2 Corinthians 13:7
in 2 Corinthians 13Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honorable, though we be as reprobate.
KJV
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 13
Commentary
15 notes on this verseNow l pray to God,.... A strong mark of the apostle's affection for them. For though they used him so ill, he took every way and method to do them good; he not only wrote to them, sent the brethren to them, but put up his supplications at the throne of grace for them: The Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, and Ethiopic versions, read, "we pray", &c.
This site's exposition
we pray to God
on 2 Corinthians 13:7-8
Paul prays that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed. His own vindication matters less than their obedience.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Then when he has held the threat suspended over their heads, and brought the punishment now up to their doors, and has set them a trembling, and made them look for vengeance; see how again he sweetens down his words and soothes their fear, and shows his unambitious temper, his tender solicitude towards his disciples, his high-principledness of purpose, his loftiness and freedom from vain-glory. For he exhibits all these qualities in what he adds...
What can be equal to this soul? He was despised, he was spit upon, he was ridiculed, he was mocked, as mean, as contemptible, as a braggart, as boastful in his words but in his deeds unable to make even a little show; and although seeing so great a necessity for showing his own power, he not only puts off, not only shrinks back, but even prays that he may not fall into such a position. For he says, "I pray that ye do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honorable, though we be as reprobate."
What is it he says? "I entreat God. I beseech Him," he says, "that I may find no one unreformed, may find no one that has not repented; yea, rather, not this alone, but that none may have sinned at all. For," he says, "that ye have done no [evil], but if ye have perchance sinned, then that ye may have changed your conduct, and been beforehand with me in reforming, and arresting all wrath. For this is not what I am eager about, that we should be approved in this way, but clean the contrary, that we should not appear approved. For if ye should continue," he says, "sinning and not repenting, it will be necessary for us to chastise, to punish, to maim your bodies; (as happened in the case of Sapphira and of Magus;) and we have given proof of our power. But we pray not for this, but the contrary, that we may not be shown to be approved in this way, that we may not in this way exhibit the proof of the power which is in us, by chastising you and punishing you as sinning and as incurably diseased."
But what? "That ye should do that which is honorable," we pray for this, that ye should ever live in virtue, ever in amendment; "and we should be as reprobate," not displaying our power of punishing. And he said not, "reprobate" for he would not "be" reprobate, even though he did not punish, nay rather for this very reason he would be "approved;" "but even if some suspect us," he says, "on account of our not displaying our power, to be contemptible and cast away, we care nothing for this. Better we should be so deemed of by those, than display the power which God hath given to us in those stripes, and in that unreformedness of heart."
Paul is praying that he and his colleagues will be humbled, as it were, by seeing the Corinthians so well behaved that he will not dare rebuke them. If they are humbled in this way, they will appear to be false. It is when they …
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, But we pray God, he excludes the suspicion. For he had threatened them with a severe judgment when he mentioned his power to judge, and suggested an examination, trusting that Christ was in them, unless they were reprobate. Nevertheless he leaves …
Note his mercy. He was despised, reviled as a man having no power and only boasting in writing; yet he not only cancels the punishment, but even implores them not to sin, so as not to bring him to the necessity of punishing. For I …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
This is the most desirable thing we can ask of God, both for ourselves and for our friends, to be kept from sin, that we and they may do no evil; and it is most needful that we often pray to God for his grace to keep us, because without this we cannot keep ourselves. We are more concerned to pray that we may not do evil than that we may not suffer evil.
Note, (1.) The great desire of faithful ministers of the gospel is that the gospel they preach may be honoured, however their persons may be vilified. (2.) The best way to adorn our holy religion is to do that which is honest, and of good report, to walk as becomes the gospel of Christ.
I pray God that ye may do no evil - To give me occasion of showing my apostolical power. I do not desire to appear approved - By miraculously punishing you. But that ye may do that which is good, though we should be as reprobates - Having no occasion to give that proof of our apostleship.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil - I earnestly desire that you may do right, and only right; and I beseech God that it may be so, whatever may be the result in regard to me, and whatever may be thought of my claims to the apostolic office. This is designed to mitigate the apparent severity of the sentiment in 2Co 13:6. There he had said that they would find him fully endowed with the power of an apostle. They would see that he was able abundantly to punish the disobedient.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
I pray--The oldest manuscripts read, "we pray." not that we should appear approved--not to gain credit for ourselves, your ministers, by your Christian conduct; but for your good [ALFORD].
I pray to God that ye do no evil - That ye do not persist in that course which will oblige me to use the power of Christ, with which I am endued, to punish you. Some apply this prayer to the apostle himself: Now I pray to God that I may do You no evil - that I may not be obliged to use my apostolic rod, and inflict evil upon you. Not that we should appear approved - We do not wish to give this proof that we are approved of God, by inflicting this punishment on the transgressors. But that ye should do that which is honest - That ye may do that which is right and seemly, το καλον, though we should be, in consequence of that, as reprobates - as persons not approved of God; because your reformation will prevent the exercise of this power, which would otherwise have given an awful proof that we are approved of God.
The words behind it
26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εὐχόμεθα | euchometha | We pray | G2172 → | |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸν | theon | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ποιῆσαι | poiesai | to do | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| κακὸν | kakon | wrong | G2556 → | |
| μηδέν, | meden | nothing, | G3367 → | 90 times |
| οὐχ | ouch | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἡμεῖς | hemeis | we ourselves | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| δόκιμοι | dokimoi | approved | G1384 → | |
| φανῶμεν, | phanomen | may appear, | G5316 → | |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| τὸ | to | what [is] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καλὸν | kalon | right | G2570 → | |
| ποιῆτε, | poiete | may do, | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ἡμεῖς | hemeis | we ourselves | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| δὲ | de | though | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἀδόκιμοι | adokimoi | unapproved | G96 → | 8 times |
| ὦμεν. | omen | may appear. | G1510 → | 2333 times |
εὐχόμεθαWe pray
euchomethaG2172 →
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
θεὸνGod
theonG2316 →1312 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ποιῆσαιto do
poiesaiG4160 →569 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
κακὸνwrong
kakonG2556 →
μηδέν,nothing,
medenG3367 →90 times
οὐχnot
ouchG3756 →1664 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἡμεῖςwe ourselves
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
δόκιμοιapproved
dokimoiG1384 →
φανῶμεν,may appear,
phanomenG5316 →
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
τὸwhat [is]
toG3588 →19766 times
καλὸνright
kalonG2570 →
ποιῆτε,may do,
poieteG4160 →569 times
ἡμεῖςwe ourselves
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
δὲthough
deG1161 →2765 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
ἀδόκιμοιunapproved
adokimoiG96 →8 times
ὦμεν.may appear.
omenG1510 →2333 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
Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
it leads to
- James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- Romans 12:9–21
Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- 2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
- Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- James 3:17
Through
James 1:12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And 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…
- 1 Peter 1:6–8
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful…
- 1 Peter 5:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
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 29 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.