Note 5 at 2 Cor. 13:5: Instead of the Corinthians testing Paul, they should be testing themselves. Are they truly in the Christian faith? Is their conduct reflecting their heavenly call? How would they fare if they submitted themselves to the same scrutiny they placed on Paul?

Just as Jesus said, we should get the beam out of our own eye before we try to remove a speck from someone else's eye (Mt. 7:3-5). So, Paul is telling the Corinthians not to be hypocritical. If Paul didn't pass their test, none of them could pass either.

Note 6 at 2 Cor. 13:5: This phrase, "Know ye not your own selves" was always used by Paul in a derogatory manner (see ref. j, this verse). It was used to stress that they were missing the obvious. Just as it should be obvious to the Corinthians that Christ indwelt them, so they should recognize the Lord speaking through Paul (v. 6).