Examine What You Believe
What Paul actually means by “examine yourselves.”
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” – 2 Corinthians 13:5
This verse is well-known because it is often used as a call to introspection, urging the “nominal” believer to search their lives for evidence of salvation.
However, isolating 2 Corinthians 13:5 from its context distorts its intent and can harm those who may hear well-intentioned preachers call their salvation into question.
A closer look reveals that Paul is not asking the Corinthians to question their salvation based on their own assumptions. Instead, he challenges them to evaluate the authenticity of the gospel they have received, lest they be found reprobate (2 Cor. 13:5).
The Context of 2 Corinthians
The church at Corinth faced troubles from all sides, external attacks and internal problems. It had been attacked by factions, false teachers, and even challenges to Paul’s apostleship.
Some questioned whether Paul was a legitimate apostle or just a weak, useless wannabe (2 Cor. 10:10). Throughout the letter, Paul defends his ministry, pointing to the fruit of his labors as evidence that Christ is at work through him (2 Cor. 3:2-3).
In 2 Corinthians 13:3, Paul addresses those demanding “proof of Christ speaking” in him. But in verse 5, he shifts the focus. Instead of continuing his defense, Paul challenges the Corinthians:
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
This rhetorical approach echoes his argument in 1 Corinthians. If the gospel message Paul preached were false, then their faith would be in vain, and they would still be in their sins. Paul invites those scrutinizing his apostleship, and by implication, his message, to examine the message they themselves believe. If their faith rests on the true gospel, then Paul’s apostleship is vindicated.
Far from questioning their salvation, Paul reassures them that they already know Christ is in them, thereby proving the legitimacy of his ministry.
Misunderstanding the Verse
The phrase “in the faith” refers not to personal faith or belief but to the gospel itself, to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). Paul urges the Corinthians to test whether their belief aligns with the gospel he preached. If Christ is indeed in them, it validates Paul’s message because they came to faith through his ministry (1 Cor. 3:5-6).
This is not a call to question the genuineness of their salvation. Instead, it is a call to evaluate the foundation of their faith. If their faith rests on the gospel Paul proclaimed, they have no reason to doubt his apostolic authority or their salvation.
When we interpret 2 Corinthians 13:5 as a standalone command to prove our salvation through works or personal commitment, it fosters unnecessary doubt. Worse, it can shift our focus from Christ’s finished work to our own performance, tempting us to place faith in our faith rather than in Christ’s work on our behalf.
Paul’s intent is not to turn the Corinthians inward but to redirect them to the objective truth of the gospel. He calls them to ask:
Is the message we believe consistent with the gospel taught by the apostles?
Does our faith rest on Christ crucified and risen, or on another foundation?
By testing what they believed in this way, the Corinthians could not only affirm their salvation but also confirm Paul’s apostleship.
Ultimately, this passage challenges us to consider what we believe and why. The faith Paul refers to is not a subjective feeling but a belief in the objective message of Christ crucified for sinners. This apostolic gospel is the standard by which we test both our beliefs and those who teach us.
Rather than using 2 Corinthians 13:5 to spark self-doubt, let it remind us to anchor our faith in the gospel of grace. Examine what you believe: Is it the faith of the apostles? If so, you can rest in Christ—you are in the faith.
This post was originally written for www.gospelway.church
This is great stuff, brother.