2 Corinthians 13:5

Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (BDKL, Syrr. Goth., Chrys.) probably rather than Χρ. Ἰησ. (אAFGP, f g Vulg. Copt. Arm.): see note on 2 Corinthians 1:1. The ἐστιν after ἐν ὑμῖν (אAD2D3FGKLP, Latt.) is perhaps not genuine: BD, Aeth. omit.

5. Ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε … ἑαυτοὺς δοκιμάζετε. It is your own selves that you must continue to try … your own selves that you must continue to prove (pres. imperat.). The difference between πειράζειν and δοκιμάζειν is mainly this; that πειράζειν, though sometimes neutral in the sense of ‘try’ or ‘test’ (John 6:6; Revelation 2:2), commonly has a sinister meaning, ‘tempt,’ with a view to causing failure (Matthew 16:1; Matthew 19:3; Matthew 22:18), especially of the temptations of Satan (Matthew 4:1; Matthew 4:3; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:5), who is ὁ πειράζων: while δοκιμάζειν, though sometimes neutral (Luke 12:56; Luke 14:19), and never being used in a bad sense, frequently has a good sense, ‘prove with the intention or expectation of approving’ (2 Corinthians 8:22; 1 Corinthians 11:28; Romans 2:18; Romans 14:22; Ephesians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4). Hence πειράζειν is rarely used of God’s trying men (Hebrews 11:17; Genesis 22:1; Exodus 15:25; Deuteronomy 13:3), and δοκιμάζειν is never used of the devil’s tempting men. In Psalms 26:2 both verbs are used of God; δοκἱμασόν με, κύριε, καὶ πείρασόν με. On the other hand, πειράζειν is often used of man’s tempting God (Acts 15:10; 1 Corinthians 7:9; Exodus 17:2; Exodus 17:7; Psalms 105:14; Sir 18:23; &c.). The A.V. translates πειράζειν ‘prove,’ ‘try,’ ‘examine,’ ‘tempt,’ ‘assay,’ ‘go about’; δοκιμάζειν ‘prove,’ ‘try,’ ‘examine,’ ‘discern,’ ‘like,’ ‘approve,’ ‘allow.’ The R.V. reduces this variety, but introduces a new word, ‘interpret,’ for Luke 12:56. See Crem. Lex. s. v. and Trench, Syn. § lxxiv. Here S. Paul puts the gentler word second, to show that he hopes that the result of the testing will be good. Note the emphatic position of ἑαυτούς in both places.

εἰ ἐστὲ ἐν τῇ πίστει. Would S. Paul have written this in the same letter in which he had already said, τῇ πίστει ἑστήκατε (2 Corinthians 1:24), and had put faith first among the good things in which they abounded, ἐν παντὶ περισσεύετε, πίστει, καὶ λόγῳ, καὶ γνώσει, καὶ πάσῃ σπουδῇ (2 Corinthians 8:7)? If in an earlier letter he charged them, in their rebellious mood, to make sure that they were really Christians, and then, after they had returned to their allegiance, he expressed confidence in their faith, all runs in logical order. See on 2 Corinthians 12:11. Chrysostom thinks that the faith which works miracles is meant; which is very improbable.

ἢ οὐκ ἐπιγινώσκετε ἑαυτούς … ἀδόκιμοί ἐστε. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed ye be reprobate. See critical note: א omits the ἤ, and earlier English Versions ignore it, although the Rec. has it. With this interrogative ἤ comp. 1 Corinthians 6:16; Romans 9:21; Romans 14:10; Matthew 7:4; Matthew 7:9. Wiclif punctuates the Vulgate thus, ipsi vos probate, an non cognoscitis vosmet ipsos, ‘ye your silf preue whether ye knowen not you silf’: which is odd Latin, makes poor sense, and does not fit the Greek. The compound, ἐπιγιν., implies full knowledge: comp. 2 Corinthians 6:9, and see Ellicott on 1 Corinthians 16:12.

εἰ μήτι�. This is not a second question, and the τι makes the alternative more hypothetical: unless perhaps you be reprobates (Rheims). Of course they do recognize that Christ is in them; but if perchance they do not, they are ἀδόκιμοι. For εἰ μήτι comp. 1 Corinthians 7:5, where the ἄν doubtful and there is no verb: in Luke 9:13 the verb is subjunctive. By ἀδόκιμος is meant ‘not accepted’ (δέχομαι), as not standing the test: not so much reprobi (Vulgate) as reprobati: comp. 1 Corinthians 9:27; Romans 1:28; 2 Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:16. In Romans 1:28 is a similar play between δοκιμάζειν and ἀδόκιμος. Except Hebrews 6:8; Proverbs 25:4; Isaiah 1:22, ἀδόκιμος in Biblical Greek is peculiar to S. Paul. Beza has rejectanei; but this spoils the antithesis with probati = δόκιμοι (2 Corinthians 13:7).