2 Corinthians 13:7-10 (ESV)
But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
Whenever we read this second letter to the church at Corinth we have to recall what Paul was facing in this church. False teachers have wandered into the church to pad their own pockets by diminishing Paul’s ministry. This is why Paul repeatedly told them he didn’t take any support from them (chapter 11). He struggles showing his “authority” to them (chapter 12), but needs them to know that he will not tolerate someone leading them astray, or their disobedience that is caused by following these false teachers. This letter is a classic read on the leadership-followership dynamic. In the above passage, Paul lays out a key element for all faith-leaders. Paul tells them that he wants to come to them to correct, face-to-face, these false teachers, but, before he comes he is going to bath them all in prayer. This is a key element to Paul’s ministry throughout the N.T. In the above text he specifically states two areas he is praying for them:
1. That they would do right (vs. 7)! It is the role of the church leader to pray that the members of their Body do what is right. He does not want them to continue in their disobedience. He knows that his presence can correct that, but he also knows that the power of God can correct that before he comes. He wants them to find truth and follow truth. He knows that giving them truth will allow them to be free from the false teachers. Truth is the cure for falsehood.
2. That they would be restored (vs 9)! The Greek word for “restoration” in the above text is “katartisis.” Of this word, Vine states:
“A making fit,” is used figuratively in an ethical sense in 2 Cor. 13:9, RV, “perfecting” (KJV, “perfection”), implying a process leading to consummation (akin to katartizo, see perfect, B, No. 3).
Paul wants this group of believers to reach the perfections that God intended them, in Christ. He does not want to the linger and wallow in the false teachings of those around them. That false teaching is not leading them to perfections in Christ.
Paul prays that these believers will do right and reach the maturity that God intends them to reach. One cannot reach maturity in Christ if one is constantly following false teachers. The role of the leader of the church is to confront teachers and pray over their members that they will do right, so that they can reach the perfection Christ demands and supplies.
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