5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.
7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong–not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.
8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.

Who is Paul writing to? Believers or professors? If professors, he is certainly giving them much encouragement in thier status with God by calling them out as saints (1:1), brothers (1:8), having the seal (1:22) and the Spirit (1:22). Yes, for Paul to consider those he addresses as brothers in chapter 1 as professors in chapter 13 causes me a discontinuity that I cannot find justification for.

Given that Paul is addressing his brothers in chapter 13, let us consider what Paul is about to say. Ok, so let us ead it one more time.

Examine yourselves, to see if you go to church enough, tithe enough, read the bible enough, or pray enough.

That is not the message at all. The question is – Are you “in” the faith or “out” of the faith. That is the challenge!

This is one of the rare instances where two words for testing used by the Greeks is used in the same verse. Kinda interesting!

The first word (Examine) is peirazō, πειράζω to test (objectively). As we say at the office – It is what it is! No intentions, emotions or subjective rational during this testing. A fact is a fact!

The second word (Test) is dokimazō,  δοκιμάζω, to test if genuine, also to approve, or deem worthy after testing. This word, when I come across it in the New Testament, always brings to mind the intent that the testing is for the sake of approval, the test is given hoping that the test is passed.

For both of these words to be used, I imagine, is Paul’s way of saying the truth is harsh, relentless, unforgiving (as to the conclusions arrived by seeking it) and possibly shocking. Yet in the midst of exhorting the Corinthians to face the facts, he also has the heart of a pastor, seeking for good results, for success after the time of self testing for the believers.

Yet the topic of this blog is the possibility of these believers having fallen away, left their Savior, walked away. Unless this is a very real possibility, the test seems to be an exercise of futility, and possibly may cause more damage than intended.

Let’s say that after some self examination, I find I am out of the faith, but are still being encouraged by outside forces that “things will be alright”, “there is nothing to worry about”, and reminded that “50 yrs ago you said a prayer”. The test becomes fruitless. There is no reason to repent from your current situation.

Let’s say instead I understand that the security I have is conditional, and that I may have slipped away. This testing could save my life, bringing me back under the Lord and in the church.

These are not light teachings, and we cannot judge Paul’s intent of message based on my simple logic, but let us be careful with blanket encouragement of those who may be undergoing a self examination with bad results.

Encourage them “in the Lord”, and not with empty platitudes or distant prayers. The focus is always the Lord, our relationship with Him.

Do you know Him? As a “Christian”, do you know Him?

Paul would pray for the believers restoration. Is there a restoration for you?

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