Fathers

2 Corinthians 13

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This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. 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? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

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What the Fathers say

2 Corinthians 13:7

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

But what? "That ye should do that which is honorable," we pray for this, that ye should ever live in virtue, ever in amendment; "and we should be as reprobate," not displaying our power of punishing. And he said not, "reprobate" for he would not "be" reprobate, even though he did not punish, nay rather for this very reason he would be "approved;" "but even if some suspect us," he says, "on account of our not displaying our power, to be contemptible and cast away, we care nothing for this. …

Homily 29 on 2 Corinthians ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Note his mercy. He was despised, reviled as a man having no power and only boasting in writing; yet he not only cancels the punishment, but even implores them not to sin, so as not to bring him to the necessity of punishing. For I am not striving to appear "what I ought to be" and as one having the power to punish, but that you should always do good and repent if you sin; and let me be considered "not what I ought to be," that is, let me seem to many to be weak and powerless, as one who found no occasion to punish you. …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, But we pray God, he excludes the suspicion. For he had threatened them with a severe judgment when he mentioned his power to judge, and suggested an examination, trusting that Christ was in them, unless they were reprobate. Nevertheless he leaves in doubt the question whether Christ be in them. …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗