Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 33:64 (Spring 2020)
Article: Testing Yourself Regarding God’s Approval And Disapproval (2 Corinthians 13:5–7)
Author: Robert N. Wilkin

JOTGES 33:64 (Spring 2020) p. 21

Testing Yourself Regarding God’s Approval And Disapproval (2 Corinthians 13:5–7)

Robert N. Wilkin

Executive Director
Grace Evangelical Society

I. Introduction

In the past, I wrote a short magazine article on this passage.1 There are several reasons why I felt it was important to write a longer article on these verses of Scripture.

First, this passage is typically taken to mean that the believer must regularly evaluate his works in order to reaffirm that he is likely born again. This view makes certainty of one’s salvation impossible. The best one can hope for is a high degree of confidence that he is probably saved.

Second, the context of this passage is often not examined carefully enough to determine what is meant in vv 5–7. Theologically preconceived ideas tend to hinder the exegete from seeing things clearly.

Third, this is the only place in the entire Bible where the word dokimos and its antonym, adokimos, occur in the same verse (v 6). Indeed, one fourth of the NT uses of those words are found in these three verses. That fact has not received enough attention.

Fourth, if the issue is whether the readers are currently approved by God—which is the view advocated in this article—rather than whether they are born again, then the application of the text concerns eternal rewards, not eternal salvation.

JOTGES 33:64 (Spring 2020) p. 22

II. The Traditional Understanding Of 2 Corinthians 13:5–7

Many commentators think Paul was concerned about whether his readers were born again or not. He wanted them to test themselves to see if they were regenerate.

Others think that Paul’s primary concern was to prove to the readers that he genuinely spoke for God. In this view the reason he wanted them to test themselves was to show that he was indeed a true apostle. If they examined themselves and found they passed the test, they would prove that he was an apostle, for he had led them to faith in Christ and begun their initial training in the faith. But most who hold to this second view think that some in the church would fail the test and prove to be what they call reprobate or not really born again.2

Wayne Grudem cites this passage to refute Free Grace Theology. After quoting v 5, he writes:

This ve...