Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 13:6

"But I hope that ye shall know that we are not reprobate." — 2 Corinthians 13:6 (ASV)

Rather than demanding proof that Christ was speaking through Paul (v.3), the Corinthians ought to be examining themselves. Paul asks in effect: “Don’t you know yourselves sufficiently well to recognize that Christ Jesus lives within each of you [cf. Romans 8:9] and that therefore you are in the faith?” Although for the sake of emphasis he adds “unless, of course, you fail the test,” he does not really believe the Corinthians are counterfeit, and he knows that no Corinthian is likely to form such a conclusion about himself or herself.

To Paul, the Corinthians’ belief in the genuineness of their faith carried with it the proof of the genuineness of Paul’s apostleship and Gospel, for he had become their father in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 4:15). As men and women in Christ they themselves formed the verification of his credentials (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:2–3). Only if they doubted their own salvation should they doubt Paul’s claim to be a true “apostle of Christ Jesus” (1:1). If they did not fail the test, then neither did he.