2 Corinthians 1:13
in 2 Corinthians 1For we do not write you anything that is beyond your ability to read and understand. And I hope that you will understand us completely,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For we write no other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end:
KJV
For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verseSince the apostle seemed to have said much about himself, lest anyone say this is self-praise, he says: we write to you what you read in the present epistle and what you already know even without this. For the knowledge you previously received about me …
This site's exposition
Our conscience testifies
on 2 Corinthians 1:12-14
Our conscience testifies, Paul writes, and his defense against the rival teachers opens with how he has lived. He lived in the holiness and sincerity that are from God, in the grace of God.
This site's exposition
beyond your ability to read and understand
Paul answers a charge that his letters hid a second meaning. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown take him to mean that the Corinthians could compare his letters and his conduct and find them agree.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 292 · Written before 458.
proposed
Paul says that, in spite of the accusations leveled against him, he does not preach one thing and think another. The facts speak for themselves and prove that he is right.
"For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge." For since he spoke great things of himself and seemed to be bearing witness to himself, an odious thing, he again appeals to them as witnesses of what he says. For, he saith, let no one think that what I say is a boastful flourish of writing; for we declare unto you what yourselves know; and that we lie not ye more than all others can bear us witness. For, when ye read, ye acknowledge that what ye know that we perform in our actions, this we say also in our writings, and your testimony doth not contradict our epistles; but the knowledge which ye had before of us is in harmony with your reading. "As also ye did acknowledge us in part." For your knowledge of us, he saith, is not from hearsay but from actual experience. The words "in part" he added from humility. For this is his wont, when necessity constraineth him to say any high-sounding thing, (for he never doth so otherwise,) as desiring quickly to repress again the elation arising from what he had said. "And I hope ye will acknowledge even to the end." Seest thou again how from the past he draws pledges for the future; and not from the past only, but also from the power of God? For he affirmed not absolutely, but cast the whole upon God and his hope in Him. "That we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." Here he cuts at the root of the envy that his speech might occasion, by making them sharers and partners in the glory of his good works. […]
What Paul says is backed up by his actions. It is through actions that we learn what a person really thinks.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then he calls on them to witness to this holy manner of life, saying, For we write you nothing but what you can read and understand. As if to say: these things I write to you are not unknown to you, because you have already …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For we write none other things to you,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
I would translate, "None other things than what ye know by reading (by comparing my former Epistle with my present Epistle), or even know as a matter of fact (namely, the consistency of my acts with my words)." even to the end--of my life.
Than what ye read - Viz. In the first epistle which he had sent them. Or acknowledge - To be the truth of God; and which he hoped they would continue to acknowledge, and not permit themselves to be turned aside from the hope of the Gospel.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For we write none other things ... - There has been much variety in the interpretation of this passage; and much difficulty felt in determining what it means. The sense seems to me to be this. Paul had just declared that he had been actuated by pure intentions and by entire sincerity, and had in all things been influenced by the grace of God. This he had shown everywhere, but more particularly among them at Corinth. That they fully knew.
The words behind it
18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | No | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἄλλα | alla | other things | G243 → | 155 times |
| γράφομεν | graphomen | we write | G1125 → | 189 times |
| ὑμῖν, | humin | to you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | other | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἢ | e | than | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ἃ | ha | what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἀναγινώσκετε | anaginoskete | you read | G314 → | 32 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπιγινώσκετε· | epiginoskete | understand; | G1921 → | 44 times |
| ἐλπίζω | elpizo | I hope | G1679 → | 31 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἕως | he'os | to [the] | G2193 → | 146 times |
| τέλους | telous | end | G5056 → | 40 times |
| ἐπιγνώσεσθε, | epignosesthe | you will understand, | G1921 → | 44 times |
οὐNo
ouG3756 →1664 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἄλλαother things
allaG243 →155 times
γράφομενwe write
graphomenG1125 →189 times
ὑμῖν,to you,
huminG4771 →2973 times
ἀλλ᾽other
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἢthan
eG2228 →342 times
ἃwhat
haG3739 →1405 times
ἀναγινώσκετεyou read
anaginosketeG314 →32 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπιγινώσκετε·understand;
epiginosketeG1921 →44 times
ἐλπίζωI hope
elpizoG1679 →31 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἕωςto [the]
he'osG2193 →146 times
τέλουςend
telousG5056 →40 times
ἐπιγνώσεσθε,you will understand,
epignosestheG1921 →44 times
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
2 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3–5
For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
- 2 Corinthians 5:11
Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13–15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
Through
Philemon 1:6I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 1:8
For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 1:9–11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
- 2 Peter 1:8
Through
2 Corinthians 5:11Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
it leads to
- Jude 1:23
save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
- Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- Jude 1:23
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
On this verse
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 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); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 3 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 292; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.