2 Corinthians 13:3

The Corinthians are seeking proof that Christ is speaking in the apostles. When they do not obey Paul’s teachings, they want to test him to see whether he will dare to exact retribution.

Then, as I said, by transferring the argument from himself to Christ, he enhances their fear, he increases his threat. And what he says is this; "for even supposing I should do something and chastise and take vengeance on the guilty ones, is it I that chastise and take vengeance? it is He that dwelleth in me, Christ Himself. But if ye do not believe this, but are desirous of receiving a proof by deeds of Him that dwelleth in me, ye shall know presently; For he is not weak to you-ward, but is even powerful." And wherefore added he "to you-ward," seeing He is mighty everywhere? for should He be minded to punish unbelievers, He is able; or demons, or anything whatsoever. What then is the import of the addition? The expression is either as shaming them exceedingly by remembrance of the proofs they have already received; or else as declaring this, that meanwhile He shows His power in you who ought to be corrected.

As he said also in another place, "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without?" "For those that are without," he says, "He will then call to account in the day of judgment, but you even now, so as to rescue you from that punishment." But nevertheless even this instance of his solicitude, although arising from tender affection, observe how he combines with fear and much anger, saying, "Who to you-ward is not weak, but is powerful in you."

Then with much anger and vehement indignation against those who make a mock of him as weak, and ridicule his presence, and say, "his presence is weak, and his speech of no account;" aiming his efforts at these men, he says, "Seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me." For he said this, dealing at once a blow at these, and at the same time lashing those also. Now what he means is this; "Since ye are desirous of proving whether Christ dwelleth in me, and call me to an account, and on this score make a mock of me as mean and despicable, as I were destitute of that Power; ye shall know that we are not destitute, if ye give us occasion, which God forbid."

What then? tell me. Dost thou therefore punish, because they seek a proof? "No," he says; for had he sought this, he would have punished them at the first on their sinning, and would not have put off. But that he does not seek this, he has shown more clearly as he proceeds, saying, "Now I pray that ye do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that ye may be approved, though we be as reprobates."

He doth not employ those words then as assigning a reason, but rather in indignation, rather as attacking those that despise him. "For," he says, "I have no desire indeed to give you such a proof, but if you yourselves should furnish cause and should choose to challenge me, ye shall know by very deeds." And observe how grievous he makes what he says. For he said not, "Since ye seek a proof of me," but "of Christ that speaketh in me," showing that it was against Him they sinned. And he did not say merely, "dwelling in me," but "speaking in me," showing that his words are spiritual.

But if he doth not display His power nor punish, (for thenceforward the Apostle transferred what he said from himself to Christ, thus making his threat more fearful,) it is not from weakness; for He can do it: but from long suffering. Let none then think His forbearance to be weakness. For why marvellest thou that He doth not now proceed against sinners, nor in his forbearance and long suffering exacts satisfaction, seeing that He endured even to be crucified, and though suffering such things punished not?

He says this with great indignation to those who despised him as a weak and contemptible man. He speaks as if to say: since you desire to test whether Christ dwells in me, and you mock me as a weak man who does not have Christ within him, you will truly learn this if you do not correct yourselves. He shows that the words he speaks are spiritual, and that one should fear his threat as if Christ Himself had uttered it. He did not wish to punish them in order to provide them with experience and knowledge, but because you, he says, sin incurably. If I, he says, am compelled to punish you, then you will learn in reality what you are striving to learn.

Why does he add "for you," when Christ is powerful everywhere? Probably because they had already experienced His power before. Thus he expresses the following thought: since you have previously seen the proofs, you already know full well that He is "not weak toward you," but "powerful," that is, He has power. Or these words have the following meaning: He shows His power over you in this life, when you are able to reform yourselves — He strikes you now in order to show mercy on the Day of Judgment; but upon the unbelievers He will show His power on the very Day of Judgment. At the same time, he shows that although He will punish, it is not he himself who will punish, but Christ.

Then, lest they belittle the Apostle's power, he discloses his judicial power, saying: Do you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me? Here he does three things. First, he shows that he has delegation and power to judge from Christ; secondly, he shows Christ's power (v. 3b); thirdly, he shows that Christ's power is distributed to others.

He says therefore: if I come, I shall not spare; rather, I shall judge most severely. And I can do this, because I have Christ's authority to punish and forgive: "What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ" (2 Cor. 2:8); "So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us" (2 Cor. 5:20). Therefore, he says: Do you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me? As if to say: have no doubts about my power, because whatever I utter either by passing sentence or forgiving or preaching, I say from Christ: "Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth" (Ex. 4:12); "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict" (Lk. 21:15). Therefore, whatever a man says under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is said to do. Therefore, the Apostle, because he was moved by Christ to say this, attributed it to Christ as to the principal cause, saying, that Christ is speaking in me.

But lest there be any doubt about Christ's power and might, and Apostle discusses the might of Christ, when he says, He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful in you. Herein he shows Christ's power as to things which are manifested in them; secondly, as to things which are in Christ: For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. He says therefore: I have judiciary power from Christ, who speaks in me, who is mighty in you by giving the gifts of grace, the distribution of the Spirit and many other things you have experienced; and not only is he not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful in you, because he has mightily delivered you from sin and turned you to good: "The LORD, strong and mighty" (Ps. 24:8); "Your power is at hand when you will" (Wis. 12:18, Vulgate); and a little before (v. 17): "For you show your strength when men doubt the completeness of your power."