2 Corinthians 13:5
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?
Original Language Analysis
ἑαυτοὺς
your own selves
G1438
ἑαυτοὺς
your own selves
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
1 of 24
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
πειράζετε
Examine
G3985
πειράζετε
Examine
Strong's:
G3985
Word #:
2 of 24
to test (objectively), i.e., endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πίστει
the faith
G4102
πίστει
the faith
Strong's:
G4102
Word #:
7 of 24
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
ἑαυτοὺς
your own selves
G1438
ἑαυτοὺς
your own selves
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
8 of 24
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
δοκιμάζετε·
prove
G1381
δοκιμάζετε·
prove
Strong's:
G1381
Word #:
9 of 24
to test (literally or figuratively); by implication, to approve
ἐπιγινώσκετε
Know ye
G1921
ἐπιγινώσκετε
Know ye
Strong's:
G1921
Word #:
12 of 24
to know upon some mark, i.e., recognize; by implication, to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge
ἑαυτοὺς
your own selves
G1438
ἑαυτοὺς
your own selves
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
13 of 24
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
ὅτι
how that
G3754
ὅτι
how that
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
14 of 24
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
15 of 24
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
μή
G3361
μή
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
21 of 24
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
Cross References
Lamentations 3:40Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.1 Corinthians 11:28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.1 Corinthians 9:27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.Revelation 2:5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.Galatians 6:4But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.Hebrews 12:15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;1 Corinthians 11:31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.Psalms 26:2Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.John 14:23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Historical Context
The Corinthian church exhibited all external marks of Christianity—spiritual gifts, church gatherings, even claims of superior knowledge (1 Cor 8:1)—yet struggled with fundamental sins (incest, factionalism, idolatry). Paul's call to self-examination addresses the dangerous possibility of religious activity without genuine conversion, a perennial danger in church history.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean to 'examine yourself' whether you are 'in the faith'—what are you looking for?
- How does 'Christ in you' differ from mere intellectual belief in Christian doctrine?
- Why does Paul raise the possibility that professing Christians might be 'reprobates' who failed the test?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves—Paul turns the tables: those demanding proof (dokimēn, v. 3) of Paul's authority must now dokimazete (δοκιμάζετε, "examine/test") themselves. The present imperative demands ongoing self-examination. The phrase whether ye be in the faith (ei este en tē pistei, εἰ ἐστὲ ἐν τῇ πίστει) questions their fundamental standing—not peripheral issues but salvation itself.
Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? The word adokimoi (ἀδόκιμοι, "reprobates/disqualified/failing the test") is the negative form of the dokimē they demanded—those failing the test are rejected. Paul's logic: if Christ is not in you (Christos en hymin, Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν), you've failed the ultimate examination. This doctrine of Christ in you (compare Col 1:27, "Christ in you, the hope of glory") is the essence of Christian identity—union with Christ, not mere intellectual assent.