2 Corinthians 13 - Test yourselves

"False teacher" is an accusation easy to throw around, but who gets to decide? The receiver of a teaching is not always the best judge of whether it was false — or even whether it was worthwhile. Paul's concern in 2 Corinthians 11 is real (charlatans do exist), but surely there are many people earnestly sharing "the gospel" as they believe it to be true, while being labeled "false" by others? Even within Adventism, many cherished theological ideas began as thoughts considered false by the communities the pioneers came out of. The episode ends with a challenge of introspection: usually we look out there for false prophets, but Paul in chapter 13 is willing to consider the possibility that he himself might have failed the test.