Глава 13

2 Corinthians 13:1. This is the third time I'm coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be established. “Behold, I come to you as a third: at the hearing of two or three witnesses, every word will become.” The Apostle presented events instead of persons, calling witnesses against those who neglected repentance and frightening them. 2 Corinthians 13:2. I preceded and continue to preface, as if I were with you for the second time, and now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before and to everyone else that when I come again, I will not have mercy. “First of all, I will say that I have had a second experience with you, and while I am absent now I am writing to those who have sinned before and to everyone else, that even if I come again, I will not show mercy.” Paul discovered apostolic power by trying to put a barrier to the power of sin through fear, because it was not difficult for the apostles to admonish their own and punish strangers. For the divine Peter with one word put to death Ananias and his wife, who were already among the disciples. And Elymas, as an unfaithful and contradictory person, was plunged into darkness by blessed Paul himself, extinguishing his sense of vision. 2 Corinthians 13:3. You are looking for proof of whether Christ speaks in me: He is not powerless for you, but strong in you. “When you are tempted, seek Christ speaking in me, who does not fail in you, but is able in you.” You apparently want to experience “Christ speaking in me,” even though you have clearly recognized His power. 2 Corinthians 13:4. For, although He was crucified in weakness, He lives by the power of God; and we also, although we are weak in Him, will live with Him through the power of God in you. “For even though one was crucified through weakness, one lives because of the power of God.” Even if he suffered on the cross with the mortal nature of his body, then, as God and the Son of God, He is alive and is Life itself. Similar to this is what was said: “Destroy this church, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). If it is sometimes said that the Divinity of the Only Begotten resurrected the body, and sometimes that the Father Himself raised it, then there is no difference in this, because Divine Scripture, often performed by the Son, is appropriated by the Father. Thus, the Only Begotten is called the Creator of all things, and the Father of the Only Begotten is also called the Creator. But let us turn to the continuation of the interpretation. “For we also are weak in Him, but we will live with Him through the power of God in you.” And we also participate in His sufferings, because we endure this for Him, and we will partake of life, because the power of God promises resurrection. 2 Corinthians 13:5. Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves. Or do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless you are what you should be. “Test yourselves; if you are in faith, tempt yourself.” Examine not what concerns us, but what concerns yourself, and see whether you are truly established in the faith. “Or do you not know that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are unskillful?” You must know that you have the Lord Christ Himself living within you, for whoever does not have this knowledge does not have faith in himself. The Apostle meant this with the word “unskilful.” As he said a little higher that Christ speaks in him, he taught them that, according to the prophetic saying, He lives and walks in them (Lev. 26:12). 2 Corinthians 13:6. About us, I hope you will know that we are what we should be. “I hope that you understand that we are not skillful.” The Apostle said this with a threat, as if preparing to present them with proof of spiritual power; but again he discovers his tender love. 2 Corinthians 13:7. We pray to God that you do no evil, not to appear to us as what you ought to be; but that you do good, even if we seem not to be what we should be. “We pray to God, not to do you a single evil, not that we will appear skillfully, but that you will do good, but we will be unskillful,” that is, we do not want you to give us any excuse to show you the effectiveness of apostolic grace. But above all, I wish you to shine with all your good deeds, and for us to conceal power within ourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:8. For we are not strong against the truth, but strong for the truth. “We can do nothing with the truth, but with the truth.” For if you follow the path you should have, how can we show punitive power? 2 Corinthians 13:9. We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong; This is what we pray for, for your perfection. “We rejoice, for when we are weak, you become stronger: and for this we pray, for your perfection.” The apostle expresses the same thing in different ways, showing what kind of love he has for them. 2 Corinthians 13:10. This is why I am writing this in my absence, so that in my presence I would not use severity according to the power given to me by the Lord for creation, and not for destruction. “For this reason, I am not writing this with you, lest I come mercilessly and do according to the power that the Lord gave me to eat for creation, and not for destruction.” The Apostle made it clear that punishment is also creation, for when one or two are punished, the whole society benefits. So, when Ananias and Sapphira accepted punishment, “it was said that great fear came upon all who heard” (Acts 5:5). Here the Apostle, putting an end to his strict speech, gave the Corinthians useful advice. 2 Corinthians 13:11. However, brethren, rejoice, be perfected, be comforted, be like-minded, peaceful - and the God of love and peace will be with you. “Otherwise, brethren, rejoice”; because those who excel in virtue are characterized by joy. “Be accomplished,” that is, make up for what is insufficient. “Be comforted”; in temptations, take advantage of each other’s mutual consolation. “Be wise too,” unite more closely with like-mindedness, all adhere to the same way of thinking. “Have peace” both with us and with each other, and above all with God who saved you. “And the God of love and peace will be with you.” For, having seen these successes, He will make you worthy of all providence, because He is the Lawgiver of this. 2 Corinthians 13:12. Greet each other with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. “Kiss one another with a holy kiss,” that is, unflatteringly, chastely, as members of each other and the body of Christ. “You kiss the saints.” In one composition with them he united all those who believed in the universe. 2 Corinthians 13:13. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen." The Apostle did not express himself this way to mean separation, nor did he assign one thing to Christ, but another to the Father, and another to the Spirit, for he repeatedly attributed love to the Spirit, fellowship to the Son, and grace to God the Father. So in the First Epistle, having attributed the action to the Father (1 Cor. 12:6), after a few words he attributes it to the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11). He placed the Persons in a different order, not perverting the order indicated by the Lord (Matthew 28:19), but teaching that the order of names does not mean the difference of nature or strength or the difference of merits. Let us also pray that we may be worthy of the apostolic blessing and receive the promised benefits through the grace and love of God and our Savior Jesus Christ. With Him be glory and splendor to the Father and the All-Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages! Amen. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians was written in Philippi by Titus and Luke. You might be interested in: