13:1 {The third time I am coming} (triton ercomai). Either the third that he had planned to come or that he had been twice. The warning is made by quoting #De 19:15.

13:2 {As when I was present the second time} (hws parwn to deuteron). this translation assumes the second visit as already made. It is a natural way to take the Greek hws parwn. But hws with parwn can also mean "as if present" the second time (Authorized Version). Probably "as when" is the more natural rendering, but the other cannot be ruled entirely out in view of #1:15-23. {If I come again} (ean elqw eis to palin). Condition of third class. The use of palin of itself suits the idea that Paul had not yet made the second visit as it means simply "again" or "back," but in #Mt 26:44 we find palin ek tritou (again a third time) and so it is not decisive.

13:3 {A proof of Christ} (dokimen tou cristou). He will give it to them. "I will not spare." He will show that Christ speaks "in me" (en emoi).

13:4 {But we shall live with him through the power of God} (alla zesomen sun autwi ek dunamews qeou). So real is Paul's sense of his union with Christ.

13:5 {Unless indeed ye be reprobate} (ei meti adokimoi este). Paul challenged his opposers in Corinth to try (peirazete) themselves, to test (dokimazete) themselves, whether they were "in the faith" (en tei pistei), a much more vital matter for them than trying to prove Paul a heretic. Such tests can be made, unless, alas, they are "reprobate" (adokimoi, the very adjective that Paul held up before himself as a dreadful outcome to be avoided, #1Co 9:27).

13:6 {That ye shall know} (hoti epignwsesqe). Such a testing of themselves will give them full knowledge that Paul is not {reprobate} (adokimos). The best way for vacillating Christians to stop it is to draw close to Christ.

13:7 {Though we be as reprobate} (hemeis de hws adokimoi wmen). Literally, "And that" (hina de). Paul wishes them to do no wrong (kakon meden). He has no desire to exercise his apostolic authority and "appear approved" (dokimoi fanwmen, second aorist passive subjunctive of fainw). He had far rather see them do "the noble thing" (to kalon) even if it should make him appear disapproved after all that he has said.

13:8 {Against the truth} (kata tes aleqeias). He means in the long run. We can hinder and hold down the truth by evil deeds (#Ro 1:18), but in the end the truth wins.

13:9 {For we rejoice} (cairomen gar). Paul had far rather be weak in the sense of failing to exercise his apostolic power because they did the noble thing. He is no Jonah who mourned when Ninevah repented. {Your perfecting} (humwn katartisin). Late word from katartizw, to fit, to equip (see verb in verse #11). In Plutarch, only here in N.T.

13:10 {That I may not when present deal sharply} (hina parwn apotomws creswmai). Late adverb from apotomos, curt, cut off. In N.T. only here and #Tit 1:13.

13:12 {With a holy kiss} (en hagiwi filemati). In the Jewish synagogues where the sexes were separated, men kissed men, the women, women. this apparently was the Christian custom also. It is still observed in the Coptic and the Russian churches. It was dropped because of charges made against the Christians by the pagans. In England in 1250 Archbishop Walter of York introduced a "pax-board" which was first kissed by the clergy and qen passed around. Think of the germ theory of disease and that kissing tablet!