2 Corinthians 13:9
in 2 Corinthians 13In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.
KJV
For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 13
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For we are glad when we are weak ... - We rejoice in your welfare, and are willing to submit to self-denial and to infirmity if it may promote your spiritual strength.
This site's exposition
we rejoice when we are weak
on 2 Corinthians 13:9-10
The letter itself is the alternative to severity in person, written so that when I am present I will not need to be severe. Its purpose clause gives the authority's aim: for building you up.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
This is paternal affection, to prefer the salvation of the disciples before his own good name. This is the part of a soul free from vainglory; this best releaseth from the bonds of the body and makes one to rise aloft from earth to heaven, the being pure from vain-glory; just as therefore the contrary leadeth unto many sins.
Moreover as he has eagerly endeavored this, so is he desirous also to show that his mind was quite joined to them; wherefore also he added, "For we rejoice when we are weak, and ye are strong. For this also we pray for even your perfecting." "For most certainly," he says, "we cannot do any thing against the truth, that is, punish you if you are well pleasing [to God]; besides, because we cannot, we therefore do not wish it, and even desire the contrary. Nay, we are particularly glad of this very thing, when we find you giving us no occasion to show that power of ours for punishment. For even if the doing of such things shows men glorious and approved and strong; still we desire the contrary, that ye should be approved and unblamable, and that we should never at any time reap the glory thence arising."
Wherefore he says, "For we are glad when we are weak." What is, "are weak?" "When we may be thought weak." Not when we are weak, but when we are thought weak; for they were thought so by their enemies, because they displayed not their power of punishing. "But still we are glad, when your behavior is of such a sort as to give us no pretence for punishing you. And it is a pleasure to us to be in this way considered weak, so that only ye be blameless;" wherefore he adds, "and ye are strong," that is, "are approved, are virtuous. And we do not only wish for this, but we pray for this, that ye may be blameless, perfect, and afford us no handle."
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, For we are glad, he removes the false suspicion on account of the joy conceived over their good. First, he mentions the joy he conceives over their innocence; secondly, the prayer he utters for their perfection (v. 9b). He says therefore: …
These words show the apostle's strong devotion to the Corinthians, for the meaning of his words is as follows: do not think that I grieve because I cannot demonstrate my power over you in the event that you do not stumble. On the contrary, I …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
), " when we are weak and you are strong; that is, that we have no power to censure those who are strong in faith and fruitful in good works." Some understand this passage thus: "Though we are weak through persecutions and contempt, we bear it patiently, and also joyfully, while we see that you are strong, that you are prosperous in holiness, and persevering in well-doing." For, 3.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
); that is, that they might be sincere, and aim at perfection (sincerity is our gospel-perfection), or else he wished there might be a thorough reformation among them. He not only desired that they might be kept from sin, but also that they might grow in grace, and increase in holiness, and that all that was amiss among them might be rectified and reformed.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
For we are glad when we are weak,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
are glad--Greek, "rejoice." when we are weak--having no occasion for displaying our power; and so seeming "weak," as being compassed with "infirmities" (2Co 10:10; 11:29, 30). ye . . . strong--"mighty" in faith and the fruits of the Spirit. and--not in the oldest manuscripts. we wish--Greek, "pray for." your perfection--literally, "perfect restoration"; literally, that of a dislocated limb.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
For we are glad, when we are weak - It will give me indescribable pleasure that I should still appear to be poor, despicable, and destitute of this extraordinary power with which God has clothed me, so that you be strong in all the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. And this also we wish, even your perfection - We cannot be satisfied that persons, with such eminent endowments, and who have once received the truth as it is in Jesus, should be deficient in any of the graces that constitute the mind of Christ; such as brotherly love, charity, harmony, unity, and order. I have given the above paraphrase to this verse, because of the last term καταρτισιν, which we render perfection. Καταρτισις, from κατα, intensive, andαρτιζω, to fit or adapt, signifies the reducing of a dislocated limb to its proper place; and hence, as Beza says on this passage: “The apostle’s meaning is, that whereas the members of the Church were all, as it were, dislocated and out of joint, they should be joined together in love; and they should endeavor to make perfect what was amiss among them, either in faith or morals.” It is a metaphor, also, taken from a building; the several stones and timbers being all put in their proper places and situations, so that the whole building might be complete, and be a proper habitation for the owner. The same figure, though not in the same terms, the apostle uses, Eph 2:20-22. The perfection or rejointing which the apostle wishes is that which refers to the state of the Church in its fellowship, unity, order, etc. And perfection in the soul is the same, in reference to it, as perfection in the Church is to its order and unity. […]
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| χαίρομεν | chairomen | We rejoice | G5463 → | 74 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὅταν | hotan | when | G3752 → | 123 times |
| ἡμεῖς | hemeis | we ourselves | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἀσθενῶμεν, | asthenomen | may be weak, | G770 → | 33 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| δυνατοὶ | dunatoi | strong | G1415 → | 32 times |
| ἦτε· | ete | may be; | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | But this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εὐχόμεθα, | euchometha | We pray for | G2172 → | |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| κατάρτισιν. | katartisin | perfection. | G2676 → |
χαίρομενWe rejoice
chairomenG5463 →74 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὅτανwhen
hotanG3752 →123 times
ἡμεῖςwe ourselves
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
ἀσθενῶμεν,may be weak,
asthenomenG770 →33 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
δυνατοὶstrong
dunatoiG1415 →32 times
ἦτε·may be;
eteG1510 →2333 times
τοῦτοBut this
toutoG3778 →1381 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εὐχόμεθα,We pray for
euchomethaG2172 →
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
κατάρτισιν.perfection.
katartisinG2676 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 5:10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
- 1 Peter 1:6–7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- Jude 1:24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
- Psalms 138:7
If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17
Through
2 Corinthians 13:11Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
it leads to
- Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united…
- Hebrews 12:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 29 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.