Filled with divine consolation. Be of one mind - Desire, labour, pray for it, to the utmost degree that is possible.
13:13 The grace - Or favour. Of our Lord Jesus Christ - By which alone we can come to the Father. And the love of God - Manifested to you, and abiding in you. And the communion - Orfellowship. Of the Holy Ghost - In all his gifts and graces.
It is with great reason that this comprehensive and instructiveblessing is pronounced at the close of our solemn assemblies; and it is a very indecent thing to see so many quitting them, or getting into postures of remove, before this short sentence can be ended.
How often have we heard this awful benediction pronounced! Letus study it more and more, that we may value it proportionably; that we may either deliver or receive it with a becoming reverence, with eyes and hearts lifted up to God, "who giveth the blessing out of Sion, and life for evermore."