2 Corinthians 13:6 Meaning: Why Paul Hopes You’ll Know We’re Not Disqualified
But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified.
But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
But I hope that ye shall know that we are not reprobate.
and I hope that ye shall know that we--we are not disapproved of;
Now I hope that ye will know that we are not reprobates.
Meaning in one sentence
Paul hopes the Corinthians will see he is not disqualified (adokimos). This verse turns self-examination into a way to recognize God’s work in others.
Context
Paul is finishing a letter he wrote with tears. Some in Corinth have questioned his authority as an apostle. They want proof that Christ speaks through him. In the verses just before this one, Paul tells them to examine themselves: test whether you are in the faith. That is the direct lead-in to verse six. He is not dodging their questions. He is saying that if they find Christ truly living in them, they will have the evidence they need about him. Their own faith, born through his preaching, proves he has not failed the test.
Key Words
Three Greek words hold the weight of this short verse.
Hope (elpizō) is not wishful thinking. In the New Testament it carries a confident expectation, a waiting that knows the outcome. Paul does not say "I wish" but "I hope", he is grounded in what he knows about God’s work in these believers.
Know (ginōskō) means to come to a full understanding, not just to hear a fact. Paul wants them to realize, deep down, that he is not what they fear he might be.
Disqualified (adokimos) comes from the world of metals and coins. A dokimos coin was genuine, tested and approved. Adokimos means it flunked the test. It is worthless. Paul says plainly: we are not that. He has been tested by trial, by suffering, by the fruit of his labor among them. He passed. Their own faith is the stamp of approval.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as a loving challenge. Reformed commentators such as Calvin see Paul pressing them to recognize his apostolic authority or else condemn themselves. Barnes, from a Protestant background, says they will discover evidence that Paul is commissioned by Christ. Matthew Henry treats it as the apostle asserting his claims gently. The Cambridge Bible (Anglican) notes that Paul hopes they will find that Christ’s power still dwells in him, power to confront evil. Wesley simply says Paul hopes they will know by proving themselves, not by putting his authority to the test. Each tradition agrees on the central point: the Corinthians’ own faith is the proof.
A common misunderstanding
The most common mistake is to think Paul is insecure about his own salvation. Readers hear “I hope you will know we aren’t disqualified” and assume Paul is worried he might be. In fact, he is confident. He is using their own self-examination as a mirror. If they are genuine believers, then his ministry that brought them to faith must be genuine too. The hope is not for himself; it is a challenge to them to see the evidence already in front of them.
Living This Out
This week, when you doubt the work of a pastor, teacher, or friend who led you closer to Christ, look at your own life. Is there real faith there, small as it may be? That faith is not your own invention. Someone planted it. Someone watered it. Your growth, your desire for God, your love for others, these are not accidents. They are the fruit of someone’s faithful labor. Instead of demanding more proof from them, let your own faith be the proof you need. Thank God for the people He used, and let that gratitude quiet your doubts.
Main takeaway: Your own real faith is the strongest evidence that those who brought you to Christ are not disqualified.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul told the church people to check their own hearts. Then he said, “I hope you will see that we passed the test.” When you love Jesus, that shows the people who taught you about Him are doing good work.
For ages 9, 12
Imagine someone made a cake from a recipe you gave them. If the cake tastes great, it proves your recipe worked. That is what Paul is saying. He planted faith in the Corinthians, and if their faith is real, it proves his work is real too. So when you have doubts about a leader or teacher, look at the fruit in your own life first.
Questions People Ask
What does 'disqualified' mean in 2 Corinthians 13:6?
The Greek word is 'adokimos', used for a coin that fails the test and is rejected. Paul says he and his coworkers are not that, they are genuine, approved by God. The Corinthians are to recognize this through their own faith.
Why does Paul express hope that they will know he is not disqualified?
Paul is not uncertain. He is confident of his apostleship, but he wants the Corinthians to see it for themselves. Their self-examination in verse 5 will lead them to realize that if Christ is in them, then Paul’s ministry that brought them to faith is valid.
Does 2 Corinthians 13:6 mean Paul was afraid he might be disqualified?
No. Paul uses the language of hope to gently push the Corinthians to reconsider their doubts. He is not insecure; he is pastoral. His hope rests on the evidence of God’s work in them, not on any fear about his own standing.
How does verse 6 connect to the test in verse 5?
In verse 5 Paul says 'Test your own selves.' Verse 6 is the logical conclusion: if you find Christ in you, you must admit that the one who brought you Christ is not disqualified. The two verses form a single argument: your faith proves mine.
What is the significance of the word 'hope' here?
In Greek, 'elpizō' often conveys confident expectation, not mere wishing. Paul is certain that the Corinthians will come to this knowledge. He is not leaving it to chance; he trusts that God will open their eyes to the truth.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study